62 15 4132 https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/b9289eaa457345e7f7487c1baeaf1724.pdf 21ba62cfe7d62b008f87fd380acd3690 PDF Text Text Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA The THE NEWS OF TODAY REPORTED BY THE JOURNALISTS OF TOMORROW JANUARY 29, 2008 In This Issue... <:/few 3(eat: ~olu.tio,u: #,ettin.9 <fit Page 9 Some for Me, Some for You Page 12 Super Bowl XLII Pages 18-19 r Inside News................................1-5 Opinion.............................6-8 Lifestyles.........................9-11 Arts & Entertainment....12-15 Sports...........................16-20 Volume 60 www.wilkesbeacon.com Issue 12 Bailey to leave Wilkes post for Diversified Vice Presidency BY NICK PODOLAK Beacon Editor-in-Chief The irony of the songs playing on the Einstein Brother’s Bagels sound system-- “If You’re Gone,” by Matchbox 20 followed by Sarah McLachlan’s “I Will Remember You” was not lost on the occasion. Last week, Chris Bailey, Director of Campus Support Operations, sat down with The Beacon for perhaps his last interview. Bailey recently accepted a position as the Vice President of Quality Assurance and Training at Diversified Information Technologies Incorporated. His last day as a Colonel is slated for February 7. “I didn’t buy into the whole ‘Wilkes family’ [thing] when I got here,” Bailey said. “But I recognize now, having the opportunity to work with such an incredibly diverse set of people here with unique personalities, talents, and good humor…yeah…that’s going to be one of the hardest things…leaving the people,” he admitted. Bailey will be the third Wilkes administrator in approximately two years to join Diversified, an information processing company that boasts 18 national and four international locations. Bailey will join over 600 employees at Diversified’s Scranton headquarters, which was founded in 1982 by former Wilkes University Board of Trustees member Cliff Melberger. Bailey will join former Wilkes colleagues Josephine Panganiban [formerly Vice President for Human Resources] and Scott Byers [former Vice President for Finance Operations and General Counsel]. Byers assumed Diversified’s presidency late last year. “Chris has a wide range of skills... from general management skills to his ability to analyze or process situations and challenges,” said Byers. “He’s a very strong manager who thinks critically and has the ability to act and solve problems.” Despite repeated efforts by phone and email to contact VP for Finance and Support Operations, Petra Carver, she could not be reached for comment; thus, the status of Bailey’s replacement remains unknown as well as whether he or she will come from Chris Bailey, Director of Campus Support Operations, answers questions at an SG Administration forum. Bailey announced that he will be leaving Wilkes to take a position at Diversified Technologies, in Scranton. See BAILEY page 4 Andrew Seaman/The Beacon Focus the Nation program to advance environment discussion Wilkes one of 1,000 schools to participate in national event BY NICOLE FRAIL Beacon Asst. News Editor This week, Wilkes University will join over 1,000 colleges and universities across the country in Focus the Nation, a major environmental summit designed to educate participants about global warming. “Focus the Nation is a nationwide teach-in in which schools from across the country will take a day out to examine the issue of global warming and specifically to teach students about what global warming is and to raise consciousness among people,” explained Dr. Kenneth Klemow, professor of biology and environmental sciences. The activities associated with the program will take place January 30-31. “They’re asking individual schools to tap into this national event, to televise it locally and to organize activities around [the event],” explained Klemow. In order to plan and orchestrate the two-day event, Wilkes faculty and students worked together to form a Focus the Nation Committee chaired by Dr. Mike Case, professor of environmental engineering and earth sciences. Dr. Jeffrey Stratford, assistant professor of biology, Dr. Ellen Flint, professor of performing arts and Klemow were also committee members. Neil Kresge, senior environmental science major, also worked alongside the committee to brainstorm, present, and develop the committee proposal to Wilkes faculty. “The reason for concern for Wilkes-Barre residents and Wilkes University is that global climate change is likely going to be one of the largest, if not the largest, issues facing this and the next generations. It simply will not be [limited] to one geographic range or one culture of people. We must all be involved to make a difference,” Kresge said. A true believer in the cause, Kresge already recycles, uses energy efficient light bulbs and has started a compost at home. To launch the event, Winona LaDuke, an Anishinaabekwe (Ojibwe) member of the Mississippi Band Anishinaabeg in Minnesota will visit the Wilkes campus January 28 and 29 to openly discuss environmental and human rights with students, faculty and staff. LaDuke is the program director of the Honor the Earth Fund and in October 2007, she was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame. On Wednesday, January 30, Wilkes will offer a live web cast produced by the National Wildfire Federation and aired by the Earth Day Network at 8:00pm in both the Dorothy Dickson Darte Center for the Performing Arts and Stark Learning Center, Room 101. The teleconference, titled “The 2% Solution,” will offer information about global climate change and solutions to the problem. The web cast will be immediately followed by a question and answer session with a local panel of experts. The event is open to the public and admission is free. During club hours (11 a.m.-1 p.m.) on Thursday, January 31, organizations related See FOCUS page 5 �NEWS JANUARY 29, 2008 2 SG Survey Results Analysis: Election Update Diversity Awards Dinner 3 3 4 Student hit by car crossing River Street BY MEGAN KRISANDA Beacon Correspondent “Jump.” This was Joseph Stoffey’s immediate reaction when coming face to face with an oncoming vehicle on South River Street on January 14 at 11:52 a.m. Witnesses saw Stoffey attempt to cross South River Street from behind a parked van. A passing Lincoln towncar hit Stoffey and he flew onto the windshield and landed on the street. Stoffey, an 18-year-old psychology major, remained conscious and suffered injuries to his left leg and arm, and a contusion above his right eye, according to the Public Safety report. Despite the fact that there was a crosswalk and a light at the corner, Stoffey’s effort to cross South River Street was down the street away from the light. “I saw someone crossing in The Beacon/Jamie Gwynn front of me in between some parked cars and I kind of figured it was clear. It was my mistake. I ran out between two parked cars and I glanced to my left and saw a car coming at me, just before it hit me I jumped,” said Stoffey. His decision to jump may have saved his life. “Did you ever, in your imagination, go over terrible situations in your head and imagine what you would do? If I ever thought about getting hit by a car, I figured I would jump,” said Stoffey. Stoffey acknowledged he doesn’t have a clear memory of what happened after being hit by the vehicle. “I was kind of tumbling around for a bit, I couldn’t see much. Eventually, I was on the pavement and I got up because I didn’t break anything. People were telling me to lay down on the sidewalk until the ambulance came and that sounded like a good idea,” said Stoffey. Public Safety officers responded immediately to the accident and were on scene before Stoffey was transported by ambulance to Geisinger North, according to Chris Bailey, Director of Campus Support Services. “You’ve got to be especially careful, knowing how fast traffic moves along South River Street, particularly in that area. You have to be vigilant any time you cross a road, even if there’s a crosswalk. Unfortunately in this place, there isn’t a crosswalk,” said Bailey. It’s not unusual to see a fleet of students crossing South River Street from the Dorothy Dickson Darte (DDD) Center between classes. Proposing the idea for a crosswalk was brought to the city’s attention a few years ago by members of Temple Israel, the Jewish synagogue located next door to the DDD. However, the state will not allow it because it is too close to an intersection, according to Jerry Rebo, Manager of Public Safety. “I think any street you go down that is as busy as River Street, you got to take precaution. Don’t anticipate a vehicle is going to stop. Because a lot of time that vehicle driver is looking forward, looking for other vehicles, and not really seeing you come between cars or behind a car,” said Rebo Rebo added that this was not the first incident in which a student was hit in the same area. Last year, a young man tried to outrun an oncoming vehicle while crossing but was hit. “You’ve just got to make sure those cars stop before you cross. I don’t want to see anyone get hurt, and you’re not going to beat a car,” added Rebo. Stoffey described his current condition as pretty much recovered, suffering some broken blood vessels in his eye and a few bruises on his hand and knee. SG Notes January 23, 2007 Treasurer’s Report All College: $25,000 General: $10,000 Special Projects: $3,500 Spirit: $2,000 Leadership: $5,000 Conferences: $12,500 Start-Up: $12,500 Club Reports The following clubs presented updates on their events. Programming Board Islamic Interest Society Dance Team Delta Epsilon Chi New Business New Members - The follow ing students were introduced as members of SG: Anthony Do- runda for the class of 2011, Chris Papayannakos for the class of 2009, Jonathon Lazarchick for the class of 2008. SAE Mini Baja Fund Request Members of SAE came to ask SG for funds to complete their mini baja car that they use to compete in several national competitions. This is a two-week process. Chemistry Club - A representative from the chemistry club came to SG asking for funds to travel to a convention. This is a two-week process. Vagina Monologues Donation Request - SG approved a donation of $750 for Wilkes students to attend the performance. The donation covers $5 per student. Movie Tickets - SG purchased 1,000 movie tickets to allow for 150 more tickets to be distributed per week. Class Events - Discussion and updates were presented to SG by each class to improve their service and image to the student body in response to an electronic survey that went to SG’s constituents. *Due to the length of the meeting and a motion for adjournment, SG voted in favor of adjourning early. The Beacon/Andrew Seaman On Monday, January 14, Wilkes University student Joseph Stoffey was struck by a vehicle on South River Street after stepping out from between two parked cars into oncoming traffic. BEACON Serving the community through fair and accurate reporting while supporting the views and opinions of our readers. Editorial Staff Editor-in-Chief: Nick Podolak Email: wilkesbeacon@gmail.com Managing Editor: Alison Woody Email: wilkesbeacon@gmail.com News Editor: Andrew Seaman Email: news.beacon@gmail.com Op/Ed Editor: Mark Congdon Jr. Email: thebeacon.oped@gmail.com Lifestyles Editor: Christa Sgobba Email: beacon.lifestyles@gmail.com A&E Editor: Marissa Phillips Email: thebeaconae@gmail.com Sports Editor: Carlton Holmes Email: beaconsports@gmail.com Photo Editor: Cara Koster Advertising Managers: Stephanie Yachim Dana Zlotucha Email: thebeacon.ads@gmail.com Advisor: Dr. Andrea Breemer Frantz Established in 1936 PA Newspaper Association Member Printed on Tuesdays during the academic school year. 130 S. River St. First Floor, Conyngham Hall, Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 (570) 408-5903 wilkesbeacon@gmail.com www.wilkesbeacon.com �JANUARY 29, 2008 NEWS 3 SG survey results offer array of responses for how to improve BY ANDREW SEAMAN Beacon News Editor In an effort to better serve Wilkes students, Student Government (SG) members posed a question to constituents over winter break through an electronic survey and has spent the majority of the past two SG meetings discussing the results and finding ways to improve its relationship with students. Students were asked this essay style question, “Do you have any suggestions on how Student Government can improve your college experience for next semester?” The majority of the approximately 210 responses were “No,” but some did take the time to answer the question and offer suggestions for improvement. One answer read, “Yes they should have a fashion show, talent show, dance offs, and more fun things like club night, not playing games like dancing a mini club. Also things should not be on the weekday. They should give things on Friday and Saturday more often. The things they throw were pretty fun.” The majority of the answers that went into detail did offer suggestions, like the one above, for activities, such as: dorm games, free copies of the New York Times, more bands, giveaways, discounted ski lift tickets, and several suggested purchasing more movie tickets. However, not all of the suggestions were material things or social events. Some respondents suggested and requested more access to their SG representatives and officers, more knowledge on what’s going on, and some asked if SG would market itself to the entire spectrum of students. Some also wrote they do not like the attitudes of some SG members. After the results of the survey were determined, the majority of the first SG meeting of the semester was spent discussing how to talk to people and see what can be improved upon. In an effort to get information out to the students, another idea was to put a coupon in the SG newsletter in an attempt to The Beacon/James Rosato SG members have spent the majority of their last two meetings discussing the results of the electronic survey they sent to the student body. All members were also assigned suggestions in the survey to see how plausible and effective they would be. make the students happy. Many of the solutions proposed by SG members were taken directly from the survey responses. SG members were then divided into classes and asked to investigate the ideas to see if they were a plausible and suitable solution. Some of the solutions SG members discussed included: SG Cares Day, where members of SG would wear their shirts and make the newsletter more popular. Other ideas to get information out included letters to the student body about how SG were allocating money, and an all class social. Other events that SG members discussed included a game night, a New York City day trip, a rock band competition and a charity bowling game. A topic that several student respondents News Analysis: Beacon Election Update raised -movie tickets- was handled at the second SG meeting of the semester. Jason Narcoonis, President of the Programming Board discussed the need for more tickets. “Last semester… we had no real set times on the movie tickets… and they were gone within the first hour,” said Narcoonis. Narcoonis also mentioned that SG currently sells 150 movie tickets a week, 75 during two time slots. The change in distribution was meant to ease the problem with the tickets; however there are still long lines for the tickets at the new designated times. Narcoonis elaborated and said, “just for example, [Wednesday] those 75 tickets were gone in 15-minutes.” Programming Board purchases the tickets for $6.50 each, for 150 tickets a week. Therefore Programming Board spends about $14,000 a semester on movie tickets. Programming Board does make a certain percent of that back though; assuming they sell all of the tickets, $6,300 comes back to the budget. Narcoonis proposed that SG purchase additional tickets to meet the rising demands. After several minutes of deliberation SG decided to purchase 1,000 additional tickets, which means an additional 150 tickets available for sale a week, for $6,500. SG members then deliberated on what type of system would be the most efficient and fairest for the student body. However, due to the length of the meeting the members decided to give the first wave of tickets to the Programming Board for it to distribute. Matt Brown, SG President, also urged other SG members to continue to work on their investigations into the events and suggestions from the survey for more discussion next week. Making sense of the election, candidates and issues BY ANDREW SEAMAN Beacon News Editor Like puppies in a pet shop window, the frontrunners for the 2008 presidential election are all jumping up and down, barking “Pick me, pick me!” Each is looking for his or her party to ensure that the White House becomes “home” in November. On January 26, Illinois Senator Barack Obama got a big boost from South Carolina, where he decisively won the Democratic primary with 51% of the vote, beating New York Senator Hillary Clinton and former Senator John Edwards. The win puts Obama in the Democratic driver’s seat, for now. However, on January 29 the tides can turn again when Floridians go to the polls. In both major parties, pundits have acknowledged there is no clear, predictable winner at this stage of the journey. Even analysts who previously predicted that Super Tuesday (February 5, when 24 states hold their primaries or caucuses) would determine the nation’s choice in both parties, are hedging bets and now saying the nation’s choices may well be up in the air until the summer conventions. The next primary, which will be held in Florida on Tuesday, is crucial for all, but one candidate is depending on it more than the rest, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Giuliani’s political gamble was to put all of his resources into Florida-the nation’s biggest early contest- and as a result, he has had very little attention or success in the contests to date. If Guiliani does not decisively win Florida this week, he can practi- cally kiss his viability goodbye. Tuesday’s battleground actually takes place in the most populous state to this point in the primary season. With a population of 18 million, one-sixth of whom are over the age of 65, a demographic that has not yet taken the spotlight in the races will become pivotal. Alongside the candidates, the economy will also be in the spotlight in this primary. Right now, Washington is furiously trying to work on a bipartisan stimulus bill that will give the economy a boost. This bill could put an extra $600-$1,200 in Americans’ pockets come June. The purpose of the primary/caucus process is to determine which candidate a party and its constituents want to endorse. So for the next several months, or at least until there is one clear nominee, everyone is subject to hearing about the number of delegates each candidate has. These delegates translate into who will win their party’s nomination. The more delegates a candidate has, the better chance they have to get the nomination. Then the real fun begins. The Beacon has made a commitment this semester to carefully follow the contests and offer analysis where necessary to encourage more student engagement with the process. �JANUARY 29, 2008 NEWS 4 Diversity advancements celebrated at awards dinner Members of the Wilkes community honored for leadership efforts BY SAMANTHA BARTOLOMEI Beacon Correspondent On January 18, Wilkes held its first multicultural award ceremony and dinner in the Henry Student Center Grand Ballroom to honor those who have gone above and beyond to advance the cause of diversity on campus. Dr. Tim Gilmour, Wilkes University President, offered opening remarks and highlighted the exciting changes he expects will result from the Center for Global Education and Diversity proposed by the Diversity Task Force last semester and approved by the Board of Trustees in December. The Diversity Task Force was tasked last year with researching and analyzing current campus climate, Wilkes University’s needs, and national best practices in the area of diversity. The result was a comprehensive proposal for a new Center for Global Education and Diversity that addresses both domestic diversity issues alongside global education challenges. The Center was “unanimously approved” by the board of trustees and aims to serve as a tangible cornerstone for expanding the multicultural perspective at Wilkes University. Following the dinner, members of the Diversity Task Force and Diversity Ambassadors were recognized and awarded with colorful stoles representing their ongoing dedication. In addition, four individuals were honored for leadership in the area of diversity. An independent awards committee comprised of faculty and staff was formed to evaluate nominations. Mark Congdon Jr., a senior communication studies major, Diversity Ambassador, co-founder of the Straight/Gay Alliance and Young Republicans club at Wilkes was acknowledged as the outstanding student leader for diversity. on the Diversity Task Force and recognized with the Board Member Leadership Award in Diversity. Dr. Andrea Frantz, Associate The Beacon/Andrew Seaman Diversity Ambassadors were awarded colorful stoles by Dr. Paul Adams and Dr. Reynold Verret. In recognition of their ongoing dedication to diversity issues. The Agent of Change staff award was presented to Amy Mbye, engineering department administrative assistant. She was honored for helping international students more easily transition to Wilkes. She is advisor to the Indian & Muslim Student Association, and helped organize events such as the Diwali and Ramadan celebrations. Board of Trustees member, Marjorie Marquart, was honored for her leadership Professor of Communication Studies, was also recognized for her leadership of the Diversity Task Force as chair. Dr. Joseph Francisco, an award winning, distinguished African American Professor of Chemistry and Atmospheric Sciences at Purdue University, served as keynote speaker for the event. In his introduction of Francisco, Dr. Reynold Verret, Wilkes University Provost, noted Francisco’s many achievements “wanted to do the right thing,” but lacked proper support from the administration. “We had security here, but they actually weren’t productive in what they did,” Manager of Public Safety Gerald Rebo said. “I think the system was, ‘be seen, not heard,’” he explained. Under Bailey’s leadership, Public Safety officers were newly clad in sharp new uniforms, required to engage in basic training, and encouraged to assume a high profile image on campus. “Perception is everything. You go out. The officer looks good, the equipment looks good [and] you get the training for the officers. I think we’re one of the top Public Safety departments in the area, and Chris is a large part of it,” Rebo said. Bailey is also credited for establishing a 26-line, 24-hour university service center, and for turning around the school’s parking program. During his tenure, Bailey was promoted to the Director of Campus Support and Services, and became responsible for the bookstore, campus grounds, campus safety, custodial, environmental health and safety, facilities, the insurance program, Sodexho, shuttle services, and parking. His latest accomplishments include the text message notification system in the wake of the Virginia Tech shootings in April, 2007 and the placement of heart defibrillators in nine locations on campus. Bailey attributed most of his success to his most capable staff. “I was basically handed a loaded deck. These individuals [Jerry Rebo, Matt Yencha, Mike Malkemes, and Justin Kraynack] were some of the most capable and hard work- in academia. Among many other things, Francisco is President of the National Organization of Black Chemists & Engineers, and Verret jokingly included the fact that Francisco was dubbed one of the nation’s “sexiest scientists” by People Magazine. In his address, Francisco told of his love for history as a learning tool, but also revealed his frustration with it. He found it disheartening that “very few [biographies] about scientists of color” existed. Francisco provided a biographical sketch of pioneering African American scientist, Percy Julian, a man of “personal fascination” to Francisco. Francisco commented that amidst racial prejudice and lynching in late 1920s America, “this man earned a Ph.D. in that environment.” “Small but significant steps in opening the doors for others [are crucial],” Francisco said. There are some “challenges that are really not new. But knowing our history... sets the stage” for the new generation to know they can achieve as much as their historical counterparts, Francisco added. The evening was also marked with several performances by “Angeles en la Tierra,” a musical trio of Cuban nationals currently attending Marywood University. The group of women performed a mix of their own compositions and traditional Latin American songs. The mandolin, classical guitar, and clarinet players hail from Havana, Cuba, and came to Marywood about two years ago. BAILEY from FRONT PAGE within the University. Bailey’s role at Diversified, according to Byers, will require him to supervise a new unit that manages the quality aspect of Diversified’s operations and associated training and auditing of its production facilities. “At some point, I want to be in higher education,” Bailey said. “I think higher education is a genuine good. My eventual career goal in higher education would be at a vice president or higher level. But I recognize that there are certain areas of my expertise that are lacking, and I don’t know if I would have the opportunity to do the types of things (at Wilkes) that I’m going to have the opportunity to do at Diversified.” The former Fire Protection Specialist for the University of Pittsburgh, Bailey said he was hired by Wilkes in 2002 as the Director of Public Safety to whip a program into shape that ing people I’ve ever met. I believe you would be hard-pressed to find people of equal caliber anywhere else, and I don’t say that lightly. I really do believe that each in their own way, bring such strong talents and a Protestant work ethic. Not finishing a job is not acceptable to them,” Bailey said. Though Bailey will be gone, he has left his mark on the Wilkes University community. “What he did was build an organization that has the capability to go on and do very well [even] without his leadership,” said Wilkes University President Tim Gilmour. “While we’re losing him, we’ve really built a fantastic organization.” �NEWS JANUARY 29, 2008 FOCUS from FRONT PAGE to carbon neutral and alternative energy activities invited to the Green Fair will set up booths for interested students on the first floor of the Student Union Building. According to Klemow, one organization with a station will be the Earth Conservancy, a nonprofit organization based in the Wyoming Valley that works with the local community and is dedicated to reclaiming land formally owned by coal companies. Globa l Warm i ng While students are encouraged to attend both Wednesday and Thursday’s events for both useful information and extra credit, approximately 25 Wilkes professors are also bringing Focus the Nation into their classrooms this week. “Wilkes believes in this event to raise awareness about global climate change and becoming a solution to the problem. It also hopes to raise the awareness of faculty and students outside science and engineering majors on issues such as global climate change and environmental sustainability,” said Kresge. While Dr. Kyle Kreider, assistant professor of political science, plans to use his Law and Society class to explore questions such as “How law can respond to the global warming crisis?” Dr. Diane Wenger, assistant professor of history, will discuss “how human acts in the past and present - most obviously industrialization - have affected the environment and climate change” in her American History course. Dr. Nandita Das, assistant professor of finance and accounting, will be looking at global warming from a financial standpoint, specifically carbon finance. “I think this is a very good opportunity to educate the students on the ‘new’ cost of doing business in a world that should be rightly concerned about the effect of our actions on the environment.” 5 Dr. Jennifer Edmonds, assistant professor in business administration, will also be dedicating the entire week to the issue. “We do know that there is a lot of skepticism associated with the whole issue of global warming and whether humans are at all causing this,” said Klemow. “We certainly welcome anybody and everybody. If you don’t buy into this at all, that’s fine. Come and let’s discuss it.” Despite possible skepticism on campus, Klfor America emow is expecting 800-1,000 students to come out to the Focus the Nation events. In a recent survey of 105 Wilkes students, approximately 30% of those polled plan on attending the web cast Wednesday night. “I want to attend this event because I feel that my generation has within its grasp the ability to abolish the leading proponent of environmental danger: ignorance. Truly, this is a change to become aware of ourselves and how we affect our world,” said Lauren Mannion, sophomore English major. Among the 70% who checked that they won’t be in attendance, many claimed that they would have been involved in the event if they didn’t have work or night class. While many showed interest, numerous students also stated that they do not currently believe global warming is an issue. “It is not imperative to go to [Focus the Nation] and I will most likely have other things to do,” said Chris Hopkins, undeclared freshman. According to Klemow, Focus the Nation is only the beginning of things to come, “one cornerstone” in environmental initiatives that Wilkes has planned to adhere to the Green campaign on campus. Future events may include a formal dedication of the on campus Institute for the Environment and hosting of The Ecological Society of America MidAtlantic Chapter in April. THE NATION So l utions • · HAPPE ·. AT Y OU R BOOKSTO · _,. TI-IIS , .. c'LiYe A£Dust:i.c Music'' care! Wednesday night in our January 30th at 6 J 0- 8 :0 Opm c,Ou:r .After ,, ''Titree Imaginary Boys'' Friday, November 2nd 7 :30-10 :30pm Live Acoustic Music ffearen.owa • .. Provided By H'ealtih Seiniices .. (The< BACCHUS Netwo €2006}, Jw · Fae; - fmpafrw Driving, jirochure ) Don't fo.rget to pick up Justgo t.o: "U7BFREE" J ··Frequent Bt yc.r Card" too~ ~ - - ·~en\ ·!liwgi::t ta DR y,mu-" ~ Cam,'" :atnywh-c:liC mi -mm;- .s,m «, · �Opinion “I Have a Dream” Olympic Boycott Donating Blood Policy JANUARY 29, 2008 6 \. 2008 presidential election is a vote for history It’s time for youth to unite and make voices heard BY THE BEACON EDITORIAL BOARD Imagine running for president. What issues would you address? What political party would you run under? What would you aim to change? How would you want to make a difference and impact American history? What would be your legacy? Well, the candidates running for president in 2008 in both the Republican and Democratic parties have definitely changed the course of history as we know it. The Republican party is breaking ground by forwarding the nation’s first Mormon candidate for President, Governor Mitt Romney, as well as a Baptist preacher, Governor Mike Huckabee. On the Democratic side, we have the nation’s first viable woman Presidential candidate, New York Senator Hilary Clinton, and <; 0 o... c,...,..l_.,. the first viable African American presidential hopeful, Illinois Senator Barack Obama running for the presidency. Moreover, there have also been records broken for primary and caucus voter turnouts, campaign fundraising and spending. According to the Washington Post, Republican candidate, Congressman Ron Paul holds the record for the most money raised, $6 million, on a single day in a primary season. Even more astonishing is that this presidential campaign will be the first $1 billion election and may set a precedent for future presidential candidates, reports USAToday.com. Which of these candidates will win their party’s nomination and the general election in November? Only time will tell. Regardless, the race for the White House in 2008 has made a huge impact on our history. With history happening before wo-,,,.,, A.fr;c.c.....,,-Aw.c.f';<.,o,."l'> Mor.,..•"' h-~c- .,,,,......___.~ ro.'I,; c. ... ~._,J J.c--.+;-/ =<-<- ... \ A Sight for Sore Eyes by: Aleksander Lapinski our eyes and candidates attempting to appeal to the Y Generation by launching online campaigns, creating Facebook and MySpace accounts, and having debates on YouTube, it’s hard to come up with an excuse for remaining uneducated. All of us need to get involved with this election. The Beacon staff urges all eligible Wilkes students to pay attention and educate themselves and others about this election, its candidates, and its historical impact. We would love to see the Wilkes University campus be the first in the nation to be able to claim that 100% of eligible voters on campus actually did so. Such a claim to fame would not only put Wilkes in the record books, but it would send a significant message to Washington that we are watching and we’ll pull the ripcord if we don’t approve of the decisions elected leaders are making. The issues that Presidential and Congressional candidates are addressing greatly impact youth. For example, we are paying into Social Security, and we may never see its support later in our lives. Issues that should concern us include: education (how many of us will owe thousands upon graduation?); taxes (how are our taxes actually being spent and does it reflect our priorities?); health care (all of us face the challenge of affording health insurance after college, but beyond that, we may also find ourselves supporting parents as their health declines); or the Iraqi war (how many of us have friends or siblings who will eventually be veterans and may not see benefits?) If college is meant to be a time when we explore what it is to be adults, it’s necessary that we do our best to listen and pay attention in this election. You can make an impact and become part of history by Is 'v,.JC.<>.I", '"'-~" 1.... .... J. be lfe.r ..,,,+ getting involved. This \;ie...__\~"'-Jl ~" for So""le. is your chance to make a difference. So...if you were running for president, how would you want to make history? ....... By educating yourself and becoming involved now, you can have your say. Make this one for the record books. ~·'~(,- I want my primetime TV back BY STEPHANIE GERCHMAN Beacon Asst. Opinion Editor What, another rerun? Where are my shows? I want my Grey’s Anatomy and Desperate Housewives. As just about everyone knows, the writers’ strike has put a damper on prime time television for the past 12 weeks. This left scripted television fans with only reality show upon ridiculous reality show. The Writers Guild of America initiated its strike on November 5 against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. The AMPTP is an organization cover- ing CBS, NBC, Fox, Sony, Walt Disney and Warner Brothers to name a few notable corporations. Writers are striking over negotiations for a new basic contract. The main issues include DVD residuals, union jurisdiction over animation and reality program writers and compensation for media placed on the internet. Basically they are just fighting over money. In short, the writers want more. If all the writers want is more money, I say give it to them. So far, the strike has cost over 1 billion dollars which covers the lost wages of cast members, crew, janitorial workers, caterers, and prop and costume rental companies. If the Alliance of Motion Picture and television Producers officials had come to an agreement with writers in November when the strike actually began they could have avoided paying all of these people for doing nothing. Television shows are nothing without a script, and the Writers’ Guild understands that. The residuals writers are asking for would cover them in times of unemployment receiving money for 7 7 8 their previous work. The AMPTP argues that the money received for such media is needed for the rising costs of producing a movie. All that I know is that the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers better give the Writers Guild of America what they are asking for. If they can afford to throw away $1 billion dollars for which they receive nothing in return, they can afford to give the writers a small percentage of DVD sales and part of the income received from internet media. Beacon Poll Question This weeks question: What was your favorite book series as a kid? • Harry Potter • Goosebumps • Hardy Boys • Babysitters Club • Bernstein Bears • Calvin and Hobbes • Captain Underpants • Animorphs • Boxcar Kids • Other What do you think? The Beacon wants your voice to be heard. If you want your voice to be heard, please contact The Beacon with the following information: 1 Contact information including your email address and a phone number where you can be reached 2 Your name, major, and year 3 Your opinion thebeacon.oped@ gmail.com The Beacon reserves the right to edit submitted pieces for space and content. �JANUARY 29, 2008 OPINION 7 Boycott 2008 Summer Olympics in China; free Tibet BY GINO TROIANI Staff Writer/Photographer In 1949 the peaceful nation of Tibet, which is located northeast of Nepal and India, was invaded by the Chinese military and exploited for its rich natural resources. After ten years of war and conflict, the Dalai Lama along with Tibetan governmental leaders were forced to leave the country and flee to Dharamsola, which is a city in northern India where they have resided in exile ever since. For over fifty years the Tibetan people have lived under oppression. They are imprisoned, beaten, tortured, raped, and even killed for voicing opinions against the Chinese government or expressing any form of nationalism for Tibet. A Buddhist monk reportedly spent 49 years in a Chinese jail for leading a simple Tibetan rights protest. It is reported that over 1.2 million Tibetans have died as a direct result of China’s occupation. the ancient Greeks that has found its way My reason for writing this piece into our modern day society. If ecrettibet.rsfblog .org is to raise awareness about rtesy of s you take a close look, u Co the genocide and the equation doesn’t oppression that is add up. If the being inflicted Olympic games on the Tibetan represent the people by basic values the Chinese expressed government. above, This year, than why the 2008 are they s u m m e r being in Olympics a country are scheduled that does to be held in not? To me, Beijing, China, the whole beginning August 8. thing is one big Traditionally the oxymoron. Olympics have represented All around the world friendship, humanity, teamwork, activists have been uniting to fight freedom, achievement, and most importantly for Tibetan rights and protest the Beijing nationalism. It is a tradition passed on from Olympics. According to Giovanni Vacallo, President of Committee 100 for Tibet, “China is advertising the fact that they want to bring the Olympic torch to a piece of Tibetan territory, the top of Mt. Everest… By doing that, we believe that China is using the Olympics to help legitimize this illegal occupation.” If you want to become active in the protest against the 2008 Olympics, and support Tibetan rights, make sure to check out “Freetibet.org.” There you will find information about upcoming campaigns, news on Tibet, and learn how to make a donation for the Tibetan people. And remember, as the famous political theorist and philosopher, Edmund Burke once wisely said, “Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little.” “I Have a Dream” that Wilkes will have MLK day off BY JOSHUA WALKER Beacon Correspondent "I have a dream ... " all federal holidays. Since Wilkes is a small private school, it is nowhere near as diverse as the previously mentioned institutions. But should that matter? Does how diverse the surrounding area is have an effect on what holidays are recognizable? My argument is not just about celebrating Martin Luther King Day; it is about being able to celebrate any holiday we wish, and respecting federal holidays. Wilkes prides itself on creating diversity awareness and growth. However, when this institution of higher learning gives us a full day off for Labor Day but doesn’t even give a compressed schedule for Martin Luther King’s birthday, something isn’t right. I understand that Wilkes is a private university, but does that mean we can’t celebrate and have a compressed schedule or off for a holiday when other universities both public and private do? In order for diversity awareness and appreciation to grow and have sustainability at Wilkes, I propose that next year, and years after, Wilkes at least have a compressed schedule on Martin Luther King day if not have that day off. By having a compressed schedule more students and faculty most likely would be able to go to the program Wilkes offers in the morning since there are no classes. To change the status quo, I encourage all students, faculty and staff to express this concern to our Student Government leaders and to the Deans and administration of this campus. Let’s follow Dr. King’s dream and spread his message on his and all days! The Beacon/Gino Troiani On federal holidays all public buildings are closed, including public universities. However, private schools can remain open just like private businesses. On Monday January 21, schools around the country celebrated the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Many schools held ceremonies commemorating his lifetime achievements. Here at Wilkes, a number of students, including me, along with faculty and staff attended a program held in the Grand Ballroom of the Henry Student Center. A vivid speech was given by guest speaker Dr. Russell Davis, Interim President at Gloucester County College. The program then concluded with the reading of Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech by the Multicultural Student Coalition. It was a stimulating program and it produced a decent turn out. Nevertheless, not every student, or faculty for that matter, had a chance to make it. The program was held at 4 p.m. and some students had class. Last year the program was held in the morning and all morning classes ran on a compressed schedule making it possible for every student to attend the ceremony if they wished. King’s College had a similar compressed schedule where morning classes were finished before ceremonies that were scheduled in the late morning began. Upon researching, I discovered that for Rutgers and Temple, the first day of classes for the spring semester began on Tuesday January 22, giving students January 21 off. I even checked USC’s online schedules to see if the west coast differs at all, and they declared a university holiday as they do for Dr. Russell Davis, Interim President at Gloucester County College, spoke to the Wilkes community on MLK day about the importance of accepting others and seeing each other as equals. �OPINION Your Voices Dear Editor: Ashley Filipek Sophomore, English education major Here’s to you... Mr. Shirt too small guy BY GINO TROIANI Staff Writer/Photographer Drawing by: Matt Vital Presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton, fought to choke back tears on a recent campaign stop in New Hampshire. Tears filled her eyes as she said, “I have so many opportunities from this country; I just don’t want to see us fall backwards.” I never imagined there could be such a backlash from what I saw as genuine tears of a woman in desperation. Now the nation, in their campaigning fever, is questioning Clinton’s tearful plea. Are they just crocodile tears, Hillary? Here we are faced with a dilemma. Is a woman just too emotional to be our nation’s next future President? Clinton tells Fox News, “Maybe I have liberated us to actually let women be human beings in public life.” She continues, “You know, we are. Let’s be that.” I ask her critics, where would faking it get her? She has revealed her soft side. Yes, she is a woman. Yes, she is a presidential candidate. And yes, she cries. What we don’t see in the repetitive newcasts is what Candidate Clinton goes on to say in her address to New Hampshire. She expressed that, “Some of us put ourselves out there and do this against some pretty difficult odds and we do it, each one of us, because we care about our country.” Clinton adds that, “When we look at the array of problems we have and the potential for it getting, really spinning out of control, this is one of the most important elections America’s ever faced.” She is aware that our country is in need of some major “revamping” and very much understands voters are in a difficult position to choose who is best, especially in 2008, to get us out of this mess our country is in. Clinton concluded, “I just believe so strongly in who we are as a nation, so I’m going to do everything I can to make my case, and then the voters get to decide.” That’s what we need; a candidate who believes in our nation. You have my vote, Hillary. Not just because you’re a woman, and I am too. Not just because you’re willing to admit our nation needs help and even shed tears in your willingness to be the one to change it, but because I believe you’re the one who will make the change. I encourage all to consider voting for Hillary Clinton in the upcoming election. 8 Courtesy: www.spamula.net JANUARY 29, 2008 Here’s to you, Mr. Shirt-too-small-guy. You spend all of your free time on the bench press machine “getting your swell on,” making the rest of us look like sissies. You walk around with your chin up, collar popped and chest out. Your motive? To buy that Baby Gap t-shirt that’s three sizes too small so that everyone can see your monstrous pecs. Keep on, keeping on! Equality isn’t in the equation when donating blood BY MARK CONGDON JR. Beacon Opinion Editor “Donate Blood-Save a Life!” This is the message the American Red Cross constantly bombards us with as a persuasive tool to try to get people to donate blood. Over break while I was visiting my family in upstate New York, the local VA was sponsoring a blood drive. So my cousins and I decided to do our civic duty and go donate. I haven’t donated blood in about four years and figured it was time. Everything was going all peachy until I came upon a question during the screening process. The question read something like “Are you a man who has had sexual contact with a man, even once, since 1977?” Since I am a gay man, I answered yes. After I was finished answering all the questions, I met with a Red Cross volunteer. Upon looking over my answers, she told me that because I have had sex with a man, I wasn’t eligible to donate. I was in disbelief when she told me why. She said that it’s illegal for men who’ve had sex with other men to donate because of the HIV/AIDS virus. I was mortified. First of all, I do not have HIV/AIDS. Secondly, my blood type is O+, ing and we had left, I decided to do more and since about 40% of the population has research on this ludicrous law. this type of blood and there’s always a need I discovered that the FDA created a policy for type O donors because their blood may in 1983 that men who have had sexual conbe transfused to a person of any blood type tact with men can’t donate blood. The polin an emergency, I could have icy was created due to the increased really helped, if not acturisk of contracting AIDS during ally saved someone’s transfusions. The Seattle life. Post Intelligencer recently Not only was reported that in May of I prevented 2007 the FDA re-evalfrom donatuated and affirmed its ing blood, policy, despite imbut I also provements in testfelt humiliing and an increased ated when I susceptibility of hethad to get up erosexuals to HIV. and take a seat According to the . . in the waiting American Associaarea. My coustion of Blood Bank’s ins then asked why (AABB) website, when I couldn’t donate, the FDA was reviewing its and it felt as if I had policy in May, the AABB, done something Courtesy of calscme.blogspot.com the American Red Cross wrong and was beand America’s Blood Cening punished for no ters all testified that the particular reason. This incident was one of ban “is medically and scientifically unwarthe most degrading experiences I’ve ever ranted” and that “it does not appear rational had. After my cousins had finished donat- to broadly differentiate sexual transmis- . •.o ~ - - 0 ~ · a,0 1,0 sion via male-to-male sexual activity from that via heterosexual activity on scientific grounds.” FDA officials stated that that the restriction is to protect the national blood supply from HIV. However, the AABB disputes that claim and argue, “Current duplicate testing using NAT and serologic methods allow detection of HIV- infected donors between 10 and 21 days after exposure. Beyond this window period, there is no valid scientific reason to differentiate between individuals infected a few months or many years previously.” If the medical community disagrees with the FDA’s policy and believes it should be overturned, since they are the “experts” in this field, it should be overturned. Imagine how many people could be saved if this policy were overruled. The implications of this policy for our community, family and friends are huge. Contact your federal legislators to let them know you believe this law is unjust. After all, if we’re healthy don’t we all deserve the right to give life by donating? �LIFESTYLES JANUARY 29, 2008 Student of the Week Campuses that Care 10 11 9 Fitness resolutions fizzle as New Year progresses BY CHRISTA SGOBBA Beacon Lifestyles Editor Long after the last present is unwrapped and the last vat of eggnog guzzled, the holidays have a way of sticking with you throughout the year. Like on your stomach, arms, and thighs. According to a 2000 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, Americans only pack on a little more than one pound during the holiday season. However, the gain is not reversed during the following months, so the one pound increase could add up over the years. To stave off the weight, many Americans pledge exercise, strength training, and a healthy diet for their New Year’s resolutions. They flock to the gym the first few weeks of the year, only to dwindle greatly in number as February and March roll around. “January is really crazy here,” said Linda Reilly, the wellness director at the WilkesBarre YMCA, where Wilkes University students receive free membership. “Everyone comes back in January because they all have these New Year’s resolutions. It’s really crowded, and people have a hard time getting machines.” David Wrobel, the manager of Uno Fitness in Scranton, counts January as the biggest month for the health club. Normally, Uno Fitness signs up around 100 new members each month. In January, that number grows to 200 to 250. “People make New Year’s resolutions that they want to eat better and lose weight, and then they end up lasting six weeks,” s a i d Wrobel. A poll c o n ducted The Beacon/Gino Troiani in December 2007 by Marist College and WNBC showed that weight loss was the number one New Year’s resolution for women, and the third most popular for men. But 40 percent of those surveyed who made resolutions did not stick with any part of them. One of the main reasons people have difficulty sticking with an exercise routine is they tend to make unrealistic goals, and become discouraged when they don’t achieve them. Reilly says people come to her thinking they can take off 30 pounds in two months. “I think it’s important for trainers to help them come up with a realistic goal, something they will succeed in,” said Reilly. “And then if they do better than that, that’s an even better benefit.” Tom Nallon, a certified personal trainer at the YMCA, sees clients who expect to transition directly from their pre-gym body to their ideal form with no middle ground. “They want to achieve too much too quickly, and it takes awhile to get into the shape where you are able to lose weight,” he said. “The first thing they have to do is to get to a fitness level, and then they can work on achieving more of their goals.” While people may hope for the pounds to melt off quickly, the healthy goal is to aim for one or two pounds of weight loss each week. This should be achieved through an exercise program in conjunction with a more nutritional diet. Using fad diets or skipping meals to achieve a more drastic weight loss not only can cause health problems, but also the likelihood of regaining the pounds. Instead, people should try to eat three to five small, balanced meals each day. “The biggest mistake I think people make is that they don’t eat breakfast. They don’t get their metabolism burning in the morning,” said Reilly. “It’s a lifestyle change. You just can’t come in here and work out, but you have to change your nutritional habits, too.” Another reason people drop out of a fitness regimen is they may feel self-conscious mixing with diehard fitness buffs who have the bodies to prove it. Fitness novices may be worried that misusing the machines or doing exercises incorrectly can garner unwanted scrutiny from the regulars. To become more confident, they can ask staff members to demonstrate how to do cer- The Beacon/Gino Troiani According to a poll conducted by Marist College and WNBC, weight loss was the top New Year’s resolution for women and the third most popular for men. But only 60 percent of Americans kept even a part of their resolution. tain exercises, or they can sign up for personal training sessions so they can get oneon-one help. David Wrobel, the manager of Uno Fitness, believes that knowing how to work out correctly separates those who stick with the program from those who drop out. “They have to get educated on how to get results,” he said. “A lot of them are too afraid to ask for help. Then they get discouraged and stop showing up.” People can also stop showing up because of sheer burnout. Hoping for quick results and eager to prove their dedication, fitness novices can overwork themselves, leading to physical effects like shin splints, torn ligaments, and fatigue. In order to stick with a fitness program, the new members should develop a set schedule to follow every week. An ideal program depends on each person, but healthy individuals should shoot for two to three days of strength training, two days of cardiovascular exercise, and two days of rest. “Some people come in and they’re working too hard. They’re defeating the purpose of working out,” said Reilly. “They’re overdoing it, and they’re not going to see the results they want because the body needs to rest.” After noticing results for a few weeks, fitness novices may feel discouraged when they reach a plateau with little or no muscle gain, strength increase, or weight loss. In Nallon’s personal training sessions, he often sees his clients struggle with reaching plateaus, which occurs when the body adapts too well to the exercise program. “They need to add something in or take something out,” he said. “Add intensity or weight, because once your body has adapted to it, you need change.” Reilly recommends beginners join a few of the classes that are geared towards those just starting out. Classes in water aerobics, Pilates, and yoga are good choices because they are challenging and fun, but gentle enough for beginners. The best way to stick with an exercise routine is to make sure that it is enjoyable. People who find running on a treadmill boring may only last a few weeks if that is their only source of cardio, but if they switch that with racquetball or basketball, they may be more likely to continue. “You have to find something you enjoy. If you don’t enjoy it, you’re not going to do it,” said Nallon. “Exercise should be fun, and it shouldn’t be a stressful thing. You should enjoy doing it. �LIFESTYLES 10 JANUARY 29, 2008 Student of the Week: Ben Beidel BY LAUREN SALEM Beacon Staff Writer Ben Beidel, freshman class president, learned about leadership in what some might call an unusual place: a barn. Beidel grew up on a dairy farm where he fed and milked 120 cows, threw hay bales, and unloaded about 2,000 hay bales every day. As anyone who has ever spent time on a working farm can tell you, the work ethic requires time management and a tireless attention to meeting all needs. A pre-pharmacy major, Beidel has aplied that ethic to Wilkes. He has helped Student Government (SG) plan events like last semester’s Casino Night and the homecoming dance, while simultaneously holding down a part-time job at CVS. Because of the leadership he has shown as class president and throughout his other activities, The Beacon has chosen him as our Student of the Week. The Beacon: How did working on the farm help develop your work ethic? Beidel: I believe that I can easily apply anything that I learned on the farm, be it dealing with crops or animals, to issues that I run into now and can use my experience to deal with it. One of the things I’ve learned on the farm was that when you have the opportunity to get something done, get it done, because with field work you never know if it’s going to rain the next day. The Beacon: Why were you interested in being freshman class president? Beidel: I was interested in being c l a s s president because I wanted to help make Wilkes more enjoyable for students. I feel that there is room for i m provement to help the students stay occupied and excited. The Beacon: What would you accomplish as freshman class president? Beidel: I’m hoping to get a feel for what students want from SG and I’m hoping to work with my board to put together some fun socials for all classes to enjoy. We want to try and get activities together for the students to get people to stay here on the weekends and have something fun to do. like The Beacon/Gino Troiani ·N··· . ·, to The Beacon: How did you become inspired to run for freshman class president? Beidel: I was inspired to run for class president by my grandmother. Like most other freshman, I struggled with homesickness in my first few weeks here and she urged me to go out and meet people and told me to think about running since I had filled leadership positions in the past. The Beacon: What other leadership positions have you filled in the past? Beidel: I swam for the high school relay team for four years and every year I was a district qualifier. As I got older, I knew that everyone that was younger than me was counting on me to make a difference and to prove to them that I believed in them and they believed in me. I was president of a bunch of clubs like FFA (Future Farmers of America), Chemistry Club, and Mountain Biking Club. The Beacon: What do you see yourself doing after you graduate from Wilkes? Beidel: I’d like to climb the ranks at CVS and fix a couple problems that I’ve seen. I’m planning on getting my MBA as well. At the same time coming from a farming background, I would like to have a small ranch one day to show cows or beef cattle. I want to try to give back what I learned as a child and teenager and show it to other people who maybe don’t have that. THE , · . . R ' . STIJDE · ' FOR TH I e p •. a t d( nth! ·m In . . t n up to . k,. . 70 s-3- ~ . 9 ,.+ 21st CENTUR\ �JANUARY 29, 2008 LIFESTYLES Wilkes and King’s collaborate to help community 11 Campuses that Care Week kicks off February 11 BY CHRISTINE ZAVASKAS Beacon Asst. Lifestyles Editor Typically, the only interaction that takes place between students from Wilkes University and students from King’s College involves sitting across from each other at athletic events or standing in line next to each other while wondering how textbooks could possibly cost so much. This is not exactly conducive to bonding between rivals. However, for one week this semester students from the two city schools will have the opportunity to work together in a cooperative way to benefit Wilkes-Barre. This unique annual event is called Campuses that Care Week and will kick off on February 11. Megan Boone, Community Service Coordinator at Wilkes University, describes the project as “a way for the community to know that both the schools care about the community that we live in, that we work in, and that we go to school in.” During Campuses that Care Week, students will have the opportunity to go on transportation-provided Kelley and Leader both enjoyed the experiences they had last year and plan to volunteer at the event again this year. Angela Nicolosi, a sophomore psychology major, liked the time she spent volunteering at the SPCA during the last Campuses that Care Week so much, that she continued to volunteer there two times a month all of last semester. All three students said they recommend participating in this event to their classmates. “I think that a lot of times we kind of get too wrapped up in school and don’t really take time to help other people. I feel really grateful for what I have and being able to get an education like this. I think we should share that with others,” said Kelley. Anyone who would like to participate in Campuses that Care Week will be able to sign up for specific projects and hours the week of February 4 on the first floor of the Henry Student Center. In addition to the trips to outside organizations, there will be a blood drive held at Wilkes University on February 11. Students will also have a chance to relax while helping the community by enjoying a movie night at Movies 14 which is free with the donation of a canned good. The Beacon/Christine Zavaskas Courtesy Megan Boone The Beacon/Christine Zavaskas trips to volunteer at local nonprofit organizations such as the SPCA and St. Vincent de Paul Kitchen. Students from both schools will work together at each location. “When I describe it, often I talk about the goals of it, which are to raise awareness about the different agencies at which students can volunteer, to show our support for those agencies…and also to foster a spirit of cooperation and camaraderie between the two campuses,” said Dr. Bill Bolan, Community Outreach Coordinator at King’s College. In past years, Campuses that Care Week has been successful in meeting its goal of creating cooperation between the two schools. Megan Boone witnessed bonding between students who might have not otherwise met. “I can recall last year when we were making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for VISION [a homeless shelter for men] and it was so messy. We had these huge jars of peanut butter and plastic knives and it was just hilarious. The students definitely bonded over some of the antics that happened…” The week’s events also connect students with the surrounding community. Nicole Leader, a senior double major in sociology and political science, has participated in this event several times and noted, “There are people in Wilkes-Barre that we sometimes ignore as students, the homeless and the elderly for example…We don’t really get to sit down and talk to them. That’s what you get to do when you participate in Campuses that Care Week... If you sit there and listen to their stories, you get just as much out of learning about their experiences as they do from your being there listening.” Caitlin Kelley, a sophomore pharmacy major, was able to spend time with veterans when she volunteered during last year’s Campuses that Care Week to play bingo with residents of the WilkesBarre VA Medical Center. “All of the older gentlemen were saying we were good luck charms. They would have us come over and stand by their card to bring luck to them. It made me feel kind of important, like we were helping them win,” she recalled. Angela Nicolosi volunteered at the SPCA during last year’s Campuses that Care Week. “There was this cat that I absolutely loved...it was the most loving cat, and all I wanted was it to get adopted. That was my favorite experience,” said Nicolosi. �A&E Poogie Bell Band Thai Thai Review Crossword/Website JANUARY 29, 2008 13 14 15 Aptekar's Some for Me, Some for You speaks to audiences BY ALISSA LINDNER Beacon Assistant A&E Editor The works of internationally acclaimed artist Ken Aptekar kick off the 2008 season for the Sordoni Art Gallery. The exhibit, entitled Some for Me, Some for You: Paintings by Ken Aptekar, features 15 works created by Aptekar between 1992 and 2006. Of Aptekar’s works, Sordoni director, Ronald Bernier, explained, “He selects a particular painting [from art history] and he repaints them. He repaints fragments of them.” Bernier added Aptekar never repaints a whole painting and often changes elements of the original such as color, orientation or scale. His replicas also feature text which is etched in a piece of glass and then bolted to the painting. “I always try to use a text that will spin the image in an unexpected way, in order to get other people to imagine what they might say or think when looking at the painting. In other words, my text responses are both subjective and provocative,” Aptekar said. For example, in the piece, “People All Over are Starving,” Bernier explained that Aptekar repainted a classic painting by Pieter Claesz which expressed opulence and plenty and added text which may bring to mind of an individual who would not ordinarily view high art. Bernier noted that the text in Aptekar’s pieces can range from blatant or obscure in meaning to funny and witty or possibly serious. Despite being nationally and internationally known, with previous exhibits everywhere from the Palmer Museum at Penn State University to an exhibit in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Aptekar chose Wilkes University because of the intelligence and expertise of the Sordoni staff. Aptekar added, “I was impressed by the quality of the exhibitions that preceded mine.” Raised in a family of creative minds, Aptekar’s father was a musician and his mother was an art teacher. He regularly attended concerts and explored museums as a child. S09rffE, < O(J(<MCE, SO'JvlC£ rf'O~ <Pfl_J!Jfl_J. >-S<Brf 1\_c;E~ / (J!JfE?('A Beacon/Jenna Stephens Ken Aptekar’s exhibit, “Some for Me, Some for You” opened on January 14. In the exhibit, Aptekar pairs classic imagines with meaningful text in order to create a new meaning for the audience. He explained, “There was a sensitivity to how one’s life experiences can be transformed into art, even though to become an ‘artist’ was a rather crazy thing to go and do.” Both Bernier and Brittany Kramer-DeBalko, the Sordoni Coordinator, agreed Aptekar’s work is created to make specific meaning for the audience. The pieces displayed in the Sordoni exhibit are easily viewed by someone who might not be as well versed in art or art histoy, according to DeBalko. One of Aptekar’s favorite artists to use is Francois Boucher. The title piece, ‘Some for Me, Some for You,’ is partially inspired by a piece by Boucher. Several of Aptekar’s pieces feature multiple images and fragments of different paintings in art history. Some for Me, Some for You: Paintings by Ken Aptekar will be in the Sordoni Art Gallery until Sunday March 2, 2008. The gallery, located in the Stark Learning Center, is open daily from noon to 4:30 p.m. with free admission. Bernier and DeBalko encouraged anyone interested in viewing Aptekar’s work but unable to visit during open hours to call 408-4325 Schedule of Events Tuesday, January 29 Wednesday, January 30 - Winona LaDuke Q&A at 11:00 a.m. in the SUB - Alternative Spring Break Spaghetti Dinner at 4 p.m. in the SUB - Winona LaDuke community presentation at 5:30 p.m. in the SUB - TLC Author Event - Kate Morgenroth, They Did It With Love at the Tudor Bookstore - DJ Godfather at 9 p.m. at the Wood lands - Mike Glabicki performing at 10 p.m. at the River Street Jazz Cafe - M-80 performing at the Woodlands at 9 p.m. Thursday, January 31 - Meet President Tim Gilmour coffee hour at 8 a.m. in the Weckesser Hall Board Room - DJ Kev the Rev and Redbull Ron at 9 p.m. at the Woodlands - Comedy night at Donahue’s at 10 p.m. Friday, February 1 - Regional Entrepreneurship Institute Meeting at 1 p.m. in the SUB - Writing January, The Life to Come, The Loyal and Far From Honored performing at 8 p.m. at Cafe Metropolis - 40 Lb. Head performing at Brews Brothers - The Five Percent performing at 10 p.m. at the Woodlands Saturday, February 2 - New York cultural theater trip at 8 a.m. - Lacrymosa, Bob Alumni and Marcelle Reinecke performing at Test Pattern at 8 p.m. - YGGR, Passion, Anthracite, The Early Birds performing at 8 p.m. at Cafe Metropolis - Dimensions performing at 10 p.m. at the Woodlands Monday, February 4 - Campuses That Care Week begins �JANUARY 29, 2008 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 13 Music Review: Poogie Bell Band delights at Jazz Cafe BY NICK PODOLAK Beacon Editor-in-chief On average, I’ll usually spend around $35 during a night out on the town in Wilkes-Barre, wasting my cash on greasy appetizers, mixed drinks, and monster ballads on the jukebox. But after seeing a flyer in the newspaper offering a 14-16 oz. lobster tail dinner for $24.95 and $1 bottle Lions’ Heads at the River Street Jazz Cafe, I realized that this was an offer I could not pass up. However, I didn’t go to the Jazz Cafe last Friday night for the lobster tail dinner. Nor did I go for the $1 bottle Lions’ Heads. I was there to take in an evening of “A Funk Jazz Show” with The Poogie Bell Band. Poogie (rhymes with fugee) is a world class jazz, R&B, and hip-hop drummer who has worked with the likes of David Bowie, Chaka Khan, Marcus Miller, Roberta Flack, and Erykah Badu, just to name a few. The New York native was exposed to music since he was born, due largely in part to his father being a jazz musician and music teacher. Poogie’s early appearance on The Mike Douglas Show with Pearl Bailey at the tender age of five sealed the deal. Needless to say, as an aspiring drummer myself, I could not wait to see what Poogie could do behind the kit…and I was not disappointed. Joining his fellow band members, sax player Jacob Yoffee, keyboardist Howie Alexander, guitarist Chris Parker, and Kevin Barefoot playing the low notes, Poogie emerged stage right through a curtain and sat behind a modest drum set, cast in a purple hue from the lighting on stage. He’s a big man, resembling an aged ?uestlove from The Roots, and after a quick holdup from a fan who hopped on stage to engage in a conversation with the drummer at the most inopportune time, (you gotta love Wilkes-Barre natives), Poogie addressed the crowed with his high, playful voice. “Hello, Wilkes-Barre! Thank you for coming out on this cold winter’s night.” Then, with a few clicks of the sticks, Poogie and his crew opened up their first show of the New Year with a nice little funk number as the heads in the crowd bobbed in unison with the big man. When Poogie plays, he seems so happy, closing his eyes and nodding his head back and forth to the groove. Perhaps my friend put it best when he described the band’s sound as “the score to a seventies cop flick and an adult film.” Perfect! Poogie kept things interesting, switching between full-bodied rim shots on the snare to calming rim clicks, and often wowed the crowd with short, but powerful, mid-song solos, from furious drum rolls across the kit to John Bonham-esque triplets with a thundering bass drum. The band especially shone in a tune called Redd Foxx, dedicated to the late comedian, as Parker let loose on the guitar in a slick solo while Alexander transformed the sound of the keyboard into a deep chuch organ chirp…very cool. Other highlights included a cover of Herbie Hancock’s “Actual Jam,” and Poogie’s very own song about his hometown New York Knicks, titled “Knickerbocker Bling.” The only hitch during the evening occurred when Poogie lost one of his sticks during the first song, but he kept time with his hi-hat and quickly retrieved a new one from his bag to finishing the song in style. Poogie will return. Grade: B+ Michael Glabicki from Rusted Root to play at the Jazz Cafe tomorrow Michael Glabicki, the lead singer and guitarist from the Pittsburgh jam band Rusted Root, will perform live at the River Street Jazz Cafe this Wednesday night with Mike Mizwinski, guitarist from Morning Pride and Tripping On Nothing. Cover is $5 at the door. Show starts at 10:00. Courtesy http://www.artdrum.com Tudor Bookstore to close BY MARISSA PHILLIPS Beacon A&E Editor 4T-SHIRTS.COM YOUR 11 SGURGE F'O R SCREEN PRnNlilNG EM BROJ DERY, .AN I PROMOTIONAL ITEMS! PERfECilf FOR BUS1Nll:SSE RSS,TAURANl · [jOlliEGESi MIil HIGl-t SCHOOLS. M CARRY ALL BRAJilDS AND SlYLES Of l!ES, SWEA.'llSHIRfSi GWJF SKIRJ5. Mil UllilfOFUtS. PLUS, A WIDE VAmEff OF MOIIOTIOJ\IAL ITBfS S\l'Oli AS Pad, MUGS, MOLJSEPADS\, COOLERS KEY,CttAI S, AHD. MCfilE. GREA'J PRICES AND AKNO\WED6EABLE ART STAAF. 570.823.9272 NEW LOCATION 146 Soua Pe nylvania Ave. across fr-om Noly Redeemer· Nigh School n ar Domino s , nd Corb Bevera Although change is often a good thing in new, developing areas, it can come with a price. As “progress” ensues, smaller, locally owned stores often are forced to step aside to make way for larger chain stores. In March, Kingston will say goodbye to the last independent and locally owned bookstore in the area, The Tudor Bookshop and Cafe. The recent addition of Barnes and Noble to the area has made it difficult for the Tudor to stay in business. Stacy DeAngelo, assistant manager of the store explained, “It’s hard for an independent to keep going when you have to compete with the internet and big chain stores.” Although the store will close in March, there is not a specific date set at the moment. DeAngelo also explained, “As soon as a good portion of inventory is gone we’re going to start closing up. It depends on how long it takes things to sell out.” In order to get their inventory sold, the bookstore is currently running a sale on everything in the store through January 31. Some residents are clearly upset to see the end of a long-standing independent bookstore. One former Wilkes student, Eric Shatrowskas said, “It’s pretty unfortunate because it was a really good bookstore.” Student and Effort resident, Justin Hall, explained the value that he sees in independent book stores as well as chain stores. “They’re valuable in different senses. Independent bookstores are good for finding old, out of prints and lesser known works from good authors. Chain bookstores are good, because if there’s a book that just came out that you want, you can access it with ease. They have two different functions in my mind.” Tudor was founded in 1976 by Barbara Shaffer and over the years has offered a variety of services to the public. According to its website, nearly 1,000 authors have come to the valley because of the Tudor bookstore. Also, the Tudor has hosted monthly book club meetings, held art and literature contests, and published a book of poetry, Got Verse. In addition, the cafe has become a popular “regular” spot for coffee and sandwiches for many. Despite the fact that the closing is fast approaching, the Tudor will still hold its January and February events, including author visits with Kate Morgenroth and Anne Easter Smith, as well as a gallery exhibit with “The Amish Prints of Don Fatzinger.” �ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 14 JANUARY 29, 2008 Restaurant Review: Thai Thai BY NICOLE FRAIL Beacon Asst. News Editor I really didn’t know what to expect from one of downtown Wilkes-Barre’s newest additions, Thai Thai. I heard good things from my co-workers, but since I have little experience with Thai food, I wasn’t entirely sure what the menu or atmosphere of the little restaurant would be like. Dressed in simple jeans and a hoodie, I felt underdressed in Thai Thai and secretly hoped that my guest and I would be seated in a corner. I quickly realized, however, that Thai Thai consists of one, large room. No sections, no barriers, just you and everyone else. If you like to have private conversations in booths with high walls, this may not be the place for you. On the other hand, if you enjoy hearing about how there isn’t enough chicken in your neighbor’s salad multiple times, you’re in luck. I ate at Thai Thai on a Monday night just before the dinner crowd arrived. My guest and I were seated beside the window in front of the restaurant. After taking our drink order and delivering it less than two minutes later, the first thing I noticed was the constant, cold draft coming through the windows. There was a space heater off to the side of our table, so I knew that the restaurant was trying to address the problem. At the same time I acknowledged the attempt, I still had a hard time convincing myself that the old space heater was aesthetically pleasing. c 1....,.1> Thai Thai’s menu is exhaustive and almost overwhelming.They offer 102 dinner choices (13 vegetarian), plus sides, desserts, and a lunch menu. They gave us ample time to look over the entire menu and I finally decided on Pad Thai while my guest chose Panang Curry. Between placing our orders and receiving them, I listened to the traditional Thai music playing overhead and the occasional sounds of pots and pans banging and clanking in the kitchen. I was distracted when one of the waitresses became engaged in conversation withofthe women at the table Courtesy Mike Cignoli beside us. They spoke of Thailand and its restaurants and hotels and at one point, the waitress even did a little dance. She was pleasant and funny and came back to check on our area of the room frequently. While I have very little experience with Thai food and am not even sure how Pad Thai is supposed to taste, I was indifferent toward it. The noodles were a little too soft for me, the chicken and shrimp were limited to three pieces each, but the portion was huge. My guest’s curry was spicy, warm, and full of chicken and we both thoroughly enjoyed the coconut rice we ordered on the side. For two entrees, two drinks, and a side, the bill came to roughly $36.00 with tip. While the price of the entrees ran between $10.95-$12.95, I wasn’t really phased considering I sometimes pay close to four or five dollars for six inches of hoagie and about two dollars for a hotdog on campus. We’re college students on a budget and it’s hard to go somewhere .r ■ .· nice where things are cheap. If it’s date night and you’re willing to spend the money, Thai Thai’s dim lighting, soft music, and close seating might be fitting. All in all, I probably wouldn’t go back. If someone really wanted to go, I’d accompany them and try a different dish. The service was Thai Thai’s best feature and the atmosphere was enjoyable, but I just don’t think Thai food is my thing. Grade: B- - rllcl___ > NO FOR SP -~ -- ····. :P .· Photo Courtesy of http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Workshop/7676/food.JPG NTI G .G 20 8 I I C ,ci lf"'lCY A p, - . I' ntm _,l y - - 1rr n w<J.:::o N - S Enl:lfrY ,V · ·t o . undry .· - \IV1 -F 1 n r t - . _ ·_ ilke · 57 · wvvw. cu •· Street "1 ·· 7 ·. 2 22 0 ndl v n · ~co �15 Kudracross ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT BY CHRISTOPHER KUDRAK Beacon Staff Writer 1 6 10 14 15 16 17 19 20 21 22 23 25 26 30 32 35 37 38 41 43 44 46 47 50 53 54 55 60 61 63 64 65 66 67 68 ACROSS Nothing but net Catatonic state Fraudulent scheme Columbus ship Asian ethnic group Cincinnati location Captain Kirk craft VIP’s transport Barrel maker After sep. Pub offerings Money, slangly Group of lions Missile type Courageous Mathematical rule 1970s Wilkes-Barre flood causer Broke divine law Kings, for example Actor’s arena Substitute one for another Deliver a sermon Narrow strip of wood “Winner ______ all” Skeet activity GI offense Meadow Lethal ___, starring Mel Gibson Hindu garment Fight of flight hormone Birch, for example Drinking glasses Date gift Twenty-six fortnights Imitates Fermentation agent 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 18 24 25 26 27 28 29 31 33 34 36 39 40 42 43 45 47 48 49 51 52 54 56 57 58 59 62 JANUARY 29, 2008 DOWN Blueprint detail Blush addict “____the wild blue yonder” Dance movement Group of wives Ford, for example Baltimore baseball player Cosmetic substance Aid Alternative energy devices Pepper variety Targeted Bullwinkle, for example Big-leaguer Electric resistance unit Tailor action Possessive pronoun 22nd letter of the Greek alphabet Affleck and Franklin Vermont capitol Fairy-tale monster Takes care of a child Sharp side of the blade Marine mammal Sony competitor Tennis term Relaxed 17th Greek letter Bill for services Flavorful Sentient MASH setting BYOB part Watery eyed Buddhist monk Medicinal plant Leaning Tower city Washington is on them Avian abode One of Four in Massachusetts Fannypackantics.com BY STEPHANIE GERCHMAN Beacon Asst. Opinion Editor We rarely see them in NEPA, but when we travel to Philly, New York City, Washington D.C. or any other major city in the world, they are all over the place. No, not taxis or subway systems…I’m talking about tourists. While most have played the role at one time or another, it is hilarious to spot blatantly obvious tourists and laugh at their stupidity. Fannypackantics.com is the first ever tourist humor blog and it has made an art out of spotting tourists and poking fun at their silly habits. Clearly, the website tends to focus on “fanny packs,” those fashionably questionable, ultimate-in-pragmatic tourist tools that allow a hands-free approach to shopping. Fanny packs are pouches that are strapped on around the waist and can serve as purse, wallet, or backpack. Fannypackantics.com offers pictures of men, women and children wearing fanny packs in the front, to the side and in the back. The site hails such fashion disasters as the number one way to spot a tourist. Possibly my favorite part of the site is the “Fanny Pack of the Week.” A guy wearing his fanny pack backwards was described as “trying to avoid looking like a lame tourist” and compared to someone wearing a backwards baseball hat which “can look really douchy, too.” But wait! There’s more. Not only does this website poke fun at fanny packs, but it also finds other funny ways of identifying tourists from cameras worn around the neck, to absurd fur coats and hats to suits worn with sneakers. There are also pictures of tourists that ask the viewer to comment on whether or not you would mug the tourist. The site even pokes fun at those who mispronounce the names of streets, cities and landmarks. While this site is written by jaded city dwellers who bemoan having to deal with tourists crossing their path every “80.3 seconds,” it’s entertaining to see what these city people see daily. It’s even funny to see the site poke fun at a few things that maybe we have even done ourselves. I give this site an L for laugh-out-loud at out-of-towners. Go to this site, take a few notes and deal with fewer disdainful townies. �16 SPORTS JANUARY 29, 2008 After semester hiatus, intramural games back on Students teams will compete in variety of sporting contests BY CARLTON HOLMES Beacon Sports Editor In August of 2005, sophomores Steve Nesgoda and Tom Modugno formed the X-Colonels, an intramural team originally comprised of 12 former varsity football players that saw minimal field time in a Colonels uniform. The players quit the team after their freshmen season and picked up a new hobby, intramural flag football. After winning two consecutive intramural championships, it was clear the X-Colonels were unstoppable. The team posted two perfect regular season records because the other flag-pulling junkies just couldn’t measure up. But in August of 2007, two years after the team’s inaugural season, a monkey-wrench was thrown into the X-Colonels plans to go for the trifecta. According to players, numerous calls to sign-up for their senior season faltered because there was no intramural director available to answer the phone. A month passed and the team began to grow restless until one day, their call was answered only to learn flag-football would be cancelled for the fall semester. “I was upset. We wanted a three-peat,” said Modugno. “We were looking forward to this season especially after winning (championships) the past two seasons.” The tale of the X-Colonels represents other disappointed intramural teams who had their respective sports cancelled during the fall semester. Normally, the full-time assistant men’s basketball coach serves as director of all intramural sports, but when the Colonels hired a new assistant for the 2007-08 season, Neal Biscaldi, the intramural schedule suffered during the transition period. Lucky for all participants, those days are finally over and intramurals are back. “I personally would like to thank you (the students) very much for your patience with the intramural schedule this year,” Biscaldi stated. “I understand that it will be limited this spring but we will come back stronger than ever in 2008-09.” Six intramural sports will be available during the spring semester including: billiards, dodgeball, basketball, flag football, softball and beach volleyball. Biscaldi explained that he will consider student and faculty suggestions for other sports not yet listed such as, wiffleball, ultimate frisbee, tennis, ping pong, etc. Intramurals are open to all members of Wilkes University with the exception of students who play on a varsity team. Players who have completed four years of eligibility are allowed to participate in intramurals. “I’m happy that intramurals are back,” said Nesgoda, relieved co-captain of the X-Colonels. “A couple of my buddies who completed their four years on the football team will be joining us this season. That makes it easier for us to three-peat.” 2006-07 Intramural Champions Flag Football: X-Colonels Basketball: The Shocker Squad Billiards: Bill Young Volleyball: Team Bunjay Men’s Indoor Soccer: Team Nick Co-ed Basketball: Tony Scarnato Co-ed Soccer: Team Crew 2008 Schedule Billiards League, Feb. 4 Sign up by Feb. 1 Dodgeball, Feb. 13 Sign Up by Feb. 11 Basketball, March 12 Sign Up by Feb. 29 Flag Football, March 17 Sign Up by March 10 Softball, April 2 Sign Up by March 31 Beach Volleyball, Apr. 18-19 Sign Up by Apr. 11 Wrestling from PAGE 20 It’s kind of a grind where the guys have to make weight two days in a row, but you have to do that in the national tournament and we plan on taking guys, so it’s good experience. Jon Laudenslager “He [Laudenslager] says to make sure I wrestle my match, not to just go out and try for the pin. Wrestle my style and it will eventually come,” Feldman explained. The Colonel wrestlers were also in action Friday, January 25, at No. 4 Delaware Valley. The Aggies won the first five bouts of the night and eventually took the win 35-6. Pizarro and freshman Ryan Wilson notched wins by decision for the Colonels. With two matches in two days, the Colonel wrestlers were forced to make weight back to back. Laudenslager said, “It’s not easy. It’s kind of a grind where the guys have to make weight two days in a row, but you have to do that in the national tournament and we plan on taking guys, so it’s good experience.” With the Metropolitan Championship just under a month away, Laudenslager believes the team does have some areas to improve on as it enters the postseason. “They have to continue to work hard in the next month. We have to get in better shape,” Laudenslager explained. He added the team specifically needs to work on their conditioning and toughness. From the wrestler’s perspective, Feldman explained of the next month, “Keep working the way we are, working hard. You have to peak at the right time, hopefully it starts now.” The Colonel wrestlers will be busy in action again this week. Wilkes visits the College of New Jersey at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday January 29. The Colonels will also wrestle a quad-match at Franklin & Marshall College Saturday February 2 at 12:00 noon. The Beacon/Gino Troiani Sophomore Joshua Lamb performs a headlock maneuver on Ephs freshman James McCarthy during the Colonels match against Williams College on Saturday. �SPORTS JANUARY 29, 2008 17 Women’s basketball still seeking conference win BY GERARD HETMAN Beacon With the first half of MAC Freedom conference play nearly complete, the Wilkes Lady Colonels basketball team remains in search of their first league win after dropping a 77-64 decision Saturday afternoon in James Work Gymnasium at Delaware Valley College. The loss drops Wilkes to a 1-16 overall record, and the team remains winless in conference play after five contests. The Lady Colonels were also playing without the services of senior Lacey Andresen, who suffered an injury in the team’s loss to Manhattanville last week and was not in the lineup for Saturday’s game. “We picked up our defense after the opening few minutes, but we didn’t keep it up,” Wilkes senior Katie Cappelloni said of the loss. “Delaware Valley has some really excellent shooters, and no matter how good the defensive effort is, we needed to score more to keep up with them.” While Delaware Valley jumped out to a 8-point lead just a few minutes into the first half, Wilkes rallied back to bring the score to 18-17 with eight minutes remaining in the period. However, the Aggies ripped off a scoring spurt in the last few minutes of the period and outscored Wilkes by a margin of 14-3. The run also allowed Delaware Valley to take a 40-23 lead heading into halftime. Despite a 14-5 scoring run by Wilkes midway through the second half, the Lady Colonels were never able to threaten the Aggie lead. Cappelloni continued her recent strong play by racking up 18 points and pulling down eight rebounds. Freshmen guard Sam Lynam contributed 13 points, while fellow freshman Brittany Ely tossed in 11 points. The Lady Colonels will close out the first half of league play by hosting the Devils of FDU-Florham on Wednesday evening at 6 p.m. in the Marts Center, before traveling to DeSales University on Saturday afternoon to begin the second half of MAC-Freedom competition. With both of the conference co-leaders coming up next on the Lady Colonels’ schedule, the week will prove critical to their chances of climbing back into con- tention for a conference playoff berth. “We’re excited about the upcoming games. Everyone has the chance to start The Beacon/Jenna Stephens Members of the Wilkes University basketball team take part in the action against Manhattanville College on January 22. The Lady Colonels lost the game, 69-64. f'ri_e d Mu broom Fried Ravioli (6) Mo2ZareUa Stirn (.5) B..ound Pie:s 12'"' -_ ediwm Pizza 16"" Lq,:; Pizza 12 ~ an Pizza Bl·occo.li. CW a winning streak,” Cappelloni said of the week ahead. “There’s a lot of basketball left to be played.” M1m Tacos. ( 12) PI_Z ZA "WW RJ11 • IALAINI 12 Olt Tray 10 CutT:ray 10 Cut 'Tray ini Potato ~ c s 02) J ·tmpeno Pop . e:rs. (6 Fr ch :m=s Cboos.e&.i:es. On~onRm_g Chicken · uggats 8) www..,j il.D.'IIZZDpizzil .c:o:m ~ - B'. i1rn-:S~ 30 --· ·Norllu,,,-- to St. s.is~s166 I a1.s.--so3., Coldl lltruiam Tima -_- Ob.er: DeliMeh Mc:alba1tl w/ Ch~s.o ·heese Sterak Chi· - Parm~ "a C1u'b Su.b Tml:c:y- _- - Checs,c Can. B con .· Cheese Ro· •t Beef&. Cheese Sa age Grilled Cbicbn Chicken C heese Steak. Bulff__,ailo Obie ffl C.'S MillD& heese . · ·npto - Jll~r.:s· MOB - lihun lJ AM - JI PM P.ri . S.-i l.l AM - 12: 10AM" Su .. IZP.M- .IJ M reeWi- i AND aai~ Pa ND 1006 .i 'CO 'r3687 474-6669 To.s ~ w / ~. U::;.ss d w/ Tun IP.a m w/ Ohe e: !!livrry.O.n.ly 82-S-iOIJ. Dallu 67 -7777 AilM,ip lo C - sar Chef · ~lad Greek Crispy Chlckr:o. Cruck,e n C esa:r Cbiclce_n CaesaJi' Grilled Ch~ _ken C.rmpy C.bick,c.n Cati ·(rlmia Che · t for 5p -- tlivmyOnly "ng Bread. Sti.ch Che.es Steak Ve ··e Tmk,cy Club Steak T'tlfMl �18 SPORTS JANUARY 29, 2008 GAME OF THE WEEK The New England Patriots play for perfection BY TIM SEIGFRIED Beacon Asst. Sports Editor Four months ago, the New England Patriots were the talk of the football nation. But the talk wasn’t about Tom Brady or Randy Moss. It wasn’t about the record books or their chances at another title. It was about their integrity. In the wake of “Spygate,” the Patriots’ ethics were called into question for questionable (see also: illegal) tactics after they were caught videotaping the New York Jets’ defensive coordinators on the sidelines during week one of the season. The outrage from fans and fellow players alike was deafening, and the NFL acted swiftly, including fines for the team and coach Bill Belichick that totaled $750,000, as well as the loss of a first round draft pick if the Patriots were to make the playoffs. In response, the Patriots didn’t fight the ruling. Instead, they embarked on a season long act of vengeance against every naysayer that argued that their previous championships were ill-gotten. Over the course of the next 16 weeks, the Patriots would go 15-0, by outscoring their opponents 551-260, in what would be one of the most dominant regular season performances ever by an NFL team. How dominant were the Patriots? Their 589 total points set an all-time record, surpassing the previous record of 556 (1998 Minnesota Vikings), including 12 games in which the team scored over 30 points, with eight of those games occurring consecutively to begin the season; a streak where they averaged 41 points per game. So how did they manage to put together the greatest offense of all-time? Two words: Randy Moss. While most of the credit is being heaped upon quarterback and 2007 MVP Tom Brady, the real credit belongs to Moss, whose arrival prior to the season had many critics wondering if they would be seeing the Moss of old (111 receptions, 1,632 yards, 17 touchdowns in 2003), or the Moss of late (42 receptions, 553 yards, 3 touchdowns in 2006.) Those questions were answered early on in the season, after Moss had 31 receptions for 505 yards and seven touchdowns after the first four games of the season, en route to a record breaking campaign in which he set an NFL record with 23 touchdown receptions, edging out Jerry Rice’s previous record of 22. (Caveat: Rice set his record in only 13 games during the strike-shortened season of 1987.) Not only did his arrival to the team give them a true game-changing receiver for the first time in Tom Brady’s tenure, it also allowed fellow wide-receiver Wes Welker to take advantage of the coverage on Moss, who was frequently the target of more than one defensive player. That setup often resulted in big plays from Welker, who set a team record with 112 receptions for 1,175 yards and eight touchdowns. One can debate whether or not Moss was more v a l u able than Brady, but is it a coincidence that Moss’ arrival happened the same year that Brady would set personal records for rating, completions, yards and touchdowns? However, an enormous amount of credit has to be given to Brady, who anchored the offense throughout the season, while having one of the greatest seasons ever for a quarterback: a rating of 117.2, 398 completions (at a 68.9% completion rate) for 4,806 yards, while passing for a record setting 50 touchdowns, with only eight interceptions. While Brady & Co. were setting offensive records, the Patriots’ defense was doing its job by holding opponents to fewer than 20 points and 290 yards per game, while leading the AFC with 47 sacks. The New England defensive line is anchored by a bevy of veterans, including Junior Seau (73 tackles), Tedy Bruschi (92 tackles), and Mike Vrabel (77 tackles, 12.5 sacks), with the rest of the field covered by the likes of Rodney Harrison (70 tackles, 1 interception) and Asante Samuel (46 tackles, 6 interceptions). The Patriots defense quietly became one of the best in the AFC; however, the bigger story was the success of their offense, which propelled them to win after win throughout the season, despite some close calls against the Philadelphia Eagles and Baltimore Ravens. The Patriots swiftly put an end to the Jacksonville Jaguars and the San Diego Chargers in their first two games of the playoffs, as many predicted, and they once again find themselves in familiar territory, the SuperBowl. But they find themselves also on unfamiliar hallowed ground as well: the chance at a perfect season, from start to finish. The Patriots are only 60 minutes away from achiev- ing football immortality, t o join the ranks of the 1972 Miami Dolphins as one of the only teams to ever win every game during the season, and walk away holding the Lombardi Trophy. Now, all the New England Patriots have to do is beat the resurgent New York Giants, a team they bested twice during the regular season, including a week 17 battle that nearly saw the perfect season come to an end in a nail-biting, 38-35 contest. Leading the charge for New York, the NFL’s biggest postseason surprise, is a rejuvenated and suddenly unflappable Eli Manning, who could finally be turning into the player that everyone thought he would be. Manning, who snubbed the San Diego Chargers after he was chosen as the number one overall pick in the 2004 draft, has yet to live up to the expectations set forth by his father Archie and his brother Peyton. After a four touchdown performance in a loss against the Cowboys during week one, followed by a tough loss against the Packers in week two, Manning and the Giants would go on to win their next six games, and finished their season with a 7-1 record on the road. During week 17, the Giants were handed the unenviable task of having to derail New England’s chances at a perfect season, who entered the game with a 15-0 record, needing just one more victory to make history. New York shot out to an early lead, but succumbed to the Patriots in the end, despite Manning’s four touchdown performance and gutsy plays. Many analysts thought that head coach Tom Coughlin should have New England Patriots Record (Road): 16-0 (8-0) Points Per Game: 36.8 Yards Per Game: 411.2 Passing Yards Per Game: 295.7 Rushing Yards Per Game: 115.6 Team Leaders Passing: Tom Brady - 398-578, 4,806 yards, 50 TD, 117.2 rating Receiving: Randy Moss - 98 receptions, 1,493 yards, 23 TD Rushing: Laurence Maroney - 185 attempts, 835 yards, 6 TD Interceptions: Asante Samuel - 6 Tackles: Tedy Bruschi - 92 Sacks: Mike Vrabel - 12.5 Playoff Leaders Passing: Tom Brady - 48-61, 471 yards, 5 TD, 105.7 rating Receiving: Kevin Faulk - 13 receptions, 118 yards Wes Welker - 16 receptions, 110 yards, 2 TD Rushing: Laurence Maroney - 47 attempts, 244 yards, 2 TD �SPORTS JANUARY 29, 2008 19 SUPERBOWL XLII that head coach Tom Coughlin should have pulled the starters after half-time, but his decision to let them play the full game may have led to their momentum heading into the playoffs. Behind solid outings from Manning, the Giants defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first round of the playoffs, followed by a stunning upset of the Dallas Cowboys on the road in which Manning showed flashes of brilliance and poise, something he hasn’t shown with much consistency in his short career. The most noteworthy performance of the Giants’ season came in the NFC Championship game against the Green Bay Packers, in which New York overcame sub-zero wind chill temperatures to defeat the heavily favored Packers with a game-winning field goal in overtime. And so the Giants are, once again, called upon to face the New England Patriots. This time, they are not only looking to ruin New England’s perfect season, but more importantly, to give New York its first Super Bowl victory since the 1990 season. The Giants are led by Eli Manning, whose less-than-spectacular regular season numbers are moot after having thrown for 599 yards and four touchdowns with a rating of 99.1 so far in the playoffs, coupled with his newfound resilience and leadership. Manning’s main targets will be wide receivers Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer, both of whom came up big in the championship game against Green Bay, adding to what has been an already solid season for both of the receivers. On the ground, the Giants will be attacking with the two-headed monster of Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw, who have rushed for a combined 318 yards for four touchdowns in the playoffs. On the other side of the ball, the Giants will be sending out one of the best pass-rushing lines in the NFL this season; a line that includes Osi Umenyiora (13 sacks) and Micheal Strahan (9 sacks), who helped lead the Giants defense to a league leading 53 sacks during the regular season. They say the best offense is a good defense, but there isn’t an overwhelming favorite in this contest as far as the defenses are concerned. New York Giants Record (Road): 10-6 (7-1) Points Per Game: 23.3 Yards Per Game: 331.3 Passing Yards Per Game: 197.1 Rushing Yards Per Game: 134.2 Team Leaders Passing: Eli Manning - 297-529, 3336 yards, 23 TD, 73.9 rating Receiving: Plaxico Burress - 70 receptions, 1,025 yards, 12 TD Rushing: Brandon Jacobs - 202 attempts, 1,009 yards, 4 TD Interceptions: Gibril Wilson, Sam Madison - 4 Tackles: Antonio Pierce - 103 Sacks: Osi Umenyiora - 13 Playoff Leaders Passing: Eli Manning - 53-85, 599 yards, 4 TD, 99.1 rating Receiving: Amani Toomer - 15 receptions, 196 yards, 3 TD Plaxico Burress - 16 receptions, 194 yards Rushing: Ahmed Bradshaw - 39 attempts, 163 yards, 1 TD Brandon Jacobs - 48 attempts, 155 yards, 3 TD Both teams have done great jobs during the postseason in controlling their opposing teams’ offenses, but at the end of the day, it comes down to which team is going to put the points on the board. The Giants are going to come out with momentum and motivation behind Eli Manning, as they are once again the underdogs in the last game of the season, going up against the greatest offensive juggernaut ever assembled in the history of the NFL. David and Goliath? Not quite, but New Yorkers love to be underestimated and prove everyone wrong. The Patriots are one victory away from the perfect season, a season in which t h e y h a v e been labeled as villains for their actions during week one. This week, it’s all about vindication for New England, as they face off against the NFC’s best team and Cinderella-story in the New York Giants. In the end, the New York Giants feel-good story will end abruptly at the hands of the New England Patriots, whose season is going to roll to a historic finish with a win in Super Bowl 42. THE PICK: 40 24 Double Take Steph examines the stats that truly matter... BY STEPHANIE GERCHMAN Beacon Asst. Opinion Editor From what I understand, it is surprising that the New York Giants are in the Super Bowl. My cousin also tells me the New England Patriots haven’t lost a game in a while. A normal person without a doubt would therefore wager that the Patriots are going to win this year’s biggest football contest. I am nowhere near normal. I am going to root for the Giants. Let’s play make believe. Imagine both of these teams are what their team names describe. The Giants are actually humongous versions of human beings. They have massive hands and feet and over-sized bodies. The Patriots are soldiers with guns and formal uniforms and silly hats. The football field is only so big; thus, the Giants would be able to take four steps and be across the field. The Patriots would have to run and dodge the massive feet. They could try to shoot the Giants with their guns but it would probably be like throwing Tic-Tacs at them. Take, for instance, the movie “Cloverfield.” You have one humongous moster versus soliders with guns and tanks. I don’t want to spoil the movie or anything, but the monster took a bigger beating than Apollo Creed in “Rocky IV,” and he barely had a scratch on him. Now, if they were playing the Colts they would definitely win…but then they would have to take up the results with PETA. The disadvantage for the Giants would be their inability to find the tiny little football. I don’t really know the rules of football, but I think that the Patriots would have to forfeit due to the number of inevitable casualties. This would allow the Giants to win by default. While my vision for this game may be slightly absurd, I still am a sucker for the underdog. My vote is for the Giants. �Sports JANUARY 29, 2008 Men’s Basketball keeps pace in conference chase 20 Colonels look to continue MAC winning streak BY GERARD HETMAN Beacon Asst. Sports Editor As the first half of league play in the MAC Freedom Conference winds down this week, the Wilkes University Colonels continue to stake their claim as a force to be reckoned with in the conference standings. After drubbing Freedom Conference newcomer Manhattanville earlier in the week, the Colonels withstood a heated last-minute rally to hang on for a 71-67 win at Delaware Valley College Saturday afternoon. The win moves the Colonels’ overall record to 9-7, while improving their conference mark to 4-1. Saturday’s win also snapped a 3-game losing streak for the Colonels in James Work Gymnasium on the Delaware Valley campus. “It’s a huge conference win and a huge road win for us,” senior point guard Matt Gould said in the Wilkes lockerroom following the victory. “We faced tremendous adversity down the stretch out there, and coming away with a win took a complete team effort today. We need to continue that dedication to be successful.” The Colonels would lead by a double-digit margin at several points in the game before the Aggies began their run by embarking on a 13-0 spurt with three minutes left in the game. Raheem Wiggins powered the run for Delaware Valley by scoring seven of his 27 points during that stretch. Though the Aggies cut the Wilkes lead to a single point several times in the final minute, Chris DeRojas went 4-for-4 from the free throw line in the closing seconds to seal the win for Wilkes. DeRojas continued his standout freshman campaign with his third straight 26-point scoring effort to lead Wilkes. Anthony Gabriel, Steve Kline and Gould each finished with ten points in the win, with Gabriel posted a double-double by pulling in ten rebounds. The Colonels will welcome the Devils of FDU-Florham to the Marts Center on Wednesday to conclude the first half of conference play. While the freshmen-heavy and inexperienced Devils have only posted two wins on the season, they are sure to bring a determined style of play to Wilkes this week. “We know every game is a battle in this league, and we can’t overlook anyone,” Gould said when asked about this week’s contest. “We need to come out on all cylinders from here on out.” Wrestlers defeat Williams College in final bout of the day BY ALISSA LINDNER Beacon Asst. A&E Editor The 27th-ranked Colonels wrestling team sweated out an 18-15 come-from-behind-win against Williams College on Saturday, January 26 in the Marts Gym. The Colonels won the match in the final bout of the day with a pin by sophomore Andrew Feldman in the 285 lb. weight class. The win brings the Colonels overall record to 15-5-1. The Williams College Ephs started out strong, winning the first three matches of the day. Junior Ethan Cohen won an 8-3 decision over Colonels junior Shaun Farnham in the 125 lb. weight class. Ephs freshman Corey Paulish defeated Wilkes junior Josh Pauling 7-2 at 133 lbs. and Wilkes freshman Brandon Prentice lost a 6-0 decision to sophomore Dylan Rittenburg at 141 lbs.. Junior Erik Smith gave the Colonels its’ first win of the day in the 149 lb. weight class. Smith scored two takedowns and added an escape for a 5-3 win by decision over Williams senior Nic Miragliuolo. Smith’s win brought the overall team score 9-3 in favor of the Ephs. Wilkes senior Adam Penberthy lost a close 4-2 decision against Carl Breitenstein in the 157 lb. The Beacon/Gino Troiani Sophomore Anthony Gabriel dunks one in during the closing minutes of the Colonels home game against Manhattanville last Tuesday. weight class; however, the Colonels would go Colonels to within six, defeating ing match of the day in the 285 lb. on to win four of the last five Ephs’ sophomore Nathan Shippee weight class. Feldman scored four in the 184 lb. weight class. Brad- takedowns before pinning Ephs’ bouts. Sophomore Frank Heffernan ley scored four takedowns and freshman Tim Kiely with 1:30 left improved his individual record added a point for riding time to in the third period. The win gave the Colonels their first lead of the to 24-8 with a strong 6-1 decision win a 9-4 decision over Shippee. Wilkes sophomore Zach Pizarro day and an 18-15 overall win over over Ephs’ senior Doug Washington at 165 lbs. Heffernan’s win continued to perform well for the the Williams College Ephs. Going into the 285 lb. bout, brought the overall team scores Colonels. Pizarro notched his 21st win of the season with an 11-5 Feldman knew he was in a must 12-6 in favor of Williams. Ephs’ freshman James McCar- win by decision over Ephs’ junior win situation; however, Coach Jon thy gave Williams its final win of Kyle Ayer. The win in the 197 lb. Laudenslager encouraged him to the day. McCarthy defeated Wil- weight class brought the overall wrestle his style. kes’ sophomore Josh Lamb 6-0 team scored to 15-12 in favor of in the 174 lb. weight class. Fresh- Williams. Cont’d on Page 16 Feldman brought the most excitman Shawn Bradley brought the � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon Newspaper Collection, 1947-present Description An account of the resource <p>This is Wilkes University's <em>Beacon</em> Newspaper collection, 1947-present. We also have digitized copies of the <em>Beacon's</em> predecessors, <em>The Bucknell Bison Stampede</em>, 1934-1935 and <em>The Bucknell Beacon</em>, 1936-1947 June. It should be noted that Wilkes University does not have a complete set of issues for the Bucknell Bison Stampede and Bucknell Beacon. For researchers who are interested in seeing the complete issues for these publications, please contact <a href="https://researchbysubject.bucknell.edu/scua">Bucknell University's Special Collections Department</a>.</p> <p></p> <p>Missing Issues:</p> <p>1947 August 8th<br />1947 September 5th<br />1947 October 3rd<br />1947 October 17th<br />1947 October 31st<br />1947 November 21st<br />1947 December 19th<br />1948 September 9th<br />1950 April 28th<br />1953 April 10th<br />1962 February 2nd</p> Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Beacon staff is comprised of Wilkes University students who are advised by a full-time faculty member of the Communication Studies Department. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1934-present Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright of the Wilkes Beacons is retained by Wilkes University. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Professor Emeritus Harold Cox digitized the collection from 1934-1970 and created a <a href="https://beaconarchives2.wilkes.edu/">legacy website</a>. Digital Archives student John Jenkins digitized the collection from 1970-present. Special thanks goes to Communication Studies Professor Dr. Kalen Churcher, Editor-in-Chief Kirsten Peters, Beacon staff member, Emily Cherkauskas, and other Beacon staff for their help in acquiring digitized copies of the Beacons from 2006 onward. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon 2008 January 29th Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2008 January 29 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Communication Studies Department Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Wilkes University https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/545d5454dd3a2cc95cad6a6ff7fcd77c.pdf c5a17de08f79c31b053f37a86e6b0ab7 PDF Text Text Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA The THE NEWS OF TODAY REPORTED BY THE JOURNALISTS OF TOMORROW In This Issue... Issue 11 Special Investigation Bumper Stickers 4 Out Of 3 People Volume 60 www.wilkesbeacon.com DECEMBER 4, 2007 I] Have Trouble With Froctions Page 8 Stressful Finals Page 9 A black and white issue in shades of gray An examination of race in the local community BY NICOLE FRAIL Beacon Asst. News Editor; CARLTON HOLMES Beacon Sports Editor; MARISSA PHILLIPS Beacon A&E Editor; ANDEE SCARANTINO Beacon Editor-in-Chief; ANDREW SEAMAN Beacon News Editor Editor’s Note After hearing complaints from Wilkes University students of color about treatment they have encountered at local businesses, The Beacon initiated an investigation into the role of race in local customer service. “I went to CVS and was stopped at the door and told to put my school book bag down. And there were other people walking in [the store] with their hand purses. The manager is the one that told us to do it. When that happened, I felt on the outside of society,” said Paul Vaughan, senior criminology major and an African American. The Beacon formed a team of six students - three Caucasian, one African American and two Hispanic - who became customers and prospective job seekers and tested policies and practices at local businesses. The following article reflects the issues that emerged alongside both positive and negative experiences. No backpack policy Nationally, the move to prohibit backpacks at large public gatherings, as well as in businesses, is gaining ground. In a post9/11 world, erring to the side of caution has now become common practice, though some businesses have also adopted no backpack policies in an effort to curb shoplifting and even trade secret theft. Citing security reasons, some schools have moved to prohibit backpacks. For example, Tennessee State University has received criticism for requiring its own students to leave backpacks at the door in its cafeteria (ostensibly to cut down on food theft). Locally, according to representatives at a variety of downtown businesses, policies about backpacks are up to the individual stores. But are such policies uniformly enforced in a race-neutral manner? Based on a tip from a student who observed at a local business that white students were allowed to retain their personal belongings, while See INVESTIGATION page 4 Memorial for Simonis dedicated at Wilkes BY ANDREW SEAMAN Beacon News Editor S'eason 's 13eafin_Js Friday, November 30, friends, family, classmates and Wilkes officials dedicated a bench in memory of Jake Simonis. Simonis was killed on August 1, 2006 in a motorcycle accident outside of Evans Hall the summer before his junior year. Immediately following his death, members of Simonis’s class began raising money for the memorial through the raffle of sports tickets and memorabilia that were donated. From the raffle about $1,300 was raised and given to the class. Many of Simonis’s friends and family spoke at the ceremony. Simonis was known by many for his white Del Sol and his love of country music, and the fact that he “couldn’t walk around campus without saying ‘hi’ to people he knew,” according to close friend Laura Hanna. Page 12 Inside News................................1-5 Opinion.............................6-8 Lifestyles.........................9-11 Arts & Entertainment....12-15 Sports...........................16-20 The Beacon/ James Rosato �NEWS DECEMBER 4, 2007 Fire destroys home on New Frederick St. 2 Internet2 First snowfall WB investigation 3 3 4-5 BY JAMIE GWYNN Beacon Staff Writer The fire that gutted 44 New Frederick St. and damaged the second floor of 42 New Frederick St. began at approximately 10:08 p.m. November 26, according to Wilkes-Barre Assistant Fire Chief Jim Clarke. There was no one in the house at the time the fire began. “One of the residents living next door heard what she thought was an explosion, and then she was checking her house and she saw flames...” said Police Sgt. Joseph Novak. Rod Petrovich, who lives on New Frederick St., mentioned that the previous owner allegedly planned to sell the house after the health department shut down the building and that he is currently in a nursing home. “We were kind of figuring this [house] was going to go down. That’s the way this neighborhood is.” When asked about the intentionality of the fire last Monday night, Clarke had no further details. The New Fredrick St. fire is the fourth fire in the area within the past month under investigation. Novak could not confirm if the four fires are related. BEACON Serving the community through fair and accurate reporting while supporting the views and opinions of our readers. The Beacon/Jamie Gwynn SG Notes November 28, 2007 BY JAMIE GWYNN Beacon Staff Writer Treasurer’s Report All College: $1,220.96 General: $1,303.30 Special Projects: $1,256 Spirit: $815 Leadership: $3,525.04 Conferences: $9,500 Start-Up: $600 Club Reports The following clubs presented a report to SG. Programming Board Ultimate Frisbee SAVE History Club New Business Winter Weekend Theme - narrowed down to three main themes in no specific order: Movies, Occupation and Superheroes. Survey System for Programming Board - motion passed to renew the system from programming board; takes care of a variety of surveying events for the University. Student Government Meetings - next week is the last Student Government meeting of the semester. Events Winter Weekend - February 22-24 Editorial Staff Editor-in-Chief: Andee Scarantino Email: wilkesbeacon@gmail.com Managing Editor: Nick Podolak Email: wilkesbeacon@gmail.com News Editor: Andrew Seaman Email: news.beacon@gmail.com Op/Ed Editor: Mark Congdon Jr. Email: thebeacon.oped@gmail.com Lifestyles Editor: Alison Woody Email: beacon.lifestyles@gmail.com A&E Editor: Marissa Phillips Email: thebeaconae@gmail.com Sports Editor: Carlton Holmes Email: beaconsports@gmail.com Photo Editor: Cara Koster Advertising Managers: Stephanie Yachim Dana Zlotucha Email: thebeacon.ads@gmail.com Advisor: Dr. Andrea Breemer Frantz Established in 1936 PA Newspaper Association Member Printed on Tuesdays during the academic school year. 130 S. River St. First Floor, Conyngham Hall, Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 (570) 408-5903 wilkesbeacon@gmail.com www.wilkesbeacon.com �NEWS DECEMBER 4, 2007 3 Internet2 opens new doors for Wilkes BY CANDICE HALLIDAY Beacon Staff Writer provide capabilities that are 3-5 years ahead of the commercial Internet. Like email and the World Wide Web, Internet2 designers hope to expand and capitalize on the posEmbarking on virtual field trips and videoconferencing sibilities of a broader internet. from a desk at home are two of the many things users can Salem explained, “The fascinating thing about it is that do with Internet2. it’s invisible. You do not know you are using it when you In 2006, Wilkes officially became a member of inter- are.” net2, a high speed internet connection providing all stuAside from the web and e-mail, new technologies offered dents and faculty with a broad range of beneficial internet by internet2 allow people to network in a different way. It tools. It allows the Wilkes community to make connec- opens the gate to digital libraries, virtual laboratories, and tions between what is going on here at Wilkes and independent distance learning. Schools can also receive at other schools equipment from other universities. oF,r-.~ around the President Tim Gilmour ex~ nation. plained, “My ~,s;---------i Accordthought was ing to that having Michael such capacity Salem, would proChief Invide faculty formation and students Officer at access to a Wilkes, powerful tool “ Wi l k e s to connect with has a concolleagues across nection the nation. Interwith more net2 is like the interthan 45 state highway network research and provides more rapid and educationtransmission of very large al networks across the messages. This includes globe.” two-way video transmission With these connections, students and that requires significant, constant faculty have access to special databases, distance bandwidth that the internet cannot learning programs and current initiatives of member in- provide.” stitutions. Wilkes is the first University in the Wyoming Valley to offer Internet2 services, but Wilkes receives its connection from the University of Scranton. “This benefits their ability to do research, collaborate, and teach,” explained Salem. Internet2’s main goal is to . ... ,zr-----.J!!l~ ,;~ Join America’s #1 Student Tour Operator CANCUN ACAPULCO JAMAICA BAHAMAS FLORIDA A Wilkes University employee removes snow outside of Capin Hall on Sunday morning following the first snowfall of the season. The inclement weather resulted in Wilkes’ postponement of the Masters of Business Administration weekender final examinations, which were set for Sunday afternoon. Despite last year’s Valentine’s Day storms, approximately 70 percent of PaHomePage.com visitors were not worried about the next winter storm on Sunday afternoon. AccuWeather predicted 2 to 4 inches of snow to fall before the storm was expected to switch to sleet and freezing rain Sunday afternoon and into the evening. On November 28, PennDOT released a new winter weather driving guide and online traveler information section in order to help drivers prepare for the 2007-2008 winter season. The new section includes traffic cameras, real-time weather conditions and advice on how to get your car ready for the winter conditions. Mai.l Room ~HE CITIZE S' VOICE PA I lil!in~ Iii ' NIGi IT FRIDAY K . RD Approx 3:J0 ru 0nm • L:irrt N n La:rt mny be- lillcd. Olll k of Sell Trips, Earn Cash & Travel Free www.ststravel.com STUDENT TRAVEL SERVICES 1-800-648-4849 / www.ststravel.com wilkesbeacon.com STSTRAVEL.COM The Beacon/Jenna Stephens �DECEMBER 4, 2007 NEWS A black and white... INVESTIGATION from FRONT PAGE students of color were not, The Beacon investigative team tested policy by dispatching two Caucasian reporters with backpacks into businesses, and mere moments later, sending a team of one African American reporter and one Hispanic reporter into the businesses, also armed with backpacks. In all cases, the reporters made sure they passed by the front registers and employees and then browsed through the aisles for about five minutes before making a purchase. The first business tested was Boscov’s, located on Main St. just off Public Square on September 20 at approximately 11:30 a.m. Both teams of students wandered through the business with their backpacks on and neither group was approached by employees asking them to remove their backpacks. However, the experience was different at the CVS on South Main St. When the team comprised of students of color entered the business with their backpacks, an employee immediately approached and asked them to remove their backpacks. The male employee said that by taking their backpacks off, it would be “easier for them to shop.” When the group of white students entered the location a few moments later, they passed by the same employee who had asked the first team to remove their backpacks, but this time, the Caucasian team was able to keep their backpacks on while they walked through the aisles. This incident occurred on September 27 at approximetly 12:00 p.m. Members of the investigative team spoke with local employees and were referred to the corporate headquarters for comment. Reporters attempted to contact CVS management at the corporate level on several occasions to ask about the policy and its enforcement; however, no messages were returned. Other businesses tested included Rite Aid, Barnes & Noble, and Walgreens. In each of these cases, the teams of students were treated the same and all were allowed to retain their backpacks while shopping. In none of the aforementioned local businesses is there a visible policy or sign that mandates customers remove backpacks before fully entering the store. In addition, in a search of the websites for each business, there are no stated policies regarding backpack removal. After The Beacon contacted the corporate offices of all businesses they were told that it is generally up to each individual store. Employment applications Team members also sought to garner employment applications at local businesses. In the case of CVS, RiteAid, and Walgreens the students were routinely referred to the national websites for application materials and told they needed to initiate the process there. There was no reported difference in the treatment of the students when they were referred to the websites for applications. However, on September 20 at approximately 12:00 p.m. the African American reporter asked for an employment application at Boscov’s. He was told by a Boscov’s employee that the store was not hiring and was not given an application after asking for one. When a white male reporter asked for an application from the same female employee shortly after the first reporter was turned down, she said Boscov’s was not currently hiring but told him that he should apply during the seasonal period and gave him an application. A short time later a Hispanic female went to the same woman and experienced hesitation when asking for an application. When the female asked for the application, the woman told her, “Yes. We have applications but we are not taking them until late October- November. You might want to come then.” After much persistence, another employee of Boscov’s urged the woman who had spoken to all three reporters to give the Hispanic female an application. Laurie Langan, a representative from Boscov’s, said that historically 17% of Boscov’s employees have been minorities. Langan also mentioned that Boscov’s is an equal opportunity employer and the incident involving the reporter of color with an application “will be dealt with.” Langan added that when a person comes into Boscov’s asking for an application, they should be directed to the human resource office during the day, and she assured The Beacon that officials would reiterate the company’s policies to their employees. 4 �DECEMBER 4, 2007 NEWS 5 issue in shades of gray Further evidence Unfortunately there are no up-to-date statistics that illustrate the breakdown of ethnic population in the city of WilkesBarre; however The Beacon was able to obtain figures from the 2006 American Community Survey, which states that 5.3% of the total population of Luzerne County self-defined as being of race other than “white.” Also, Wilkes University’s Fact Book for the 2007-2008 school year states that 10.9% of the total student population at Wilkes listed themselves as an ethnicity other than “Caucasian.” But the U.S. Census figures suggest that the nation as a whole, and NEPA specifically, will continue to see dramatic increases in ethnic minority populations in the workforce, schools, and suburban neighborhoods. Ron Felton, NAACP local chapter president and long-time Wilkes-Barre resident, said that he predicted incidents like these occurring in the area. “I think there have been greater challenges for the majority community with the... influx of minorities in the city of Wilkes-Barre and surrounding areas. I knew as the number of minorities increased, there would be growing pains for them,” he said. Felton used an example from this year’s Wilkes-Barre Christmas parade to illustrate that racism remains alive and well in the community. “There is racial tension. They [African-American students from Meyers High School Step Team] were invited to the annual Christmas parade. They were in the parade on November 17 and there were yells from bystanders using racial slurs… These young people were exposed to the words that we hoped to lay to rest.” Local police and school officials have acknowledged they are investigating the reported incidents. Vaughan also recalled an incident when he encountered racial slurs. “I was just walking [from A Plus on Academy Street] and two men opened their car windows and screamed out ‘nigger’ as they drove by. I was just thinking about what year it was and how long ago the word ‘nigger’ was accepted in society but it’s nothing you can do about it,” said Vaughan. Several months ago, Felton and other local leaders held a public ceremony that officially aimed to “bury the n-word.” Taking action Dr. Tim Gilmour, Wilkes University President and Chair of the Chamber of Business and Industry Board, said, “I don’t think that anyone should accept mistreatment. That said, sometimes you need to be fairly sensible to what kind of confrontation you have. My feeling is that if I had [encountered] the situation, let’s say, at CVS, I would bring it to the attention of the manager forthwith and say, ‘is this your policy?’ If it’s not, the Chamber has a diversity committee and it certainly should be reported to the Chamber.” Dr. Maria Suarez, Special Assistant to the President for Multicultural and Community Affairs, also commented on what students can do when encountering these types of scenarios. “I would tell the student to first of all let us know. Part of our responsibility is to be an institution that serves this community.” Suarez also suggested that students should seek support from the university through the support offices or on campus student groups. “As a person of color I can say that when these things happen, it can affect the way you feel about yourself in a setting... and [let them] know that they are not alone…” she said. “It is important for [students] to participate in the activities that we have, because sharing those feelings of not feeling welcome or feeling that this is just a little bit different than where we came from, can by itself be comforting. So I encourage them to just seek us out…” Jane Ashton, Director of Workforce Development for the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Industry, said that when the Chamber hears of incidents where discrimination is involved, they “have an internal discussion,” she said. Then depending on the scenario they will choose their next course of action. One reason for this, Ashton said, is that “it is hard when the legal system is involved.” Ashton added that the Chamber tries to get local employers to “embrace diversity,” and that the chamber was “key” in the formation of Luzerne County’s Diversity Task Force. Suarez also noted that the community should want to be known as a welcoming place, because the way the WilkesBarre area is perceived by others affects its economic development. “This is a vibrant community that is actually much more diverse than people think,” she said. After numerous attempts to contact Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tom Leighton, he refused comment on the investigation. In an area where only 5.3% of the population is not Caucasian, students are bound to run into individuals who do not treat them as equally as other people. Felton said the best thing for the students is to tell them what to expect. “When you come into an area where you are the racial minority, don’t be surprised if you meet people who are not as welcoming. There are a few good people, but then there are some knuckleheads. There are businesses that might focus on you because you stand out, and you’re different, and that makes us a target in many places. And, if you feel that they’re watching you, let them know that you know that they’re watching.” * Valerie Martinez contributed to this story �Opinion Meat Industry Hazards Bumper Sticker Dilemma Angry Rant: Christmas DECEMBER 4, 2007 6 \. Is online social networking all its “poked” up to be? BY THE BEACON EDITORIAL BOARD Over the past few years, there have been an alarming number of stories reporting that online social networks are where predators hide. As a result, parents limit the amount of exposure their kids have to cyberspace. Of course, any parent would be interested in protecting their child, but is preventing a child from visiting online social sites the right way to handle it? According to Dr. Brendesha Tynes, a psychology professor at the University of Illinois, the answer is no. In fact, she argues that allowing adolescents to get involved in an online social network may offer benefits such as “enhancing cognitive skills and promoting positive social skills.” But online social networks are not just for kids. An overwhelming majority of college students also actively engage in social sites such as MySpace, Friendster, and Facebook. One study conducted in California noted that 85% of college students have a Facebook profile and 60% of them log into their account on a daily basis. We contend that online social networks offer not only the opportunity to enhance social skills, but are also a way to create important connections that can lead to internships, jobs, and even advance academics. Yes, Facebook and MySpace can help users to locate the hot parties, but connection with others using these vehicles can also help the user find apartments for rent or buy a used textbook. However, some caution is advisable, particularly as parents consider online social networks potential effects on younger teens and adolescents. While experts like Tynes have offered compelling arguments that online social networks can be beneficial, there are also vehement rebuttals among equally respected sources. Of greatest concern is that, just as in all face-to-face social interactions, the reality is that people can be cruel and abusive to one another. This is especially true among young people. According to a recent CNN article, over 1,500 children between the ages of 10 and 15 were surveyed in a recent study and the results indicated that an alarming 34% of those surveyed said that they had been verbally harassed online at least one time in the past year. How can social networks break down social ties? Well, in one disturbing case, online harassment led to a 13-year old’s recent suicide. The teen, Megan Meir, engaged in cyber conversations with someone she believed to be her new 16-year old MySpace friend “Josh Evans.” But inexplicably, “Josh” ended the cyber relationship after six weeks, telling Megan that he had heard she was “cruel” and didn’t want to be friends with her as a result. A distraught Megan committed suicide on October 16. Following Megan’s death, her parents learned that “Josh Evans” had been fabricated by one of Megan’s girlfriends and her 7 8 8 girlfriend’s mother. Their intent was to find out what Megan would say about her friend online. In response to Megan’s death, the small town of Dardenne Prairie, Missouri, passed an ordinance making online harassment a misdemeanor violation punishable by a monetary fine and jail time. Granted, the Missouri case is extreme, but it aptly illustrates that there is no clear answer to the “benefits or drawbacks” conversation on online social networks. As is the case for all social interaction, face-to-face, telephone conversation, non-verbal signals or written interaction, humans are just that, human. This means that great leaps may well be made forward to advance individuals and groups. But it also means that abuses will occur and sometimes lead to tragedy. It is therefore necessary to be vigilant in our efforts to punish the abusers and celebrate those who are creative enough to advance us using this technology. Beacon Poll Results The following are results of a poll that The Beacon conducted online this past week. The poll was unscientific, and does not claim to reflect the overall attitudes of students on campus. Results are based on 60 responses. The Beacon asked: Who has been the most dominant sports athlete or team in the past ten years? • Tiger Woods-28% • Jeff Gordon-3% • Venus & Serena Williams-2% • Michael Phelps-5% • Roger Federer-5% • Lance Armstrong-17% • NY Yankees-13% • LA Lakers-3% • NE Patriots-13% • Other-10% Should the drinking age be determined by age or maturity? BY GINO TROIANI Beacon Photo Staff The other day I couldn’t help but overhear two students from Wilkes discussing the weekend they had out at a party. As I listened, one of the kids began telling a story about how he drank too much and spent the whole night throwing his guts up. I laughed to myself, but that’s not the funny part. Instead of stopping there, this big shot kept talking about throwing up, and it almost seemed like he was actually trying to glorify his actions, acting as if everyone would be impressed with himWhat? I’m sorry, did I miss something? Is it now cool to drink to the point that you throw up, and then brag about it? Now I’m definitely not trying to condemn going out and having a good time. God knows that I do it just as much, if not more than the average college kid. But I get the impression that a large number of young adults are both uneducated and tremendously immature when they are thrown into a ‘party’ environment. In America we grow up with the government and a majority of parents harping about how alcohol consumption is a big no-no for anyone under the age of 21. To me, this silly law makes no sense to say that as soon as someone reaches a certain age, they are automatically mature, and the consumption of alcohol is magically accepted. My perspective is that because the government and our culture has instated a drinking age, as soon as underage citizens get their hands on this forbidden potion that has been kept from them for so long, the majority of them act out and do not know how to pres- In today’s society, I think the ent themselves in a respectable ily Italian family, alcohol wasn’t and mature manner--much like the that big of a deal for me. If I problem is that parents don’t want fool I overheard bragging about wanted to sample a drink, I was to be parents. They don’t realize allowed. Isn’t it logical that if we that explaining about alcohol usdrinking too much. The average European is ex- forbid young adults to do some- age can be more beneficial than posed to beer, wine and hard liquor thing, they are going to want to do restricting their children while growing up. from a young age. The consump- it more? tion of alcohol is publicly legal at the ripe age of 16 in many countries. It is not uncommon to see someone have a glass of wine at the dinner table regardless of their age. Since alcoholic beverages are nothing more than just another drink in this culture, young adults grow up without the negative connotation that America stamps on alcohol, and instead are taught respect and moderation for the substance. The Beacon/Mark Congdon Jr. Growing up in a primar- Wilkes University students drinking on South Street. �OPINION DECEMBER 4, 2007 7 Meat industry poses health risks to consumers & animals BY LAUREN SALEM Beacon Staff Writer The meat sold in school lunches, purchased by consumers in grocery stores, and ordered from fast food restaurants comes from a massive rectangular, storieshigh, gray building, with no windows called the slaughterhouse. According to Eric Schlosser, author of the book Fast Food Nation, 5,000 cattle enter the slaughterhouse every day, never to see light again. Prior to the “final journey,” though, animals are kept in feedlots and exposed to unbearable weather conditions according to the article “Health” posted by the sustainabletable.org. They are often closely packed together, have short ropes tied around their necks, and are forced to sit in their own manure receiving little sunlight or fresh air. Such pre-slaughter practice has promoted the spread of disease, which makes meat industry highly dependent upon antibiotics. The Union of Concerned Scientists estimated in the article “Health” that 4.5 million pounds of antibiotics are used in human medical treatments, while 24.6 million pounds are used in animal feed. Experts have suggested that the overuse of antibiotics in animal feed may be the cause of human drug resistance, among other things. Systematic mutilations like de-beaking chickens and cutting off cow tails is another way meat industry maintain animal health. Animals like cattle are fed high-calorie grain food as well as dead pigs, horses, and chickens to fatten the cattle while keeping the cost down according to Schlosser. Dairy cows are injected with rBGH, which is a growth hormone that causes the cattle to produce mass quantities of milk. “Health” argued that the present methods of animal mistreatment result in poor quality meat. Crowded feed lots cause animal stress, which lowers lactic acid in the muscles producing dark firm and dry meat (DFD). DFD meat has poor taste, dark coloration, short shelf live, an abnormally high pH value, and may carry bacteria and E. coli that cause food poisoning to humans. The antibiotics given to animals do not treat diseases, because the bacterium becomes resistant to the antibiotics and according “Health,” 14,000 American die every year from drug resistant infections. Growth hormone traces found in dairy products, which put people at greater risk for developing breast, colon, and prostate cancer, due to IGF-1 (a natural growth factor), are why growth hormones were banned in Canada. The alternative to factory produced meat is all-natural meat from independent family farms, which is “meat with benefits” according to Kate Clancy, a prevents diseases. Family farmers permit their animals to carry out their natural behaviors in their natural environments and do not use antibiotics, growth hormones, or systematic quality meat that is tender, flavorful, and less likely to carry harmful bacterium. It’s time the meat industry changes and sets higher standards for a better quality of meat, and adapts a system that isn’t as cruel as the current one. I urge consumers to contact federal representatives and senators and encourage them to pass laws that will help eliminate these problems. In addition, consumers have a choice and can purchase meat that is specifically labeled “antibiotic-free,” “organic,” or “family farm raised.” If consumers take The Beacon/Jenna Stephens a stand and refuse This cow was saved and is now on a petting farm. to purchase beef, pork, and poultry without such labels, the industry will mutilations to promote animal health. This be forced to review its practices and make decreases animal stress resulting in better change. What do YOU think? The Beacon/Jenna Stephens nutritionist who spoke to Time magazine. Independent farmers feed their cattle grass, which is low in starch and what they naturally eat, instead of dead animals that transmit deadly diseases like BSE. Grass fed meat is low in saturated fat and high in Omega-3 fatty acid, which is the healthy fat found in salmon that prevents heart disease and strengthens the immune system. It also contains linoleic acid, which prevents breast caner and diabetes and is also high in vitamins A and E, which l"I,..;:; :s r,J;,ul O\,ls.11..,~e "'""'-+ .\-\-,_ \-e.J .<:; °' ~e"'-v~o· wL..os<..o"Ll c~;,..e wo.S \., JI ow kec- c.k"" -to """"' e"'" s'.\-S~eJ loe.c.,.c f'l.,~.,_ ... .,...J. j->e<>f\e. ~ ~~e The Beacon wants your voice to be heard. Your Voices is the opportunity for students to voice their concern. If you want your voice to be heard, please contact The Beacon with the following information: 1 Contact information including your email address and a phone number where you can be reached 2 Your name, major, and year 3 Your opinion thebeacon.oped@gmail.com The Beacon reserves the right to edit submitted pieces for space and content. ~o'"- A Sight for Sore Eyes by Aleksander Lapinski �DECEMBER 4, 2007 OPINION 8 BY TIM SEIGFRIED Beacon Asst. Sports Editor It’s Christmas time again, and you know what that means: Humane organizations peddling for money and volunteer work to help those who are “less fortunate.” Whatever. You also hear people say that people need to put the “Christ” back in Christmas, because the real meaning of Christmas is lost in the materialism and mainstreaming of the holiday season. Fair enough, that’s all well and good, and I’m all about things being real. However, this season, I’m taking a different approach. I say let’s put the ‘Mas’ back in Christmas. Mas, meaning “more” in Spanish, meaning: Let’s put the more back in Christmas. That’s right, this season I’m all about the getting. More trees, more presents, less sentimental Christmas shows that the television networks try to cram down our throats, trying to teach us what the real meaning of Christmas is, despite hocking the very products that speak directly against the real meaning. So this season, I’m foregoing the “It’s not the getting… it’s the giving” approach, and taking the “Give me that…and that…and that.” Simple, right? So, in honor of my recent loss of values and subsequent addiction to materialism, I present to you My 2008 Christmas Wish List. 1. A Faberge Egg: I don’t know what they are or what their purpose is, I just want to be able to say that I own one. 2. A solid gold toilet: I want a crapper that’s constructed out of 24 carat gold, with Evian water in the tank and a diamond encrusted flushing handle. Also, the same guy who did K.I.T.T. on “Knight Rider” will provide the voice of the toilet, which will hurl insults at unsuspecting users: “Whoa, what did you eat?” or “You might want to get checked out!” or “So…you want to hang out sometime?” 3. Maroon 5’s It Won’t Be Soon Before Too Long: I don’t really want this, I just needed a forum to say that Maroon 5 sucks. Seriously, Adam Levine sounds like Haley Joel Osment when he was going through puberty. 4. Season five of “The Golden Girls” on DVD: Oh yes, the season where Dorothy and Sophia enter a mother-daughter beauty pageant at Shady Pines. That one was hilarious! Don’t judge me. 5. Scarlett Johansson: Yeah, you know what’s up. 6. The Godfather starring Christopher Walken: How awesome would it be to see the greatest film of our time as a one-man show starring the greatest actor of our time? The answer: VERY awesome. 7. Dane Cook’s Vicious Circle on DVD: You know…the version that was actually funny. 8. A real version of Optimus Prime: Honestly, how hard can it be to get a Peterbilt 379 truck to transform into a giant robot who is leading an army of other robots against another army of evil robots because their home planet got destroyed? Someone needs to look into this. 9. A Universal Remote…THAT ACTUALLY CONTROLS THE UNIVERSE! 10. A free college education: Hint, hint, Wilkes University administrators. 11. Peace on Earth: Honestly, I know we like to have fun here in The Angry Rant, but if there is one thing that I can wish and hope for all people of this world, regardless of sex, creed or race…it’s Peace… HA! Just kidding. Actually, I want a Yo-Yo. Courtesy: www.spamula.net The Angry Rant: Ho-Ho-Holidays Happy Christmas. What is your bumper telling people? BY STEPHANIE GERCHMAN Beacon Asst. Opinion Editor Ever since cars were invented, people have put stupid things on them to dress them up. Drivers hang bandanas, leis, and fuzzy dice from their rear view mirrors. They stick mini football helmets and spherical smiley faces on their antenna. And some even put stickers on their windows that look like bullet holes or as though a baseball has been thrown through the glass. But the thing that really bothers me most is bumper stickers. People put bizarre quotes, labels, offensive messages, and blatantly obvious statements on their bumpers, up the back sides of their cars and sometimes on the sides. Ah, a true testament to the mobile literate. So what have we become proud to announce on our cars? One type of bumper sticker that I see most often is what I call the “useless statement” bumper sticker. For example, “War is not the answer” is a useless statement. Through such a bumper sticker, people articulate their lack of support for the war, and it’s fine that they don’t believe in war. That’s their prerogative. But such a message is simply preaching to the choir. A lot of people don’t support the war, but a bumper sticker isn’t going to change anything. George Bush isn’t going to see that sticker and think, “Wow, that guy is right. I am going to outlaw war.” The next category of bumper sticker is what I call “the demands.” If I read something on the back of someone’s car, chances are that I’m not going to obey whatever the bumper sticker demands I do. One of my favorite demanding bumper stickers says, “Have a happy childhood.” Really? I wasn’t aware that I was in control of that. And I am an adult now. Chances are that any children in the vehicle are sitting in the back where they can’t see the stupid bumper sticker, nor are they able to read it if they could see it. “Hang up and drive” is another stupid demand. I don’t think that laws preventing driving and cell phone use actually stop people who drive and talk on their phones. Honestly, I think that listening to the radio in the car is just as bad. I know that every time I’m driving my car, I am blasting my music and singing at the top of my lungs, sometimes even doing a little car dancing. You never see a bumper sticker that says, “Stop singing and dancing and drive.” While bumper stickers that label the driver as “Vegan” or “Peacemonger” are nonthreatening, when you see one that says “Insane,” it is a cause for concern. If the person were actually insane, they probably wouldn’t be driving. If they think that they are insane they probably shouldn’t be driving. Finally, there are the bumper stickers that no one should display on their vehicle. A person with a sticker that says “Drugs lead nowhere, but it’s the scenic route,” is just begging to be pulled over on grounds of suspicion. If drivers are going to do drugs, that sounds like a personal problem and something that should probably be kept private, not announced on the back of a vehicle for police, children and any sane human being to read. “White trash” is another great example of something that should never be displayed on the back of a vehicle. Why would anyone be proud to be poor and uneducated? If that were the case for me, I would probably try to hide that as best as I could, not announce it. Regardless, cars that are covered in bumper stickers just look trashy. It is just sad that people are willing to display their hatred, intolerance and stupidity on the back of their cars. Even though some bumper stickers are not bad, do the world a favor and refrain from displaying them. They only ruin the paint anyway. �LIFESTYLES DECEMBER 4, 2007 Student of the Week Yellowstone experience 10 11 9 Surviving the stresses of the end of semester crunch BY CHRISTA SGOBBA Beacon Asst. Lifestyles Editor For nearly four months, that physics textbook may have sat peacefully undisturbed on your desk, its plastic wrapping still intact. Or maybe it’s holding up the wobbly side of your bed. Whatever its function may have been, if you weren’t using it to study throughout the semester, you’re probably feeling a little panicky now. Finals week is fast approaching. The official starting date for final exams is December 11, but students are already feeling the burden of a packed schedule. The last few weeks of the semester and finals week bring exams, papers, presentations, and more than a little stress. “Stress is our response to any situation or event that requires adjustment or change,” said Susan Biskup, a counselor at the Wilkes counseling center. “If we are not prepared to handle that adjustment physically, emotionally, psychologically, and behaviorally, we will affect the outcome. Such is the case with grades.” A survey of over 500 college students conducted by the Wrigley company in March found that nearly half the students reported feeling more stressed by finals than by choosing a major or by conflicts with friends or roommates. Forty-four percent of students consider themselves last-minute crammers, while only three percent said they never procrastinate during finals. Finals week can be especially stressful to freshmen who are unaware of what to expect. T h e transition to a new school, new friends, and a new way of life can be stressful enough, and the addition of a week-long period of high-stakes exams only adds to it. Woody Covington, a freshman elementary education major, said that he is not overly worried about his exams, but he is anxious to get through them. He believes they will be different from what he experienced in high school. “Finals were like a large chapter test,” he said. “I never stressed over them. I studied about a couple hours for each.” For his first experience with college finals, Covington plans to increase the time he spends studying to days rather than hours. He intends to study about two days for each final, depending on the amount of information he remembers for each course. “I am worried about how hard my math final will be, because we learned so much new information in a short amount of time,” Covington said. “My math final will be one of the tougher ones.” Procrastination and the following period of cramming can cause stress for students, which can subsequently make it difficult to keep their minds on task. Biskup believes it is important for students to learn effective ways of managing stress, since stress is a necessary part of life. “We cannot and would not want to eliminate all sources of stress, as that is what moves us forward,” Biskup said. “Learning positive ways to cope with stress by employing effective physical, cognitive, and behavioral coping strategies is something we could take with us for the rest of our lives in various environments.” Positive ways students can deal with stress include relaxing breathing exercises, learning how to meditate, and employing a rational way of looking at problems. Students should set achievable goals and try to maintain a balance between academic, social, and work commitments. During times of intense studying, students shouldn’t be afraid to put the books down for awhile, get a change of scenery, and interact with friends. “I usually manage my stress by just taking a break and chilling out,” said Covington. Physical exercise is also important because it can relax the body as well as the mind. Engaging in 30 minutes of enjoyable exercise a day can release tension and put students in a better frame of mind to hit the books. Another way students can reduce stress is by getting the right amount of sleep. Biskup The Beacon/Jenna Stephens Forty-four percent of college students admit cramming regularly for final exams, while only three percent say they never procrastinate. said that most college students function best with nine hours of sleep, but the amount necessary is different for each person. Covington intends to keep his sleep schedule as uninterrupted as possible, as not to add to the stress of finals week. “I plan on getting the same amount as usual, about six to seven hours a night,” he said. However, getting too little sleep can make focusing on studying difficult. When exams loom near, many students choose last-minute studying over sleep, and end up pulling all-nighters. Biskup acknowledged that it may not be realistic for students to get the recommended nine hours of sleep each night, especially during finals week. Instead, she said energy drinks and supplements are acceptable if used in moderation. Naps can also be beneficial if they are not used as a mode of procrastination. Biskup recommends students nap less than an hour, so they can wake up reenergized without feeling groggy. “I do not recommend taking a nap without setting an alarm because this can sabotage our study plans, leading to more stress if we end up sleeping much longer than planned,” Biskup said. “Be aware of what has worked for you in the past and use those strategies.” Students can make the most out of study time by eating a balanced diet. When they feel stressed and lack sleep, their bodies crave sugary, starchy foods like chips and candy. “These foods give us more short-term energy, but they ultimately make us feel more tired,” said Biskup. Students can often be sucked into negative coping strategies that they believe to be beneficial. Negative strategies include smoking, using drugs, and partaking in other addictive behaviors. One of the most popular--though detrimental--strategies is drinking alcohol to relieve stress. Although students drink to reduce stress and forget about problems, alcohol produces physiological stress in the body that mimics the response of other stressors. “It is paradoxical to engage in an activity that produces effects similar to those we are trying to relieve,” Biskup said. “They get the false impression that alcohol is relieving their stress, when in fact it is producing more stress on their bodies, impairing their ability to cope and study effectively.” The best way students can deal with the stress of finals week is to avoid negative coping strategies and employ positive behavior modifications and ways of thinking. “Keep a sense of humor through it all,” Biskup advised. “Remember that grades are important, but we are so much more than our grades.” �LIFESTYLES 10 Student of the Week: Melissa Bugdal BY GERARD HETMAN Beacon Staff Writer When most students decide on an academic major and minor, their choices often tend to be in similar field of study. But for Wilkes junior Melissa Bugdal, her love of two decidedly different subject areas carried over to her college career. Now, the English major (with a minor in biology) is putting her varied skill set to work around campus in a number of extracurricular activities. In the English field, Bugdal was one of the founding staff members of “The Inkwell,” the quarterly newsletter of the English department, which debuted last school year. In addition to serving as co-managing editor for the publication, she is also a writing mentor for English 101 classes at Wilkes. While working with the freshmen students in the classroom to improve their writing, she also works as a consultant in the writing center. On the biology side, Bugdal has spent a chunk of time working as a research assistant with Dr. Michael Steele, professor of biology at Wilkes and an internationally-recognized expert on squirrels. She spent the better part of last summer working on a research team led by Steele to study squirrels in the Wilkes-Barre area. In addition to her writing and research, Bugdal also serves as an orientation leader/e-mentor for incoming freshmen, and an ambassador for the English department. DECEMBER 4, 2007 For her ambitious slate of extracurricular activities, The Beacon chose Bugdal as this week’s Student of the Week. The Beacon: When you came to Wilkes, what made you want to study two subjects as different as English and biology? Bugdal: I’ve always loved English; even from the time I was very young and would write short stories all the time. When I got to high school, I took an avid interest in science and biology, and I thought it would be neat to combine them in my college education and try to prepare myself for a career involving both subject areas ~ -f h~ f!nkwitll """"llll\<"""'p'"2'an\ The Beacon: You were one of the Courtesy Melissa Bugdal founding staff members of the English department newsletter, “The Inkwell.” How did you get in- worked on a project in the local area for the duration of volved with the publication right from the start? my break. Our team is actually starting a new project next Bugdal: Dr. Herbert-Leiter, one of our faculty advisers, week, and over the summer we’ll probably continue the approached me last year and told me about the concept. She research we started last summer. It’s been a great way to said I may want to get involved, so I attended the first meet- work with the instructors and other students in a real-world ing, and I’ve been on board ever since. It’s been a really setting. neat process- all the staffers have learned a lot since the beginning, and it’s been a lot The Beacon: Can you tell us some of the benefits for of fun along the way. students of working on a project such as this? Bugdal: It’s a great way to get out into the community ·. E . AT Y OUR The Beacon: How has “The and meet new people, and get hands-on learning experi. TIIlS . Inkwell” grown and devel- ence that isn’t always possible in a classroom. It also helps oped since its start, and as greatly in learning how to manage your time and get all co-managing editor, what ex- your work done as an undergraduate. actly are your responsibilities for the publication? The Beacon: You talked earlier about being a writing Bugdal: The managing edi- mentor for English 101 students, what exactly do you do ''Live Ai:oustic Music" tors are responsible for mak- in that role? Wednesday night in our cafe~ ing the final edits on pieces Bugdal: I spend time in an English 101 class, where I that are sent along to us by work with the students in their classes to improve their ~ cemlxr 5tl-i the copy editors before they writing. I also have designated hours that I spend in the 6:30 -8:30pm are placed in the layouts prior writing center to meet with those students and help them ''Dealers in W:ares:' 1 to the publication of each is- one-on-one with their assignments. Since every student sue. At first, we only pub- takes that class, it allows me to see a broad range of writlished one issue per semester, ing skills and help students of all skill levels improve their ''Three Imaginary Boys'' but now we realize that we’re writing. Friday, November 2nd capable of doing two issues per semester, so that is our The Beacon: You also serve many incoming students as 7 :30-10 :30pm current output. both an admissions ambassador and an e-mentor/orientaLive Acoustic music tion leader. How have you enjoyed working in those roles The Beacon: On the sci- with both prospective and incoming students? NEW ITEMS: ence side, you’ve served as a Bugdal: I really enjoy my time at Wilkes, and going 3X5 PORCH FLAGS WITH MASC OT research assistant to Dr. Mike back to my own days in those roles, it’s really rewarding to Steele, an expert on squirrels. be able to showcase the school to prospective students and IN FULL COLOR AND CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT~ Can you give us some insight their families, and to help incoming students adjust to life on that? here on-campus in their first year. Bugdal: I fi rst became inDoo't forget to, pid 1.1ip a ••Fre.qutut Bi ycr Cac(r at, volved with the research The Beacon: In the future, what direction do you see · DOLLA · a:npr~l'C in,,o ur stoi-~! . through one of Dr. Steele’s yourself headed in after graduation? classes, when he asked for Bugdal: I’m keeping my options open, so we’ll see what some volunteers on a research happens further down the road. At this point though, I’d project. My involvement grew really like to look into some form of scientific writing and a lot this last summer, when I editing. ·.·.o s too �DECEMBER 4, 2007 LIFESTYLES 11 Students broaden perspectives in Yellowstone geologic investigation BY ALISON WOODY Beacon Lifestyles Editor From June 16-27, six Wilkes University students had the opportunity to “work on one of the most potent volcanic centers on the planet,” Dr. Sid Halsor, professor of geology and leader of this specific research project, said recently. The exotic destination that Halsor described is, of course, Yellowstone National Park. The group of students traveled to Bozman, Montana, to survey and measure small shifts in the land surface as part of an annual study conducted by Eastern Illinois University. Halsor explained, “The survey is conducted on an annual basis and is the type of survey used by geologists to monitor active volcanoes… Our team also explored the geology of Yellowstone by way of long hikes into the back country, including several ascents to the summits of high peaks.” Yellowstone National Park became the world’s first national park in 1872. It spans an area of 3,472 square miles and is comprised of lakes, canyons, rivers and mountain ranges. Halsor justified the importance of Yellowstone to this type of geologic research. “Yellowstone is the site of one of the largest super-volcanoes in the world and there is no reason not to expect that the past colossal eruptions will be repeated in the future,” he said. The team from Wilkes led a high-precision global positioning system (GPS) to measure the movement of land in response to the passage of heat through the earth’s crust. According to Halsor, this is the same heat that drives geothermal features such as Old Faithful. Students who participated on the research team expressed overwhelming enthusiasm about the experience. They also characterized the experience with such words as “amazing and unforgettable.” Emil Helfer, senior environmental engineering major, described his first encounter with scenic Yellowstone. “The thing that really blew my mind was that when we landed [in Montana], we were at a startling altitude of over 5,000 feet. [The tallest mountain in our local region is barely 2,000 feet.] To see these huge mountains around you, and know that you’re already twice as high as you were back home, it was like ‘Wow!’” “Getting to go to Yellowstone was an amazing experience. The area is so different from anything I have seen around here on the east coast. The mountains were so massive and the surrounding area is so flat that all you can see around you in the distance is these huge, dark-colored mountains,” added Helfer. Drexel Siok, junior earth and environmental sciences major, said, “Having never left the east coast, I learned a lot about the western United States and its geology. I learned of the significance of Yellowstone and its impact over time. I had heard so much about Yellowstone and Old Faithful, but I never thought that I would actually get to visit them and… see parts of it that most tourists do not get to see.” Helfer explained the students’ roles in the research. “We set up three GPS units running simultaneously to gain data over four hour intervals. We took the data and then packed up to move to the next location,” he said. He added that the atmosphere of Yellowstone made the research fun, rather than tiring. “After doing this for two straight days, through the night and everything, you would imagine that the whole team would be rather tired. For me, though, it was like there was something in the air out there because, after a short nap, I was totally refreshed.” Photo Courtesy Katie Ambrose Six Wilkes University students traveled to Yellowstone National Park over summer break to research and monitor active volcanoes. Pictured from left to right are: Emil Helfer, Katie Ambrose, Dustin Biondi, Professor of Geology Sid Halsor, Jen Turney, Drexel Siok, and Joe Wilde. The annual survey measured small shifts in the land surface as part of an annual study conducted by Eastern Illionois University in conjuction with Wilkes. Both students also understood that the benefits and knowledge they received as participants in this research would impact their studies upon their return. “I benefited a lot from this experience, being an earth and environmental science major,” said Siok. “I was able to see how technology is being applied to [these] areas of geology. Being able to participate in this research project opened me up to an entire new field of geology and GPS.” The research project was funded by a mentoring grant and Wilkes was granted special permission to study within the park, which is “extremely hard to get,” according to Helfer. “Being selected to go out and work for this project is probably the best thing that has ever happened to me… The project itself is special because there is no one else attempting to study the yearly movements of Yellowstone National Park as we are,” added Helfer. Halsor agreed that the students who went to Yellowstone were able to apply concepts they learned in their courses at Wilkes to one of North America’s premiere geologic localities. “They learn how GPS technology is used to monitor active volcanic systems, which is an experience usually reserved for graduate level students,” said Halsor. “They also develop leadership skills while mentoring other undergraduates during the survey. “Furthermore, they got to experience the pristine wilderness and wildlife away from the crowds while hiking and climbing in the rugged backcountry,” Halsor added. Helfer described the itinerary of one of those hikes. “The trail starts in the woods and after awhile turns into switchbacks, which seemed to last forever. Then, there would be a huge bolder field where you would have to make your own trail. Suddenly, you are then surrounded by snow… After we reached our final point, we would turn around and slide down the snow bank, where I would sit on the snow and push off, using an ice axe to slow my descent,” he said. Siok acknowledged, “Although it was hectic at times, being able to participate in the survey was a lot of fun, especially with the constant threat of wildlife around every corner. I had an amazing time while at Yellowstone, not only participating in the research project, but with the other students that went… I will never be able to thank Dr. Halsor enough for giving me the opportunity to go to Yellowstone.” Helfer added, “I learned so much about what can be accomplished with hard work and dedication to an idea. I was able to see things that I may never see again, things that a picture will never do justice and things that need to be preserved so that people a hundred years from now can go out and enjoy it themselves.” �A&E Manuscript/Chorus Game thing Crossword/Website DECEMBER 4, 2007 13 14 15 SEASON1S BEATIN6S A simple offering of alternative holiday flicks BY MIKE WILLIAMS Beacon Staff Writer Plug in the lights and decorate the tree, wrap the presents and hang the mistletoe, and make way for those flying reindeer and the jolly old fat man in the red suit. ‘Tis the season, and with it comes all of the same old, beloved, tried and true holiday traditions that we hold so dear. Just as we have become accustomed to all of the aforementioned Yuletide activities, there are some movies that have become so deeply engrained in holiday traditions, that the season just wouldn’t be complete without them. How could we let the holidays go by without listening to that little kid talk about what happens to angels every time a bell rings? It just wouldn’t be Christmas without seeing Ralphy walk down the steps, head hung low, in the “Pink Nightmare” bunny suit. And we can’t forget to watch Clark Griswald trudging his family through the snow in order to find the perfect tree or a bathrobe clad Cousin Eddie emptying his RV’s toilet into a storm drain and exclaiming to a stunned, yuppie neighbor “Merry Christmas! S***** was full!” Yes, these films are certainly as important to the holidays as presents and eggnog; however, after watching them, year after year, viewers may be looking for something new, something with a little more action. Maybe a little dirty language? And hey, what about a little seasonal bloodshed? Well, if that’s the case, maybe we can be of service, as The Beacon presents to you Season’s Beatings: 1.) Die Hard - In this 80’s action classic, hard as nails NYPD officer Lt. John McClane (Bruce Willis) is on a little holiday getaway to L.A. to visit his estranged wife and kids. But wouldn’t you know it, as McClane attempts to reconcile with his wife (Bonnie Bedelia) at her office’s Christmas bash, a group of heavily armed terrorists, led by the always awesome Alan Rickman, decide to crash the party. So, what’s a guy to do? Most people would sit back and hope that the LAPD can save the hostages and solve the situation with as little violence and bloodshed. Lucky for us, unlucky for the terrorists, Lt. McClane isn’t most people. You’ll forget the Ho, Ho, Ho’s; this one will have you saying Yippee-Ki-Yay in no time. 2.) The Ice Harvest- It’s an icy Christmas Eve, and all through the town of Wichita Falls not a creature is stirring, except for crooked mob lawyer Charlie (John Cusack) and sleazy pornographer Vic (Billy Bob Thorton). As freezing rain pours down in this hilarious mixture of black comedy and gritty crime drama, these two wanna-be ciminals are in the midst of fleeing the town with $2 million of the mafia’s money. However, the combination of winter weather, slick roads and sleazy criminals may prove to be lethal, as it seems that everything and everyone, including each other, is out to try to take their loot and their lives. Who’s lying? Who’s cheating? Who’s doublecrossing who? And who will make it out of Wichita alive? 3.) The Ref- Everyone knows that the holidays can prove to be a little trying to everyone. However, for veteran burglar Gus (Dennis Leary), the term “Blue Christmas” will have a whole new meaning come New Years. After bungling a high profile Christmas Eve robbery of a wealthy estate, Gus must flee the scene of the crime, taking a bickering Connecticut couple, played by Kevin Spacey and Judy Davis, hostage in the process. Now, if Gus can just find his wheel-man partner, he can make it out of New England, loot in tow. Unfortunately for him, he has taken hostage the world’s most dysfunctional family. As Gus waits for his chance to flee, he must play referee to the constant squabbling of the couple, their delinquent son, and their seemingly never ending stream of Christmas Eve guests, including a hilarious confrontation with Spacey’s mother and a fight with a drunken local man dressed as Santa Clause. 4.) Reindeer Games - Car thief Rudy Duncan (Ben Affleck) is down on his luck. Its Christmas; he’s alone and in jail. To make things worse, his cell mate and only friend Nick (James Frain) has just been shanked to death. However, as Rudy is set free only a few days before Dec. 25, he meets Ashley (Charlize Theron), his cell mate’s pen pal sweetheart. So, deciding to assume Nick’s identity, Rudy sweeps Ashley off her feet, as they check into a local motel, hoping to spend the holidays with one another. However, the two lovers XXXmas love fest is soon interrupted by Ashley’s gun-running trucker older brother Gabe (Gary Sinise) and his all star gang of thugs (Donal Logue, Danny Trejo and Clarence Williams III), who, under the assumption that Rudy is actually his deceased cellmate, hope to force him to use his prior knowledge of an Indian casino in order to pull off a daring heist. And what better way to perpetrate a bloody casino stick up on Christmas Eve than doing it dressed as Santa Claus. 5.) Santa’s Slay - Forget all the stories you’ve heard about jolly old St. Nick. It turns out that he’s not happy and he’s not jolly, in fact he’s actually a demon who lost a bet to an angel, forcing him to spread joy and toys to the entire world for 1,000 years. However, when the bet is up, Santa, played by pro wrestler Bill Goldberg, returns to his evil ways, going on a bloody Christmas rampage, hoping to raise a little holiday hell. What more can we say? 6) Gremlins - Don’t feed them after midnight. Don’t get them wet. No bright lights. If only Billy Peltzer (Zach Galligan) could follow these three simple rules he could have just enjoyed the holidays cuddled up with his cute new pet Mogwai, Gizmo, and his girlfriend, 80’s babe Pheobe Cates (what could be more fun). But unfortunately for him, and fortunately for movie goers everywhere, he just can’t help but let Gizmo have a little post-midnight snack. As if you didn’t know what happens next, out pop the small, scaly, monsters of mayhem that we all love, the Gremlins. So, it’s up to Billy and Gizmo to put an end to the half-pint horrors reign of terror before they destroy their picturesque hometown. Remember, nothing says Christmas like vicious little imps, hell-bent on creating a little holiday havoc. maybe it’s the only movie about that, but that doesn’t change the fact that Willie (Billy Bob Thorton) may be one of the funniest, and dirtiest, characters every committed to film. Willy, a professional safe cracker, and his pint-sized partner, Marcus the Elf (Tony Cox), have a sweet gig, finding work in department stores every holiday season, only to rob it blind on Christmas Eve. However, as this year’s heist draws near, Willy finds himself questioning his career choice. Maybe it’s the new love in his life (Lauren Graham), or the down on his luck little kid (Brett Kelly) who he has taken up residence under the guise of being the real Santa. Or maybe it’s just the booze talking. 8.) Black Christmas - With this classic of Christmas carnage, you actually have two choices to pick from. Originally made in 1974, and then remade in 2006, this seasonal splatter fest tells the story of a house full of female college students, opting to stay on campus rather than going home for the holidays. Unfortunately, a killer is lurking in the shadows, planning on being much more naughty than nice. Simple formula: Pretty young girls + psycho killer + Christmas Eve = Happy Holidays. 7.) B a d Santa - Possibly the best movie about a safe-cracking, foul mouthed, chain smoking, midget punching, alcoholic mall Santa. Okay, Graphic courtesy Marissa Phillips �DECEMBER 4, 2007 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Chorus to perfom holiday favorites Friday BY ALISSA LINDNER Beacon Asst. A&E Editor Not in the holiday spirit yet? The Wilkes University Chorus and Chamber Singers will perform Christmas favorites at St. Stephens Episcopal Church on South Franklin Street, Friday December 7, at 7:30 p.m. in an effort to change all of that. A small reception at the church will follow and admission is free. According to the Director of Choral Activities at Wilkes, Dr. Steven Thomas, the concert will feature a variety of Christmas themed music dating back to the 15th century. Some of the more popular titles include arrangements of “Silent Night,” “Angels We Have Heard on High” and “White Christmas.” The chorus has been preparing the entire semester for the concert. The Chamber singers, which is a smaller, more selective group, has also been preparing; however, according to Dr. Thomas they perform more frequently. Kaitlin Taber-Miller, a senior music theater major is the chorus manager. Her favorite performance pieces this semester include the arrangement of “Angels We Have Heard on High,” “Little Tree,” which features lyrics by e.e. cummings, and “Gaudete.” She also commented 13 that the concert will feature common songs everyone will know alongside non-traditional pieces audience members may have never heard. Taber-Miller is the primary communication link between the Thomas and the choral members. Both noted that any student is welcome to join chorus and auditions are held at the beginning of each semester. Chorus is considered a credit class; however a zero credit option is available for students already at 18 credits. For those who do not usually attend choral events, the holiday concert may well be the experience that educates unfamiliar audiences best. “It’s especially good for people who are wondering whether they’d like to join chorus or not. Our concert is a really good preview of what material we’ll cover and what rehearsals would be like,” explained Taber-Miller. “It’s wonderful stuff. People may not realize they like it until they come. I hope students are The Beacon/Cara Koster looking for new experiences when in college. If they don’t have experience in this, it might be The Chorus and Chamber singers will deliver Christmas classics at something they are interested in,” Thomas said. their concert at St. Stephens Episcopal Church on December 7. The Manuscript offers new format, strengthens content BY MATTHEW GOGAS Beacon Staff Writer The Manuscript will unveil itd fall edition on Tuesday December 4 at 11:00 a.m. to the Wilkes University campus. The unveiling will take place in the Sordoni Art Gallery. The Manuscript is a literary publication that consists of art, photography, prose, and poetry. The English Department publishes an edition every semester here at Wilkes. Over the years, there have been numerous changes to the publication with each edition. However, this semester’s issue is a complete departure from anything that had been done with The Manuscript before. The pages were produced in a landscape format using Adobe InDesign, whereas all previous issues were laid out in a portrait format. The publication itself was actually hand bound with hemp as well. The motivation for using hemp is that it is a long lasting material and will hold up especially well as binding. Though last semester’s Manuscript was extremely successful, the editors really wanted to make this one better and correct some criticisms people had with it. “We had some criticisms last year that it was too busy, so I took that into effect and I said let’s do it with InDesign. So we did it on InDesign and it came out very professional, but we still had the artistic elements that we wanted, so we were happy with it and it ended up taking us much less time,” said Kacy Muir, the executive editor and senior English major. In addition to the design changes, editors aimed to enhance content. There was a much stricter screening process for what went into The Manuscript in this edition. “It’s a smaller issue than our last few issues and I like that. We were much more selective, we’re always selective, but this semester we were highly selective. We have done a lot with the art submissions and how they are presented. We really wanted to tone it down,” said Dr. Mischelle Anthony, Assistant Professor of English and advisor to The Manuscript. This edition was arranged thematically as well, which was not evident in the last issue. It is arranged under the overarching theme “Industry versus Nature.” There is a nature/nurture theme going throughout the publication. The pieces are arranged in a continuous order of positive and negative and ends on a positive note. According to Muir, everyone had a great time working on it and is pleased with the way it turned out. Staff members are especially pleased that this issue took far less time than the last one to compile especially the executive editor. “Last semester’s Manuscript took us an incredibly long time. When I say there is blood, sweat, and tears, there literally is. I have cut myself so many times that there is blood on it. It was absolutely time consuming. This semester’s edition however was not because we had learned. It’s all about a lesson,” said Muir. Schedule of Events Tuesday, December 4 - Clay Aiken’s Christmas in the Heartland at the Kirby Center at 7 p.m. Wednesday, December 5 - Tim Reynolds performing at the Jazz Cafe at 8 p.m. Thursday, December 6 - Murder Junkies, 21 Rounds, Corndogs and TBA performing at Backstage at 6 p.m. - Wilkes University Jazz Orchestra concert at the Darte Center at 8 p.m. Friday, December 7 - Northeastern PA Philharmonic at the Kirby Center at 7 p.m. - Wilkes University Chorus and Wilkes University Chamber Singers Christmas performance at St. Stephens Church at 7:30 p.m. - Unwed Sailor, This Will Destroy You, Strand of Oaks and Jewish War Veterans performing at Cafe Metropolis at 8 p.m. Saturday, December 8 - Holiday Craft Fair at Arts Youniverse at 11 a.m. - Dharma Talk: Eight Verses on Training the Mind at SLC 101 at 2 p.m. - Book signing and Talk with Bathsheeba Monk - Now You See It…Stories from Cokesville, PA at the Tudor Bookshop at 2 p.m. - The Graveyard Rumblers, The Deadneks and TBA performing at Backstage at 6 p.m. - Chelsea Handler performing at the Kirby Center at 8 p.m. Sunday, December 9 - Holiday Craft Fair at Arts Youniverse at 12 p.m. - Booksigning with Jim Rising, Then Again I Could Be Wrong: The Book of Rants at the Tudor Bookshop at 1 p.m. - Book signing with David Fleming, <i>Breaker Boys: The NFL’s Greatest Team and the Stolen 1925 Championship at the Tudor Bookshop at 2 p.m. - Wilkes University’s Civic Band concert, location TBA at 8 p.m. - Pull The Pin, Balance and Composure, Arden and TBA performing at Cafe Metropolis at 4 p.m. Monday, December 10 - Monumental Slaughter, Jerk Reaction, By All Means and a Sixth Shot Ending performing at Backstage at 6 p.m. - Driving East, Crash Romeo, I Am The Pilot and Springline Driver performing at Cafe Metropolis at 7 p.m. �ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 14 DECEMBER 4, 2007 FYF class competes in Gettysburg gaming convention Original ‘Oh Behave!’ board game keeps players under lock and key BY NICK PODOLAK Beacon Managing Editor Imagine being trapped inside an underwater lair, where the only means of escape entails navigating through 20 rooms, each with its own distinct puzzle to solve in order to advance to the next. Now imagine that Scott Evil, son of Dr. Evil from Austin Powers fame, is the madman running this base, and the people trying to escape are Austin Powers characters. No, this is not the script for the latest Mike Myers shag fest; it’s the premise behind a class project designed by Dr. Anthony Kapolka’s freshman foundations class Constructed Pastimes, a board game entitled “Oh Behave! The Next Generation.” “Everybody took their own little room, built it, decorated it as such, and came up with a challenge that you have to do in the room,” said freshman Michael Cignoli, member of the class. The game, which is designed for six players divided into two teams of three, places characters such as Dr. Evil, Foxy Cleopatra, Mini Me, and of course, Mr. Powers in various modules around an underwater base. Each features its own unique puzzle to complete in order to receive a letter that will eventually contribute to a pass code at the game’s end to evacuate the base. “It’s a race against time,” Cignoli said noting that some of the rooms that include poisonous gas, or walls that close in, require its puzzles to be completed within a certain time frame, or players are knocked unconscious for two minutes. “In two minutes the other team can advance significantly,” he said. Courtesy of Mike Cignoli Students play ‘Oh Behave!’ in FYF class. Cignoli’s face appeared on an LCD television screen as Scott Evil, directing his captives on what and what not to do in order to escape each room without becoming toast. After much play testing and tweaking, the class made a field trip and showcased Oh Behave! at the Fall In! 2007 gaming convention in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, which attracts gamers from all around the world to play original games and buy gaming goodies like metal miniatures, scales, terrain, dice, markers, and even flying monkeys from The Wizard of Oz. “You could easily spend three or four hours browsing. I had students who were hurrying me because they wanted to leave, and I was still shopping,” Kapolka laughed. Though the competition was stiff, Oh Behave! was generally well received. “There was a lot of attention paid to the physical construction of our secret underwater base because it’s unusual. Usually people will throw a green cloth down and they’ll get little trees and get buildings, or if they’re playing a naval game they’ll throw a blue cloth down and then put some islands and some boats, but we had a physical building which attracted attention by just its appearance. And these are serious gamers,” Kapolka said. The freshmen who participated in the FYF class were able to conclude their first semester with not only a final product they could be proud of, but also a sense of team work. “It was a learning experience,” Cignoli said. “The goal of the project was to get everybody working together as a team…something that we hadn’t done before.” PA . · . R , edd#'l 2 luge, Pizns Tl--lE IN I . . . .· . ecial fl 2 Lug£ Pizzas Bucket JO Wi:ngs $15.99 . $24 ..'99 J.y.e ~ & t · ery- 'in~Ydcd) . · .sdd#2 rge Pizza .+ l Dozen Wi igs. S u1al#4 ] large Pizza + 16 W'mgs. . 14..95 2 Liter Soda (ibllll! ~~ 1£ ~ i~tdl) ~7.99 In-House Specials lclp · ave lives! D sma ·od y a n up to Oflth! n tc st t · a ·m Inc. 665 a-cy ve ik : -B a I (570) 823- Monday :3,5 cent Wmp t .a. pwd:l' se: of :soda 1'hes.d if ~ ttnt :illus. wl a pmdlas fa :soda (in hoo:se,<iru.y) Wednesday Any bw-_gerl .'h, ken s.and'Widt -$4.95 w/ a puum.s· · of t1. 8odtl. �BY CHRISTOPHER KUDRAK Beacon Staff Writer 1 5 10 14 15 16 17 19 20 21 23 26 27 31 34 35 36 39 43 44 45 46 48 49 52 54 57 61 ACROSS In the middle of Secret hiding place Fishing activity Santa ____ Organism’s specialty Cowboy necessity Builder for hire Geometric term Male bovine Teacher item Teenager’s room Shows the way High energy wave Oyster products Defendant’s excuse Against Watson’s concern Large cultivated plant collec tion To place Greek cheese Friar’s Club event Affectionate gestures Bottomless pit Kitchen attire Ticket piece Camouflaged Rice dish Carry 62 66 67 68 69 70 71 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 18 22 24 25 27 28 29 30 32 33 36 Canadian province Italian volcano Operate a vehicle Midwest product Lawn starters Shooter’s sport Meaningful sign DOWN Circle part Sounds from the pasture “Say it ____ so” International ___ Line Hunter trap Repetitive movement Play activity Mall activity Protagonist Marsh birds Blood conveyer Andretti’s concern Shreds Stay behind Sick Areas between words Governing bodies Babbles Medicinal plant Baseball glove Business degree Finally Semi WWII invasion 37 38 40 41 42 46 47 49 50 51 53 55 56 58 59 60 63 64 65 Lake monster Aardvark’s diet Chancy things Middle east language Steal Australian tree-dwellers Rorschach’s medium Flu feelings Greek philosopher Ball-shaped Sadden Book supporters Nerd Crazy Bohr’s concern “Ring of ____” Johnny Cash Song Challenge Intersects a st. Columnist _____ Landers PassiveAggressiveNotes.com BY ANDEE SCARANTINO Beacon Editor-in-Chief In a place I may or may not currently live, someone who shares a bathroom with me has less than adequate feminine hygiene. It has bothered me all semester. Once, I was with my hairdresser, and the woman in the next chair said that perhaps I should place a basket with feminine hygiene products in the bathroom with a sign saying “feel free to use.” She also said perhaps I should buy a book on the matter, and highlight the appropriate paragraphs. I could do that, but I guess that, and this whole introduction, would be considered passive aggressive. PassiveAggressiveNotes.com is a fabulous web site that shows notes from, well, passive aggressive people. It seems that people take pictures of little notes, memos, and screen shots of e-mails, and send them into this blog-style web site. You really have to see the notes. They’re hilarious. Here are some examples. *** (In a screen shot of an e-mail with the subject line “MY LUNCH” sent to an entire office) To the person who ate my sandwich today, the turkey was starting to rot and turn green, and the pepper-jack cheese was starting to form giant mold spores. Hope you enjoyed! *** (Taped to a door) HelloI usually try to avoid intruding on my neighbor’s personal lives, so I apologize in advance if this embarrasses you. Since I’ve moved in to 3C, I’ve been woken up several times very early in the morning by you and your girlfriend having sex. I’m glad the two of you have such a great time together, but I’d appreciate it if you could keep the noise level to a minimum. I need my REM time! Thanks, Nancy *** So, as you can see, the site is humorous and very real. Send them pictures of passive aggres- Answers: 11/20 Kudracross DECEMBER 4, 2007 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 15 sive notes that you find. I heard awhile back on Ed2010 that they were looking for interns. Hmm. Oh, there I go being passive aggressive again. I give this site an “A” for “Aggressively Passive Aggressive.” �SPORTS 16 DECEMBER 4, 2007 Lady Colonels Endure Six-Game Skid Injuries and inexperience makes winning tough for Lady Colonels BY CARLTON HOLMES Beacon Sports Editor If there was any speculation as to whether or not the Lady Colonels would have a difficult time getting off to a hot start for the 2007-08 season, Saturday’s road loss against Lebanon Valley answered those questions definitively. The Lady Colonels have lost all of their first six games on the schedule, the teams’ worst start since the 2005-06 season. During that season, the Lady Colonels started 1-5 and ended the season 6-19. At the beginning of this season, the team started out with nine players on their roster, but played with eight due to injuries. The Lady Colonels have five freshmen on the team which makes trying to find their mojo even more difficult. “We are working on our confidence right now because we’re real young,” said third-year head coach Rachel Emmerthal. “We make some of the simple mistakes, when once they get they get the experience and once they get going, they won’t be making those mistakes.” After becoming accustomed to the players they have, while patiently waiting for the return of standout forward Lacey Andresen, another hurdle has been through into the mix. Senior Katie Cappelloni recently suffered a stressed fracture on her left leg which left her inactive for the Lady Colonels match-up against Lebanon Valley. Prior to Cappellonis’ injury, the 5’10 guard from Scranton (PA) led the team in scoring with 13.3 points per game, including a season-high 16 point performance on the road against Marywood University (PA) on November 20. “With both our seniors out with injuries, we have two juniors, two sophomores and a bunch of freshmen,” said Emmerthal. “We’re young and sometimes it shows.” Last Saturday, the Lady Colonels were on fire throughout the first half and trailed by only four, 36-32, entering the locker room. During the first half, the team shot 56.5 percent from the floor. That would be the teams’ best shooting percentage in a half through the first six games. The Lady Colonels even enjoyed a 9-0 run led by junior Chelsey Gosse, which gave them a 24-22 lead. But thanks to a 6-0 run by the Lady Dutchmen, the Lady Colonels were forced to enter the second half with a four-point deficit. Following halftime, the Lady Colonels returned to the floor with a vengeance. The team out-scored Lebanon Valley 10-5 to go up one point with 15:38 remaining in the second half but that would be the last lead they had. Freshman guard Lori Lidlow from Toms River (NJ) scorched the Lady Colonels for 11 points during a 13-2 run by the Lady Dutchmen. Lebanon Valley went up by 10 with 11:26 remaining in the second half. Freshman guard, Sam Lynam, scored a basket while earning a trip to the free throw line for a three point play. At this point, the Lady Colonels trailed by only seven. Later in the half, three Lady Dutchmen scored field goals to complete another 6-0 run and the Lady Colonels saw the scoreboard read, 60-47. Gosse, 5-11 forward from Allentown (PA), had a Kevin Garnett-like day from the floor with 21 points and 14 rebounds, including five offensive boards. Gosse shot 10-14 from the floor and knocked down her only three point attempt. Lynam complimented Gosses’ performance with 21 points of her own. Lynam netted eight of her 14 attempts while making 2-5 from downtown in 30 minutes played. While Gosse and Lynam combined for 42 points, the rest of the team scored 18 points combined. Sophomores Nicole Quick and Ashley Makarczyk scored six a piece. Overall, the Lady Colonels shot well from the floor. The team made 25 of their 48 attempts. They went four for nine from behind the three point line. All season, the category that has killed the Lady Colonels chances of winning has been turnovers. Thus far, the team has committed 153 turnovers including 27 against Lebanon Valley leaving them with an average of 25 turnovers per game. Even though they are struggling to win a game, the Lady Colonels were close enough to win three games but fell short by 10 or less. “For the most part, we’re concentrating on what the game plan was in the beginning and trying to complete that for a full forty minutes,” said Emmerthal. “We’re playing great blocks of minutes but we’re not playing buzzer to buzzer. But this group is resilient. They’re going to keep fighting. Right now, the biggest emphasis is starting the game where we want to finish the game. ” The Beacon/James Rosato Sam Lynam (21) and Chelsey Gosse run drills during practice last week. The Lady Colonels are 0-6 to start the season. In their next contest, they are on the road at Elmira College in New York on December 4 at 7p.m. ST DE FORTHE 21st CENTURY CAll: BILL HENRY at 2.15-71H619 OR ( HEeK 11HE WEB SmE FOR INFORMATION �SPORTS DECEMBER 4, 2007 17 Two Colonel wrestlers claim titles at RIT tournament COURTESY OF JOHN SEITZINGER Sports Information Director Juniors Josh Pauling and Erik Smith won individual titles to lead 18th-ranked Wilkes University to a second-place finish at the Rochester Institute of Technology Wrestling Tournament on Saturday. The Colonels amassed 117 points to finish just behind team champion Rhode Island College (121.5). Williams College was third with 96 points. Pauling, the third-seed at 133 pounds, posted an 8-4 win over Josh Wildes from Wesleyan College in his quarterfinal match. He advanced to the finals by topping #2 seed Aljamain Sterling from Morrisville, 10-5. In the final Pauling scored an 8-1 win by decision over top-seeded Adam Pizzurro from John Carroll. Smith won all four of his matches to claim the 149-pound crown. Seeded fourth, he opened with a 4-2 victory over Charles Hoeg from Wesleyan in the opening round. In the second round he took on fifth-seeded Kevin Sutherland from Rhode Island, who came in to the tournament ranked eighth in Division III, and earned a 2-0 win. Smith then took out the topseed, Dan Mizener from John Carroll by a 2-0 count in the semifinals. Smith would earn the championship with a 10-0 major decision over Luke Baum from RIT in the championship match. The second-seeded Heffernan gained entry into the final at 165 pounds with three straight he wins. He posted an 18-2 technical fall over Zach Feador from RIT and disposed of seventh-seeded Colin Boyle from the Coast Guard, 7-4, in the quarter finals. After scoring a 5-1 win over #3 seed Cameron Mills from Oswego in the semifinals, he lost a 7-2 verdict to the number-one seed and third-ranked wrestler in Division III, Gino Russo from Baldwin Wallace. Shaun Farnham was the #2 seed at 125 pounds but suffered a 12-4 loss to eventual champion Rob Miller from Thiel in the quarter finals. He was able to bounce back to win four straight matches, including a 52 victory over Dan Bloom from Wesleyan in the third-place bout. Adam Penberthy gave Wilkes a pair of place-winners at 149 pounds by finishing third. The number-seven seed won his first three matches, including a 5-4 quarterfinal win over #2 seed Nic Miragliuolo from Williams. After losing to Baum in the semifinals, he topped Sutherland, 7-4 in the consolation semifinals and posted a 10-4 win over Mizener in the third-place match. Justin Barowski was the number-two seed at 157 pounds, but had to settle for a fourthplace finish. Barowski won his initial three contest, including a 3-1 win in the quarter finals over seventh-seeded Zach Rolfe from Wesleyan. However, he suffered a tough 54 loss to the number-three seed, Mike Martini from Rhode Island in the semifinals. Barowski would bounce back to top Kyle Borne from Oswego, 12-3 in the consolation semifinals, but dropped an 8-5 decision to Nathan Klingensmith from Case Western Reserve in the third-place bout. Third-seeded Zach Pizarro placed fifth at197 pounds. Pizarro earned a berth in the semifinals with a 3-2 victory over #6 seed Joe Silverman from MIT in the quarter finals. He then dropped a 2-1 decision to #2 seed Kevin Davis from Rhode Island in the semifinals, and was beaten by a 7-4 count by eight-seeded Ray Moore from Rhode Island in consolation semifinals. Pizarro would earn a 3-1 win over Scott Marhofer from John Carroll in the fifth-place match. Josh Ballan was the number-two seed at 174 pounds, but he had to settle for a sixthplace finish. Ballan notched a win by fall in 5:16 over John Carroll’s Travis Hammer in the opening round and posted a 5-3 win over Jared Teal from Oswego in the quarter finals. However, Ballan suffered an injury in that match and was forced to medical forfeit in his remaining bouts. Release Date: Saturday, December 01, 2007 Clu · M .· t· g? • ·· h · -ay Party? Orne - Meet·og? oot.ba.11 P .a r · -? 1znos~Q •• TOASTY. 72 Sout. . Main .S ·t . Wil . es B . rre o , rs ·. onday-Thurrs d .Y 10 · -8 1n ~day · at:urd y 10amu.-l0pma ~u,naiia y l2_p - p The answe to all Lhese u tion · ·••• ZNOS C -A T R 'N G Ca· rin,g t ays start:· g at $19~ __ Call for detai ,s .. �SPORTS 18 Commentary GAME OF THE WEEK NBA Doubleheader Boston looks to continue its run; Showdown in Texas BY TIM SEIGFRIED Beacon Asst. Sports Editor Boston Celtics at Philadelphia 76ers Just over a year ago, the Boston Celtics were well on their way to having one of the worst records (24-58) in the NBA, while the fans wondered, “Where did our beloved Celtics go?” Several months later, the Celtics found themselves to be the front-runners of the Atlantic Division after making two blockbuster trades in which they received shooting guard Ray Allen and forward Kevin Garnett. The trades worked out as expected, as the Celtics jumped out to a 13-2 record to start the season, easily shooting the team to the top of the division. As promised, they are led by the trio of Garnett, Allen and Paul Pierce, who have helped the Celtics to an average of over 100 points per game, while holding their opponents to just over 90 points per game. Pierce, who has been with the team since he was drafted in 1998, leads the team in scoring with 22.0 points per game, while Garnett’s 20.1 and Allen’s 20.1 rounds out an offense that has been great so far in the young season. Also along for the ride are guard Rajon Rondo (8.3 PPG) and Center Kendrick Perkins (8.1 PPG) who have helped to supplement the big three with timely offense and defense. The Celtics hope to continue their stellar run this week when they take on their division-rival Philadelphia 76ers, who are currently sitting on the bottom of the barrel, after a 5-10 start. After trading Allen Iverson and buying out Chris Webber’s contract last season, the 76ers were on their way to rebuilding a once great organization. This season, however, might be another losing one in what seems like an uphill battle for the team. After a 2-1 start to the season, Philadelphia would go on to lose five of its next 6 games, including a dramatic 100-98 overtime loss to the Golden State Warriors. In Iverson’s absence, 2004 first round draft pick Andre Iguodala has stepped up to lead the team with 17.7 points per game and 5.5 assists per game, alongside guards Willie Green (11.7 PPG) and Andre Miller (14.8 PPG), while 6’11” center Samuel Dalembert leads the way with 8.1 rebounds per game. Despite a solid defense and young talent, the 76ers still have one of the worst offenses in the conference, putting up 91.5 points per game, ranking them 12 out of 15 in the Eastern Conference. Expect Boston to take control early, putting the game out of Philadelphia’s reach by the third quarter. The Pick: Boston Celtics: 98 Philadelphia 76ers: 82 Dallas Mavericks at San Antonio Spurs Last season, bad-boy billionaire Mark Cuban nearly had one of his dreams realized, as his Dallas Mavericks finished the season with a dominant 67-15 record, en route to winning the Southwest division. The Mavericks stormed into the playoffs as one of the favorites to win the NBA Finals, but were booted in the first round after losing in six games to the Cinderella-like Golden State Warriors. It was a tough loss for Dallas, who one year earlier let a 2-0 series lead slip away in the finals against the Miami Heat, who would win four straight to win the series in six games. Cuban and Co. would like to forget about the last two seasons, as they look to make the playoffs for the eighth straight season. They will do so by rallying behind Dirk Nowitzki, as he looks to follow up his 2006-2007 MVP campaign with another impressive season. He is well on his way to doing that, as he leads his team in several categories, including scoring (21.1 PPG), rebounds (8.4 RPG), and assists (4.0 APG). He is flanked by a solid supporting cast of role-players, including guard-forward Josh Howard and guard Jason Terry, both of whom were part of the past two playoff campaigns. Howard is another cog in the Dallas of- fense, as his 20.7 points per game is right behind Nowitzki, and his 6.8 rebounds per game rank him in the top three on the team. Rounding out the offense is Jason Terry and Devin Harris, who are both averaging over 15.0 points per game so far this season, while logging over 30 minutes per game. The Mavericks are going to need all the help they can get from Nowitzki and the rest, as they are going to have to keep pace with the high-scoring San Antonio Spurs, who are averaging just over 101 points per game this season. The defending NBA champions, who made quick work of the Cleveland Cavaliers in last years finals, are helmed by the three-headed monster of Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and finals MVP Tony Parker. The Spurs, who have won three NBA titles in the last four years, are looking to make it two in a row, and have so far made quick work of their opponents so far by jumping out to an impressive 14-3 start. They are led by team captain Tim Duncan, whose arrival in 1997 would signal the beginning of the greatest ERA in team history. So far this season, Duncan is averaging 18.5 points per game, behind Parker and Ginobili, and his 9.3 rebounds per game are leading the team. Behind Duncan is Tony Parker, who is capitalizing on his finals MVP award by leading the team with 20.3 points and 7.0 assists per game, while also leading the team in beautiful wives, as his bride Eva Longoria cheers him on during the games. Rounding out the offense is Argentinaborn Manu Ginobili and his 19.9 points per game, ranking just above Duncan and just below Parker for the team lead. It is going to prove to be a high-scoring contest, as both offenses are nearly even in points per game this season, with a slight edge going to Dallas. In the end, San Antonio’s defense is going to come out ahead, as they are allowing over five points less per game than Dallas. The Pick: San Antonio Spurs: 102 Dallas Mavericks: 96 *Statistics are current through 11/30 DECEMBER 4, 2007 Double Take Steph examines the stats that truly matter... BY STEPHANIE GERCHMAN Beacon Asst. Opinion Editor This week we have a double header. Well, I’m not really sure why they call it a double header. I mean it’s not like they are working together because two heads are better than one. They are still trying to beat each other, so the term “double header” is kind of stupid. Anyway, all that “double header” means to me is that I need to pick two winning teams instead of one. Hmm, this week let’s play a game called, “Pick the winning teams for this week by re-arranging letters to spell different words.” Let me tell you, this sounded like a good idea at the time but it did take me about 45 minutes to find words in these team names. First up we have the San Antonio Spurs and the Dallas Mavericks. I have never heard of the Mavericks and I’m not sure what one is, but that is not the point. Arranging the letters in San Antonio Spurs, I came up with “Santa no soup, sir.” I did leave out the N but I couldn’t figure out what else to do with it, so I find that perfectly acceptable. Dallas Mavericks turned into “Vac skills are mad.” By saying “vac” I either mean vacation or vacuuming. Either way the Mavericks take this round, they have mad skills while the Spurs are just trying to boss around the jolly, big man. The other game I have to choose a winner for is the Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers. I was super excited to make the word Beacon out of Boston Celtics but the two other words are what kill the team. “Beacon is lost” is not exactly the way to win there, Celtics. Things got tough when I got to the 76ers. I mean there is a number in the name. I had to stretch this one a bit and I came up with “I hhid 76 real apples.” I added the extra H to “hid” because I didn’t want to throw away another letter. So the 76ers win this one because they did not say anything negative about The Beacon With that said, the Mavericks and the 76ers are my picks for the winners this week. And just in case you were wondering yes, I realize that I have officially found the worst way to pick a winning team. Well, there’s always next time. �SPORTS DECEMBER 4, 2007 19 Athlete of the Week: Chris Gulla BY CARLTON HOLMES Beacon Sports Editor After battling in the most intense game so far this season, the Colonels nearly fell short two points in front of 600 fans at home to Susquehanna University during the closing seconds. But the sophomore guard from Berlin (NJ), Chris Gulla, had other plans. The Colonels trailed by two after Crusaders guard, Bryan Majors, cashed in a pair free throws. With only 15 seconds remaining, head coach Jerry Rickrode signaled a time-out to the three men in zebra-print shirts. In the huddle, Rickrode designed a play that was intended for Gulla to come off a screen at the top of the three point line to either tie the game or pop in jump-shot to win by one. The buzzer went off for the Colonels to return to the floor. The once ecstatic fans in the student section, went nervously silent hoping the Colonels would respond. After in bounding the ball, the play intended for Gulla faltered because the Crusaders denied him the ball, which forced senior guard Matt Gould to pull up for a the three pointer. “I thought it was good once it went up but it ended up popping out,” said Gulla. “I went in for the offensive rebound, got the ball and was able to make the layup to put the game into overtime.” “When I saw it hit the back off the rim and Gulla flying in for the rebound, I knew there was enough time for him to get a good shot off,” said Gould. “When he made it, I was excited.” Gulla darted in from the right side with four second remaining on the clock. The ball bounced off the rim and into his hands for the game-tieing basket. The Crusaders desperately launched a shot from half court but to no avail. After- 5 Number of players who scored double figures in the Colonels home win over Susquehanna last Tuesday. Gulla, Kline, Kresge, Gould and Gabriel all scored 11 or more. wards, he turned to the hundreds of fans screaming in relief and let out a roar of his own as his teammates patted his head to get ready for overtime. “It felt great, man. Everybody was going crazy. It was good,” said Gulla. The Colonels finished off the Crusaders in overtime 74-72 after junior forward Steve Kline muscled his way to a game-winning lay-up with 0.4 remaining on the clock. “I knew we were going to win in overtime because there was so much momentum going our way,” said Gulla. Had it not been for Gullas’ hustle on the offensive glass, the Colonels might have fallen to a 2-1 record, but instead, they’re undefeated through three. Gulla finished the game last Tuesday with a career high 19 points on a 5-8 shooting day. He went 7-11 from the free throw line along with hitting two out of three from downtown. He also snatched seven rebounds and played 40 out of the total 45 minutes. But prior to the game, his mind wasn’t focused on completing a memorable offensive game but rather shutting down senior Josh Robinson, a former division 1 player. “I went into the game knowing that I had to stop him,” said Gulla. “I wasn’t worrying about being on the (offensive) end, because I know my teammates could make plays. My main role was to shut him down.” Robinson scored 22 points after shooting 5-8 from the floor and 4-8 from the arc. Last year the Colonels played the Crusaders on the road and Robinson netted 24 points on the Colonels. As for Gulla, he approached defending Robinson relatively well considering he’s a sophomore. After the Colonels win over the Crusaders, Gulla is now the sixth leading scorer on the team averaging exactly 10 points per contest. The Beacon/James Rosato After a career day against the Crusaders, sophomore Chris Gulla was all smiles. Gulla finished with 19 points including a game tying basket at the end of regulation. SOCCER Wilkes men’s and women’s soccer earn accolades The Wilkes University men’s and women’s soccer teams have been awarded the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Team Academic Award. The award is presented to any team that maintains a grade point average of 3.00 or better on a 4.00 scale during the year. The list of teams includes NCAA Division I members, NCAA Division II members and NCAA Division III members. The women’s soccer team posted a 3.45 grade point average to rank 43rd among 295 women’s teams that garnered the honor. The Lady Colonels grade point average is the 14th highest among Division III schools that were selected. The men’s team fashioned a grade point average of 3.12 to also earn the honor. The Colonels were one of 111 men’s teams from throughout the country that achieved the award. The men’s team fashioned a grade point average of 3.12 to also earn the honor. The Colonels were one of 111 men’s teams from throughout the country that achieved the award. The Colonels also had three players earn honorable mention NSCAA/adidas College Men’s Scholar All-East Region accolades. The list includes 2007 graduates Bryan Riley and Matt Foreman, and current Wilkes senior Jimmy Thomas. NUMBERS OF THE WEEK 21 Number of points apiece scored by junior Chelsey Gosse and freshman Sam Lynam in the Lady Colonels loss to Lebanon Valley on Saturday. Gosse also grabbed 14 rebounds. 293 56 Number of career wins by Days remaining until the Colonels basketball head next Beacon issue is released. coach Jerry Rickrode through Remember to check wilkes.edu 16 years. Rickrode holds the for your latest sports coverDivision III record for the fast- age. Happy Holidays from The est coach to reach 200 wins. Beacon Sports Staff! �Sports DECEMBER 4, 2007 20 The Beacon/James Rosato A Lay-Up to Remember Colonels Cruise Past Crusaders with 0.2 left in OT BY CARLTON HOLMES Beacon Sports Editor Even though last Tuesday’s home game against Susquehanna was only the third of the season for the Colonels, it certainly felt as if the playoffs started a little early this year. Over 600 fans filled the Marts Gym to watch both teams collide in a much anticipated nonconference bout. Lucky for them, every second was worth the price of admission. After sophomore guard Chris Gulla rescued the Colonels from their first loss of the season by snatching an offensive rebound and kissing a layup off the glass at the end of regula- tion, the team entered overtime with a swagger that sent the Crusaders home in style. During the final seconds of overtime, senior guard Matt Gould made one of two free throws that would put the Colonels up by two. Consequently, the Crusaders called a time-out with 29 seconds remaining in overtime. Susquehannas’ senior guard, Josh Robinson, drove down the right side of the Colonels 2-3 zone to hit teammate Hunter McKain on a pass for a chip shot. McKain capitalized on the opportunity to tie the game at 72. The Colonels inbounded the ball with 19 seconds on the clock without any desire to call a timeout of their own to set up a play. Instead, they pushed the ball down the floor, passed it to junior Steve Kline standing on the block and the rest was history. Kline held the ball for a couple seconds before making his move. Surrounded by two Crusaders, Kline would sneak his way past one, while bombarding over the other to cash in the lay-up that would put the Colonels up 74-72 with 0.2 seconds remaining. “I had to get the shot up quick,” said Kline. “ Matty (Gould) got me the ball in the post and I knew I had to get the shot up. And then, it was the game-winner from there As head coach of the Dallas Mavericks, Avery Johnson would say, the entire game was a “dog fight.” Both teams were in double penalty foul situations early in the second half, at approximately the 11:00 mark. The Crusaders were charged with over 32 fouls as they saw their record drop to 3-2. The Colonels committed 22. In a seesaw battle that went right down to the wire, there were over 10 lead changes in the game. Five Colonels scored double figures. Gulla led all scorers with 19. Gould and Kline each had 12 while last years’ MAC Rookie of the Year, Tom Kresge, scored 16 on six of 18 shooting. Sophomore Anthony Gabriel contributed with 11 off the bench. Crusaders’ guard Josh Robinson led all scorers with 22 points. “I think this (game) was a gut check, because they’re (Susquehanna) very talented,” said head coach Jerry Rickrode . “It’s good to be able to play a close game like that and pull it out.” For the second consecutive season, the Colonels and Crusaders fought all the way to the closing seconds. Last year, the Colonels visited the Crusaders in front of 650 fans and left with a 87-86 victory to improve to 3-1. The Colonels return to action tomorrow on the road against William Paterson (NJ). � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon Newspaper Collection, 1947-present Description An account of the resource <p>This is Wilkes University's <em>Beacon</em> Newspaper collection, 1947-present. We also have digitized copies of the <em>Beacon's</em> predecessors, <em>The Bucknell Bison Stampede</em>, 1934-1935 and <em>The Bucknell Beacon</em>, 1936-1947 June. It should be noted that Wilkes University does not have a complete set of issues for the Bucknell Bison Stampede and Bucknell Beacon. For researchers who are interested in seeing the complete issues for these publications, please contact <a href="https://researchbysubject.bucknell.edu/scua">Bucknell University's Special Collections Department</a>.</p> <p></p> <p>Missing Issues:</p> <p>1947 August 8th<br />1947 September 5th<br />1947 October 3rd<br />1947 October 17th<br />1947 October 31st<br />1947 November 21st<br />1947 December 19th<br />1948 September 9th<br />1950 April 28th<br />1953 April 10th<br />1962 February 2nd</p> Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Beacon staff is comprised of Wilkes University students who are advised by a full-time faculty member of the Communication Studies Department. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1934-present Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright of the Wilkes Beacons is retained by Wilkes University. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Professor Emeritus Harold Cox digitized the collection from 1934-1970 and created a <a href="https://beaconarchives2.wilkes.edu/">legacy website</a>. Digital Archives student John Jenkins digitized the collection from 1970-present. Special thanks goes to Communication Studies Professor Dr. Kalen Churcher, Editor-in-Chief Kirsten Peters, Beacon staff member, Emily Cherkauskas, and other Beacon staff for their help in acquiring digitized copies of the Beacons from 2006 onward. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon 2007 December 4th Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2007 December 4 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Communication Studies Department Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Wilkes University https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/728f52ca98e4e77db3b1b305b4fca167.pdf e6568b4092a5f636080ab134fe2b9d43 PDF Text Text Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA The THE NEWS OF TODAY REPORTED BY THE JOURNALISTS OF TOMORROW Volume 60 www.wilkesbeacon.com NOVEMBER 20, 2007 Issue 10 I In This Issue... I Frantz appointed interim VP of Advancement PeTA Page 7 BY ANDEE SCARANTINO Beacon Editor-in-Chief Wilkes University is currently taking new strides in the progress of their multi-million dollar capitol campaign, as Dr. Tim Gilmour, Wilkes University President, has just appointed Vice President for Enrollment and Marketing Communications, Mike Frantz, Interim Vice President for Advancement. Frantz will be replacing former VP, Marty Williams, as he suffered a stroke on Easter Sunday, last Spring. According to Gilmour, the position is not currently a permanent one. Frantz will be serving in both positions for a six month trial period, where there will be an assessment at the end of the academic year to evaluate whether the arrangement is conducive to the needs of Wilkes University, the capitol campaign, and others dealing with enrollment and development. A feasibility study by a national consultant indicated to Gilmour that Frantz truly would be the best fit for the position, currently. Gilmour personally agrees, stating, “Mike is truly an exceptional leader. What he brings is a real passion for higher education. He cares about what he does, and he cares about other people. And [he] obviously understands what it takes to get a message across. And that’s why we’ve been so successful in our student improvement. He’s also realized that in higher education, we can’t continue raising costs and we’re going to address that issue.” Gilmour also illustrated that the appointment of Frantz into the VP for Advancement position will give former VP Williams time to continue to recover, and see where he is best fit in the constant growth of the organization. See FRANTZ page 4 Page 9 The Beacon/Andrew Seaman Mike Frantz, Vice President for Enrollment and Marketing Communications, will also be serving as Interim Vice President of Advancement. Lamb assumes new role as SD Coordinator BY AMY FUSCO Beacon Staff Writer II (Jl1(~11 I(~ I{ ll()(~l{S !! Page 12 Inside News................................1-5 Opinion.............................6-8 Lifestyles.........................9-11 Arts & Entertainment....12-15 Sports...........................16-20 The search for a new Student Development Coordinator has come to a successful conclusion. Last week, Gabrielle Lamb, 2004 Wilkes alumna, began her new post as the chosen candidate to help lead student development efforts. Lamb returns to her alma mater after several years as an economic development specialist at the Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Industry. As the Student Development Coordinator, Lamb will work on student activities, advise the Programming Board, direct and shape student leadership programs, among many other tasks. Philip Ruthkosky, Director of Student Development said, “There are four aspects of Gabrielle’s background that are really going to allow her to make a nice transition to higher education.” First, he explained, she was a student leader at Wilkes. Ruthkosky noted that Lamb has a great sense of campus culture and understands attending Wilkes University, Lamb was the News Editor for The Beacon and was involved with the PR agency Zebra Communications. Second, as an economic development specialist with the Chamber, Lamb worked with a diverse range of clients. She explained that while she was a specialist she worked on “downtown development and marketed the area as a sensible place to do business, to live and play.” Another attractive aspect of Lamb’s background was her engagement in the community. She is involved in different committees within the community and has participated in many community services. Last, and most importantly, Ruthkosky feels that Lamb is very passionate about working with students. Ruthkosky said he is “very pleased that we are going to have another person in the department who is passionate about their role and working with students and who is going to reinforce our whole philosophy of mentoring.” Lamb knows how important it is to have role models and to this day, she still has mentors here support system to Wilkes students. Lamb said, “I had a very positive experience here at Wilkes as a student and I wanted to repeat that as a professional.” She likes the environment on campus, which has a “great source of energy.” Lamb expects her new career will be an extremely rewarding experience for her due to being passionate about working with students and having good people surrounding her on campus. Erin Sweet, a sophomore and publicity chair of Programming Board, said, “It will be neat that we’ll have a fresh mind on the board. Since she graduated only a few years ago, she seems young enough to know what we like.” Lamb is very excited about meeting everybody, hearing people’s different perspectives, interacting with students and people on campus, and the leadership development part of the Student Development position. Ruthkosky said, “It will take time for her to get a sense of the office culture and get a sense of our programs and sustain what we have �NEWS NOVEMBER 20, 2007 2 Is social networking good? 3 Frantz 4 SG Notes 5 Wilkes 75th anniversary anticipated in 2008 BY JAMIE GWYNN Beacon Staff Writer In 1933, Prohibition was repealed, FDR became President, and Billie Holiday was discovered singing at Monette’s club. And the Wyoming Valley saw Bucknell Junior College--the precursor to the modern Wilkes University--begin. Though planning for Wilkes’ 75th anniversary is still in early stages, according to university officials, the celebration will likely extend into the entire community. “The [Wilkes anniversary] is a stepping stone, a platform, a diving board to jump, and I don’t know that we ever, as an example, really celebrated our presence, our relationship with the city,” said Mike Frantz, Vice President for Enrollment Services and newly appointed Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations. Dr. C. Reynold Verret pointed out that in 1933, when Wilkes was known as Bucknell University Junior College, Wilkes became a foundation for good things to come into our region. “The planting of this educational institution in Wilkes-Barre, and a lot of the [city’s growth], is coincidental with the formation of this University,” said Verret. “The University provides some important things for development of the region, economically and socially in many ways. [Perhaps] the biggest thing that we provide, beside the creation of talent, is creating an environment that is open to the larger world.” Wilkes’ integral role in the city for nearly 75 years is a reason why Frantz hopes to get the city involved in the celebration. “This is a way to plan a function or series of functions that really celebrate.. and help cement that partnership, that association in the minds of not only students and faculty and staff here, but also those residents of Wilkes-Barre who don’t necessarily have an educational connection right now with Wilkes,” said Frantz. “Does this give us the chance to build on that, to springboard in ways we’ve probably haven’t even imagined yet?” The only two celebrations that ,. •. - ·- .. ' ~- ·: ., '; 1• ~. ,r' . ' Dr. Harold Cox, the University’s archivist, had official files for were the 50th and 60th anniversaries. “The sixtieth was far bigger and more spectacular than the fiftieth,” said Cox. “They did a good job on that.” Both events were similar in what they included: seminars, theatre performances, concerts, lectures, special films and a dance, to name a few. The feature event during the 50th anniversary was an alumni symposium. The 60th anniversary featured a seminar series; five lectures in which former faculty, staff, trustees and students reflected upon the early history of the institution through recollections, anecdotes, and written histories. When asked about a possible timeline for the university’s 75 birthday celebration, Frantz noted that it’s still too early in the planning stages, but there will be a lot going on with the celebration. “There will not be a singular event,” said Frantz. “I think celebrating a milestone such as a 75th anniversary encourages us to think and plan for a series of events and how then we might interconnect them around the theme of our (LEFT) A picture of Conyngham Center before the flood of 1972. During the flood, the Center experienced 4-feet of water throughout the first floor. The building was damaged again months later when fire damaged some of the walls inside. Almost $350,000 was spent to reconstruct the building to make it usable. It was reopened for use in 1979. (BELOW)The Beacon/Jenna Stephens (ABOVE) Courtesy of Dr. Harold Cox (RIGHT) Conyngham Center, as it stands today contains University College, The Beacon Office, the Commuter Lounge and various other administrative offices. The building is celebrating its 110th anniversary this year. birthday, and everything is in very much a discussion planning stage right now. I think the options are almost limitless.” Verret, who witnessed the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia’s 185th anniversary, commented that students should be just as excited as he is for the upcoming events. “Students should get excited because the celebration for students is that they become part of an important tradition,” said Verret. “Think about how many of the leaders, the political and social leaders in this area and beyond, are Wilkes graduates... Being involved in the 75th anniversary is saying you are part of that tradition.” Students agree that a celebration for Wilkes is important for the institution and the community. “It’s definitely important for Wilkes University because it shows that we care about our history,” said David Ramil, a senior political science major. Even though Frantz stated that the project is still in its early planning stages, he said, “Like lots of good birthdays that people have enjoyed over the years, there are surprises,” said Frantz. “Stay tuned for surprises.” B E ACON Serving the community through fair and accurate reporting while supporting the views and opinions of our readers. Editorial Staff Editor-in-Chief: Andee Scarantino Email: wilkesbeacon@gmail.com Managing Editor: Nick Podolak Email: wilkesbeacon@gmail.com News Editor: Andrew Seaman Email: news.beacon@gmail.com Op/Ed Editor: Mark Congdon Jr. Email: thebeacon.oped@gmail.com Lifestyles Editor: Alison Woody Email: beacon.lifestyles@gmail.com A&E Editor: Marissa Phillips Email: thebeaconae@gmail.com Sports Editor: Carlton Holmes Email: beaconsports@gmail.com Photo Editor: Cara Koster Advertising Managers: Stephanie Yachim Dana Zlotucha Email: thebeacon.ads@gmail.com Advisor: Dr. Andrea Breemer Frantz Established in 1936 PA Newspaper Association Member Printed on Tuesdays during the academic school year. 130 S. River St. First Floor, Conyngham Hall, Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 (570) 408-5903 wilkesbeacon@gmail.com www.wilkesbeacon.com �NOVEMBER 20, 2007 NEWS 3 Online social networking benefits youth, study says BY NICOLE FRAIL Beacon Asst. News Editor In the most recent volume of the Journal of Adolescent Research, Dr. Brendesha M. Tynes’ article “Internet Safety Gone Wild? Sacrificing the Educational and Psychosocial Benefits of Online Social Environments” indicates that online socialization through networks like Facebook and programs such as AIM are more beneficial to the development of adolescents than they are harmful or dangerous. “Many internet safety and parenting experts suggest that parents prohibit their teens from social networking sites and other online spaces where predators may lurk… [But] banning adolescents from social networking sites - if this were even feasible - as well as monitoring too closely might close off avenues for beneficial cognitive and psychosocial development that are available to young people in the online social world,” claims Tynes, Assistant Professor of African American Studies and Educational Psychology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. According to Tynes, while socializing in chatrooms with other teenagers located all over the world, adolescents learn valuable perspective-taking, argumentative, decision-making and critical thinking skills. Playing online games may also help adolescents “develop cognitive skills such as spatial visualization, analog representation - the ability to read images - and divided visual attention, that is, being able to manage multiple components in a visual field at once.” “I would like to see more research… [But] I think that it does provide those opportunities and unfortunately today, the education that we give teenagers does not allow many opportunities for critical thinking, because it’s so based on testing and memorization of answers for standardized tests that they really need opportunities to develop these critical thinking skills because it is at this age that they are able to do this. A huge problem with school is that it often sacrifices that in the name of mass testing,” said Dr. Jennifer Thomas, assistant professor of psychology at Wilkes University. Teenagers may also benefit from databases such as YouTube. In her article, Tynes mentions research by Sonja Baumer of the University of California at San Diego centered around how adolescents learn global and political information through videos and dialogue on YouTube and various social networking sites. “Educationally, the strongest point made by [Tynes] is that users of the social networks are more globally aware since they have immediate access to global issues, and the chance to read about global events from people in those settings,” said Dr. Jane Elmes-Crahall, professor of communication studies. “That means at least on the surface, today’s media-savvy young people know world events. And, emotionally, they can be moved to be caring.” “I don’t think the average teenager thinks of anything from a political standpoint,” said Erin Koolman, a senior at E. L. Meyers high school in Wilkes-Barre. But if adolescents had a special interest in political affairs or global concerns, they could certainly find the information that they were the school district will not allow access to network sites due to bullying, slander and solicitation/pedophilia, confirmed Patrick Peters, Dean of Students at Meyers High. Alongside educational and psychological development, Tynes’ research suggests that teenagers can also benefit emotionally and socially. Networking can aid adolescents as they explore their identities and can also “fulfill the need for social support, intimacy, and autonomy.” Through perspective taking and racialized role taking, Tynes says that teenagers can become educated on racial and cultural issues while speaking with peers located on the other side of the Courtesy of Kerri Frail Students at E. L. Meyers High School in Wilkes-Barre sit at computers during class where social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace remain blocked despite studies that emphasize the benefits of online socialization for adolescents. looking for online, Koolman added. While Tynes believes that the benefits of online communication “can far outweigh the potential dangers,” area high schools haven’t seen anything that proves social networking sites can be used not only safely, but also for educational purposes. However, even if local high schools are outfitted with computer labs and internet access, according to the Wilkes-Barre Area School District website, “the [use] of networked resources for non-academic purposes is not permitted.” Websites such as Facebook and MySpace and also programs like AIM and Yahoo Messenger are blocked on all computers throughout the district. Despite research suggesting the benefits of online socialization and data from the Youth Internet Safety Surveys arguing that there has been a decrease of unwanted sexual solicitation from 1 in 5 adolescents ages 10 to 17 in 1999-2000 to 1 in 7 in 2005, country or even across seas. “I believe that teens can be more open online because they are in the comfort of their own homes. I agree that they can get a diverse picture of current issues online, but nothing compares to face-to-face contact,” said Sean Deats, sophomore psychology major. “I don’t think that online communication eliminates racial or sexual stereotypes, but it certainly helps.” “I think the internet can only go so far and one-on-one interaction is different… I think it’s going to take a lot more than just interacting with people on the internet to break stereotypes that are so engrained,” said Thomas. “Social psychologists would say that to reduce stereotypes and prejudices, you need to interact with people different from you so you can see how similar they really are.” The internet can also provide a safe place for teens to talk about sensitive or personal issues such as romantic relationships or sexual health. “If we look at websites that are geared toward teenagers, the sites they most often go to are sites having to do with sex. They have lots and lots of questions about sex. The way that we educate kids about sex today, the overwhelming majority of schools are abstinence only or abstinence based…” said Thomas. “Teens have lots of questions and lots of misconceptions, so they go to these online chatrooms to find out what the truth is… We just have to hope that they are going to sites with the right information.” Depending on location and a teen’s own background, socializing with peers online and learning about different races, religions, and cultures may make a smoother transition from high school to college, where many vibrant cultures are brought together on a single campus and many forms of online socialization continue. According to Mike Salem, chief information officer of IT Services, “Wilkes does not block any websites. Higher ed is a very open environment and to date there has not been any compelling reason to even consider doing so.” Without restrictions, Wilkes students can continue to use network sites such as Facebook whenever and wherever they would like. Nicole Zastko, a senior communication studies and integrative media double major, is currently researching college students use of Facebook. “I’m expecting to conclude that most college students see Facebook as something beneficial to their college careers and something that serves as a helpful tool in their social lives,” said Zastko. While Tynes brings to light many benefits of online socialization, many parents are still focused on the negative aspects portrayed by the media. Although Tynes offers alternatives to banning social online environments for concerned parents and educators, she says that “the first line of defense should be teens themselves. Increasingly, tech-savvy adolescents are aware of the risks in online socializing and are developing their own strategies for staying safe in cyberspace.” “All adolescents can benefit as early as the age of twelve from having parents sitting down with them and explaining to them the consequences of being on the internet,” said Thomas. Although the positive aspects of online socialization may be growing, Elmes-Crahall believes that communicating in person is still vital for interpersonal relationships. “Every hour spent on social networks is one less hour spent learning how to effectively communicate face-to-face.” �NEWS NOVEMBER 20, 2007 FRANTZ from FRONT PAGE “We have the former vice president, Marty Williams, coming back with us on a part time basis, really recovering in remarkable ways from a very serious stroke, and we felt, at least for a while, that one of the key factors in recovery is hope, and a sense that you really can get back and make a difference. Obviously for somebody that as been a vice president, that’s very important that we really shouldn’t close off that option for Marty,” said Gilmour. Frantz feels he is knowledgeable in taking on the new position, in addition to his current VP role. “Certainly as a cabinet we know where we stand with the capitol campaign. It’s a common and frequent topic in our meetings, and I have been learning daily, and will continue to learn daily. I hope that we all do that in whatever job we’re in. There are a lot of similarities between enrollment and advancement work. It’s building relationships with those that we wish to be associated with the institution, cultivating those relationships to the point that, from a student perspective, this is what they see as best fit for their enrollment; from a fundraising perspective, this is an institution that’s best fit for their philanthropic dollars. And in many ways it’s making the same case,” said Frantz. Sandra Carroll, Director of Alumni Relations, who formerly served as interim VP, along with Mike Wood, have both brought much to the table in assisting Frantz with his efforts in acclimating to the VP role. “Mike’s recently brought on two additional people on his part of the house, and they’re just going gang-busters. Sandra, likewise, has a team, and she’s just added an immediate di- rect report who will start in February on that team, and she certainly wants to help that person acclimate to the institution, and to build her squad. There’s a third component, who is Rebecca Van Jura, who does special event planning,” said Frantz. Carroll is also confident in Frantz’s ability to fulfill the new position. “I think, having been a VP, he has all the raw materials already,” said Carroll. “I prompt him for alumni events, put him with the right people… do things like explain budgetary, ongoing initiatives, things we’ve undertaken and hope to undertake.” Carroll finds that Frantz filling the new VP role will help her in continuing projects she was working on before she filled the interim VP role. For example, many projects take several years to be completed, such as the Annual Giving Program Carroll is currently directing a lot of attention toward. “Basically, the whole time I was filling in as interim, I couldn’t concentrate all my energies on alumni relations. Adding on responsibility, I had to set aside my natural priorities,” said Carroll. Gilmour feels that if the arrangement works, it is possible to become permanent in the future. He stated that people like Melanie Mickelson, Director of Admissions, and Jack Chielli, Executive Director of Marketing Communications, would probably be working closer with Frantz in the areas of enrollment and marketing. As for Frantz, he is generally pleased with the new position. “I’m honored, thrilled; it’s a fun challenge,” he said. 4 Wilkes University Leadership After Mike Frantz’s transition to Interim Vice President of Advancement, the following is the current Wilkes Leadership according to Wilkes.edu. President Dr. Tim Gilmour Provost Dr. C. Reynold Verret Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Paul S. Adams Vice President for Enrollment and Marketing Interim Vice President for Advancement Mike Frantz Vice President for Finance Petra Carver Vice President for Human Resources and Organizational Development Maggie Lund Special assistant to the president for multicultural and community affair Dr. Maria Suarez STSTRAVEL.COM Watch Beacon News on... CANCUN ACAPULCO JAMAICA BAHAMAS FLORIDA Wilkes World Join America’s #1 Student Tour Operator Channel 15 Service Electric Cable Sell Trips, Earn Cash & Travel Free ~ ~ www.ststravel.com STUDENT TRAVEL SERVICES 1-800-648-4849 / www.ststravel.com Monday - Friday 7:30 p.m. Tuesday 12:00 p.m. LIVE! �NOVEMBER 20, 2007 NEWS 5 SG Notes November 14, 2007 Treasurer’s Report All College: $1,220.96 General: $1,220.96 Special Projects: $2,040 Spirit: $815 Leadership: $3,525.04 Conferences: $9,500 Start-Up: $600 Club Reports The following clubs presented a report to SG. Programming Board Anime Club Student Alumni Association SAM New Business Climbing Club - granted club status; motion passed 33-2-5, but stipulation includes editing a minor detail in their constitution and must get approval through student development for all outdoor activities Com 362 - Mass Communication Law - motion passed 24-14-2 on a $200 donation for their First Amendment Week; stipulation is that Courtesy of Ashish Javia all unused monies must be returned along with receipts. On Saturday, November 10, Wilkes University celebrated Diwali, in the second floor ballroom of the Rock Wall Training - discussed training availability for next seHenry Student Center. Diwali, one of the biggest festivals of Hindus, is enthusiastically celebrated for mester five days. On the fifteenth day of Kartika, homes are cleaned, windows are opened, and candles are lit to Widener Leadership Conference- motion passed 21-12-3 on a $600 symbolize knowledge, encourage reflection and welcome Laskmi, the goddess of wealth. On the third day, allowance for SG members to attend the conference; a stipulation the main Diwali or “Festival of Lights” is celebrated with fireworks. Gifts are exchanged throughout the was placed that members interested must sign up by Friday and place festival between friends and family. a $10 deposit to be reimbursed the day of the conference. CAll: Bl LL HENRY at 2.15-71H619 OR ( HECK THE WEB SITIE FOR IN FORMATION �Opinion Dueling Rants Free Holiday Gift Your Voices NOVEMBER 20, 2007 6 Free and independent media ensure democracy Wireless communication can undermine power grabs BY THE BEACON EDITORIAL BOARD When Pervez Musharraf, Pakistani President, decided that is was for the good of the country that he take complete and absolute control of all government operations, like most dictators, one of his first actions was to close down or control the country’s independent media. Musharraf realized that his country’s supreme court was not going to allow him to serve as president and military leader for another term. Therefore he declared the Pakistani constitution invalid and placed the country under marshal law, his law. He also shut down his nation’s independent media outlets and barred certain people from return- ing on air. Some reports from inside Pakistan says that broadcast outlets were warned by military officials that if a broadcaster says anything negative about Musharraf or his army the person will face three years in jail and a $70,000 fine. Musharraf said that his actions are justified; he gave the country independent media and they reported negatively. As history shows us, one of the first things that dictators do is take control of the independent media. Most recently we can look at Hugo Chavez and his attempt to create a dictatorship in Venezuela. One of his first actions was to shut down independent media outlets, but unfortunately for Chavez and Musharraf, it is not as easy as it once was to shut the door on com- munication. With smart phones, pocket PCs, PDAs, laptops, and all of the other wireless devices available to the public, there will always be open windows of communication when the door is closed. In fact one of the best things for Pakistan’s drowning democracy is Facebook. On Facebook there have been postings between Pakistani university students for “flash protests” to ensure that the military will not have any prior knowledge of an assembly. Young people have also been communicating through cell phones and text messaging. This is a repeat of what happened in Venezuela a short time ago. After Chavez shut down broadcast stations and took control of print media, people rioted in the streets and the entire protest was orga- nized on the internet. The protesters would then communicate the location of police and other dangers through text messaging and other media. Fortunately, this all means that would be dictators cannot gain supreme and absolute control over a country as strongly as they once did, because the control is not there to have. The internet creates a social network that can deliver news from all over the world and help protesters organize in a safe environment free from government control. We encourage the protesters to continue to organize in Pakistan for reestablishment of their independent media outlets, because when there is no free and independent media, there is no democracy. said, “We will not be silent.” When Jarrar asked why he was not allowed to wear the t-shirt, authorities explained that some people were offended by its message. Jarrar said that he never meant to offend anybody, and he also said that he knew that wearing a tshirt was within his constitutional rights. The authorities tried to convince him that it was not within his rights. Unfortunately, since he wanted to go back home he agreed to wearing another shirt over the one in question. Later, he contacted the media and ACLU. The First Amendment states, “Congress shall make no law... abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press…” By looking at what the courts have ruled on what’s free speech, I believe this man’s right of speech was violated. Previously, the courts have ruled that speech is protected if it’s free of fighting words--offensive speech designed to provoke a reaction, usually violent, among those who read or hear the message. The courts have ruled that speech must be free of incitement because, as Brandenburg v. Ohio (1969) illustrated, the government is able to regulate speech if it presents a “clear and present danger to the security of the nation.” Finally, protected speech must be free of obscenity. As defined by Miller v. California (1973), obscenity can be defined as speech that “(1) the average person, applying contemporary community standards, would find, taken as a whole, to appeal to the prurient interest; (2) depicts or describes in a patently offensive manner specifically defined sexual conduct; and (3) lacks as a whole serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value.” Clearly, Jarrar’s rights to free speech were violated. There was no obscenity involved in the message communicated on his t-shirt, nor were there fighting words present designed to incite. I believe it is time for everyone to start thinking how important free speech is. As long as it does not present a threat to the nation, being able to express what we think of others and of the government is vital to democracy. I invite each one of you to think about what does free speech mean to you? How can this right be respected and protected? Should I be punished if I wear a t-shirt that says something someone doesn’t agree with? Can a t-shirt message threaten a nation’s security? BY YOHANNA DE LOS SANTOS MARIA Beacon Staff Writer If you were told that you couldn’t wear a specific piece of clothing because it could offend others, what would you do? Would you respond to whoever told you this and change, or would you refuse to conform because you believe it’s your right to express yourself in the way you feel comfortable? A recent court case, Jarrar v. Harris, deals with such censorship of expression. Raed Jarrar, a resident of the United States, was going to board a Jet Blue plane when he was denied access. He was told that he could not wear a t-shirt that A A Sight Sight for for Sore Sore Eyes Eyes by: by: Aleksander Aleksander Lapinski Lapinski 7 8 8 Beacon Poll Results Americans have a lot to worry about. The ongoing Iraq war, stock market and housing investThe following are results of a ment instability, drug busts, AIDS, poll that The Beacon conductand environmental concerns domed online this past week. The inate the nightly news reports. Is poll was unscientific, and does it any wonder that with such boldnot claim to reflect the overall face headlines other issues fail to attitudes of students on camcapture our attention? Seemingly pus. Results are based on 86 “less important” social problems responses. like homelessness, poverty, and the growing deficit tend to make inside pages, if that, because of The Beacon asked: the pressing nature of the other stories. Withofonly onesidebar year until the that One those issues 2008 presidential election, only occasionally squeaks onto the what radar candidate do you support public is animal cruelty. Reat thisanimal time? cruelty has become cently a more mainstream issue with ma• Ron Paul-17% jor corporations, football players, Clinton-20% and •evenHillary local people stirring up • Rudy Giuliani-21% the issue. Animal cruelty involves • Barack Obama-16% anything from dog fighting, and • Mitt Romney-7% shooting whales, to killing aniEdwards mals•for John fur and animal-5% testing. John McCain-6% The• problem isn’t awareness; it • more Bill Richardson-0% is that people appear to believe• thatOther-5% it’s okay to hurt animals • None/don’t care-3% for personal benefit or enjoyment. Worse, there is a small contingent in the country who believe that the practice of animal cruelty can be Next Week’s Question: excused because of age-old cultural Whopractices. has been the most domiJust two weeks agoorthe Makah nant sports athlete team in tribe made the wire over the isthe past ten years? sue of whaling. Years ago the Native •American tribe legally killed Tiger Woods whales as something • Jeff Gordon of a sport. The •tribe suspend its practice beVenus & Serena cause the grey whale was placed Williams on the endangered species • Michael Phelps list and federal government • Roger Federer prohibited whaling. However, in 1994, the • Lance Armstrong grey•whale came off of NY Yankees the endangered• list. LA Lakers The• tribe obtained a permit in NE Patriots 1999• to Other kill a whale which outraged animal rights groups. After a court hearing it became necessary forVisit the tribe to receive a waiver www.wilkesbeacon.com intoorder to hunt whales. Recently, cast your vote. Results will members of the tribe shot a grey be published in next week’s whale repeatedly with a rifle beissue of The Beacon. fore they were due to receive their waiver. The five men involved are all facing fines of up to $20,000 �NOVEMBER 20, 2007 OPINION 7 The Angry Rant: Turkey and PETA BY TIM SEIGFRIED Beacon Asst. Sports Editor It’s Thanksgiving season, and do you know what that means? Turkey. Lots and lots of turkey: turkey on Thursday, turkey sandwiches on Friday, Turkey salad on Saturday, and, inevitably, turkey vomit on Sunday. Just like every other Thanksgiving, it’s going to be a sea of leftovers, an ocean of turkey-related dishes, and a deluge of tryptophan (the natural sedative in turkey - or as I call it: “Poor man’s methyl trichloride”), resulting in yet another sleepy, bloated four-day weekend that ultimately ends in stomach pain and tears. In other words: It’s going to be awesome. Let’s face facts: Turkey is great. So is ham, bacon, beef, pork, chicken, fish and venison. Actually, anything that at one point had a face is delicious. Except for Panda bears - they’re very fatty. All joking aside, meat is a way of life. It’s delicious, it’s essential, and it’s been used for special occasions throughout history dating back to when Ogg and Slar would kill a Tyrannosaurus-Rex for their cousin’s Bah-mitzvah. However, some will argue that eating meat isn’t an essential part of life, nor is it delicious or beneficial to your health. Fair enough. I’m all about respecting someone else’s opinion; so if you don’t like meat, that’s your prerogative. What I am not all about is when people ram their own opinions down your throat or otherwise engage in activity to make you feel like you’re being intimidated or bullied into behaving a certain way or changing the way you act around them, out of fear of retribution. Like wearing a fur coat in the presence of PETA protestors, for example. Yes, this is a rant about PETA, (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) an organization who has done a lot of good in the field of animal cruelty, forming in 1980 with the goal to promote education and awareness of the suffrage of animals on farms, laboratories, and other areas. Sounds simple, right? What their mission statement doesn’t tell you is that PETA members frequently engage in unethical behavior which results in property damage, personal harm, and other criminal and hypocritical behavior. Some examples: PETA is supportive of the Animal Liberation Front (ALF), an extremist group whose sole existence is to cause “abolish institutionalized animal exploitation,” through means such as arson, breaking and entering, and theft. PETA founder Ingrid Newkirk once said “Even if animal research resulted in a cure for AIDS, we’d be against it.” That’s funny that she would say that, seeing as how she recently broke her wrist, and subsequently blogged about the event, saying “Thank goodness for IV (intravenous) drips,” referring to the painkiller or other such drug that helped her through her pain; apparently unaware that IV drips were initially tested on animals during their creation. Rod Coronado, a member of the Earth Liberation Front and former member of the ALF, has been convicted on more than one occasion, including charges for arson, felony conspiracy, and felony charge of demonstrating the use of a destructive device, among others. In a speech at American University in Washington, D.C., Coronado told students how to make an incendiary device out of a “simple plastic jug that you fill with gasoline and oil.” While he isn’t a member, PETA donated $45,000 to the “Rodney Coronado Support Committee.” The hypocrisy doesn’t stop there, as PETA has come under scrutiny for its policies and practices regarding euthanasia, including one such campaign that pitted Michael Vick against PETA, with the headline “Who’s Killed More Animals?” Vick’s total was 8, PETA’s was 14,400. (No, I’m not supporting Michael Vick) There’s more where that came from, as PETA and its members has been involved in several incidents in which they revel in their own hypocrisy. Don’t believe me? Do a search for “PETA hypocrisy” and see for yourself. So, what am I saying? Is animal cruelty acceptable? Of course not. Should it be policed? Of course. Should someone firebomb a building because they are testing animals in trying to create a cure for cancer inside? You know the answer to that one. Gobble, gobble. The Angry Rant Part 2: Forced Celebrations BY ANDEE SCARANTINO Beacon Editor-in-Chief Thanksgiving was never meant to be shut up in a single day. ~Robert Caspar Lintner I begin with this quote as to say I am thankful for many things. As I am in my 22nd year of life, I’m thankful for my health (despite my smoking habits and poor eating.) I’m thankful for the success I’ve had thus far. I’m thankful for the relationships I have with my parents, my brothers, and my friends. As a matter of fact, every single day I express thanks for all the gifts I’ve been given. So, with pleasure, I will express my thoughts on Thanksgiving guilt-free, as I feel my way of expressing thanks (on any random day at any given time,) is sufficient. I hate Thanksgiving. I hate the idea that we Americans, unlike many places in Europe, only get about two weeks of vacation time a year, as opposed to the typical six weeks in many places overseas. We work long days, yet we get about two weeks to spend our time how we wish. Yet, America seems to choose for us what days we have to sit, and not work, and theoretically spend time with people we, again theoretically, should love, respect, and be thankful for. America dictates that this day, of all days, should be a happy day, spent gorging on enormous feasts, and in modern day, watching football. I find it awkward that when someone says they don’t eat turkey and cranberry sauce on Thanksgiving, they receive strange glances. Why should America tell us we have to eat turkey! I hate turkey! And, I hate cranberry sauce. I’d be happier eating steak, and drinking gin and tonic. I don’t want to devote a day to gluttony. I really can’t stand that people look at this day as a “blessing.” “Oh, we don’t have to work,” they say. Hmm. Right. You don’t have to work. Wouldn’t you rather have free will to choose what days you didn’t work, instead of a cold November day, where society has told you you should probably try to get along with your extended family that you never call during 97% of the year? (Rough estimation on that figure, naturally.) Oh, and by the way, I really hate football. I’m so tired of America forcing their traditions on me! I am. This all stems from the idea that this is a country based on freedom. Our entire society is based on the idea of being free, and the freedom we once sought was primarily “religious freedom.” I say this because on this past Easter Sunday, I was not in America. Now, I am part of the 20% of America that is secular. I was not born with a religion, nor do I attend church. I proudly did not have to celebrate Easter, because where I lived, nearly every business was open, and people were going about their daily lives. Needless to say, in America on Easter Sunday, much like Thanksgiving, businesses are closed, and people tend to stay cooped up in their homes eating food they don’t like. Maybe I don’t want to do that! Why should I suffer? I’m a work-aholic. Maybe I’d rather be at school, doing my work, with access to resources I need! No, I can’t do that either, because I’m forced to move out of my dorm room, and go stay with my parents in a place I don’t like for a select number of days. I can’t really complain that much. I only live 20 minutes away, but I think it’s ludicrous for poor college students to have to drive (and waste gas money) back to, I don’t know, New Jersey, to go spend a holiday they may or may not enjoy, only to waste more gas money to travel back to Wilkes-Barre. Maybe it’s just me. Maybe my bitterness and distaste for the entire thing actually clouds the point I’m trying to make, but generally, before I rant, I consult with people on how they feel about the holiday traditions, and I have a lot of consenting opinions on this matter. I don’t like Thanksgiving, and I wish society would stop making me feel guilty for not spending a gluttonous day with extended family that I’ve had about 2 hours of cumulative conversation with in the past 10 years. I guess it all really boils down to freedom, and the fact that I can’t express my yearning to be free from these mundane traditions without sounding like a hateful, heinous person! Maybe we should all be a little more grateful, and give thanks all year round, instead of pretending to care on one certain day of the year. Also, maybe we should have a little respect for people who don’t want to celebrate, instead of acting like they’ve committed some type of cardinal sin. Happy Holidays. �OPINION NOVEMBER 20, 2007 “All I want for Christmas is…” 8 What do you think? Ask those you love to register to vote for your holiday gift BY MARK CONGDON JR. Beacon Opinion Editor So, the holidays are right around the corner, and as college students, we may have a limited budget to spend on our holiday gifts. Well, if you’re in need of a gift that’s completely free, is thoughtful, and is contributing to the betterment of society, then I have the solution for you. When I graduated high school in 2004, I asked all my friends and family to register to vote for my graduation present. Not only that, every year since 2004, I have asked all my family and friends to do this as my Christmas present. As a result, all of my immediate family members are registered Seriously!? to vote, and many of my extended family and friends are as well. Nine of my closest friends and family now participate in the democratic process, and these were people who didn’t before I asked them to register to vote. Not only was this gift free, but by asking my family and friends to do this, they were able to become educated on the voting and political process of our country, and they do go out and vote on Election Day. Moreover, if you’re tired of our political leaders not listening or valuing your opinions, then by voting yourself and having your family and friends vote, will empower you to feel as though you are acting on the issue. How many people can actually say that all they want for Christmas, Hanukah, their birthday and graduation presents are to have the ones they care about register to vote? There are many websites that provide needed forms to register and educational materials to understand the political process. Many websites also provide information about stances that political parties and politicians take. Some of these websites include: rockthevote.com, declareyourself.org, lwv.org, and justvote.org to name a few. Even more important, is that after you ask your family and friends to register to vote, you must make sure to encourage them to vote on Election Day. So, if you’re tired of the fact that many politicians don’t listen to our generation, the 18-29 year olds, and don’t value us as American citizens, then I encourage you to give and ask for the gift of the vote. Ask your family and friends to register to vote, and encourage them to vote on Election Day for your holiday gift or any other celebration throughout the year you may observe. If we all do this, we will have a very powerful voice and vote in the 2008 presidential election and those thereafter. If you’re a poor student or on a limited budget for the holidays, like myself, I encourage you to give the greatest gift of all, ask them to register to vote and vote on Election Day. • The Beacon wants your voice to be heard. Your Voices is the opportunity for students to voice their concerns. If you want your voice to be heard, please contact The Beacon with the following information: 1 Contact information including your email address and a phone number where you and be reached 2 Your name, major, and year 3 Your opinion thebeacon.oped@ gmail.com The Beacon reserves the right to edit submitted pieces for space and content. Your Voices Dear Editor: The Beacon/Mark Congdon Jr. On Sunday, Nov. 18, a trash can on the 2nd floor of Breis in the student lounge was disocvered that contains an inappropriate saying on it. Have you seen anything around campus that has made you think Seriously!? The Beacon wants your strange pictures. Here is all you have to do. 1 Take a picture of something that makes you think Seriously!? (Please no contrived pictures.) 2 E-mail where and when you took the picture, your name, graduation year and major to: thebeacon.oped@ gmail.com The 2008 Presidential campaigns are underway and in full swing. Many of the candidates on both sides are well qualified. But there is one candidate who is the worst possible choice to be the next Commander-in-chief of our country and that person is former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani. Having him occupy the Oval Office would be just as bad, if not worse, than having George W. Bush in the Oval Office. When President Bush first took office, he inherited an estimated $160 billion surplus from the Clinton administration. In a matter of two years he turned the budget from a historical surplus into a historical $374 billion deficit. This occurred after his budget director Mitch Daniels said that Americans “will see a second historical budget surplus.” Similarly, mayor of NYC Giuliani increased the city’s spending and left current mayor Michael Bloomberg with a multibillion dollar deficit and opposed what could have been one of the city’s largest tax breaks. Foreign policy under President Giuliani would be a complete disaster. First, he has the least amount of foreign policy experience than the other candidates. Just like President Bush, Giuliani would not do any- thing to diminish the worldwide disgust for the United States. The next president should be dedicated to mending fences with the international communities, especially our allies, instead of treating them like rubbish. Also like President Bush, Giuliani believes that everyone should have rights except Americans. That is why he supports expanding government’s powers to eavesdrop on Americans without warrants and the government’s right to torture anyone, including Americans. He is critical of the Democrats’ desire to negotiate with Iran. On the other hand, if Giuliani were president, he would support military action against the Iranian government. Giuliani takes this particular stand despite the fact the U.S. military is fighting on two fronts, is stretched too thin and war in Iraq would cost this country an estimated $2 trillion. Another war would be completely devastating to this country, its people, and economy. Like President Bush, Giuliani doesn’t live in the real world. Finally, Giuliani’s foundation for his campaign… 9/11. He mentions 9/11 in every topic including why he answers his wife’s phone calls during speeches. Democratic Presidential candidate Senator Joe Biden of Delaware summed it up about Giuliani. At the last Democratic debate Biden said, “Rudy Giuliani (is) probably the most un- der-qualified man since George Bush to seek the presidency…there are only three things he mentions in a sentence: a noun, a verb and 9/11.” Giuliani brags about his leadership during and after 9/11. What he does not want the public to know is that the New York City Council is considering investigating Giuliani for giving FDNY equipment that was determined faulty after the first WTC bombing. Also part of the investigation is why Giuliani allowed a vital emergency radio transmitter to be left on top of the WTC after the first attack. If anyone is happy with the current administration, which is full of broken promises, huge deficits, backdoor corrupt deals to corporate interests, large secretive expansion of government powers, trampling of American rights, a 28% approval rating ect. then Giuliani is your man, because he promises more of the same. If anyone is like me and believes in a responsible government while preserving the Constitution then one should know Giuliani is the absolute worst person to be the next president. Robert Donahue Senior, History major �LIFESTYLES Student of the Week Namorah Bryd NOVEMBER 20, 2007 9 ... ... ... ... Black Friday bargains lure shoppers out of,.bed BY LAUREN SALEM & YOHANNA DE LOS SANTOS MARIA Beacon Staff Writers “I think that with us having Best Buy next door, it’s going to be very enticing for the customer, because electronics are definitely great gifts,” Kane said. “Old Navy is also offering a lot of great gifts, too, so I think we’re going to see a lot of traffic where the customer is going to be spending at Best Buy and here and vice versa.” The line at the checkout inside Best Buy For American consumers, shopping for Christmas gifts the day after Thanksgiving marks the start of the holiday shopping season, but among businesses “Black Friday” is known as the day their losses finally turn into profits. “[Black Friday] is not the biggest shopping day of the year, and is also not the biggest shopping day of the holiday season, but it is the biggest traffic day,” said Anne Heineman Batory, professor of marketing. Several local stores are using special promotions and longer hours to take advantage of the large number of people who will be out shopping. The doors of the Old Navy in Wilkes-Barre will open at 5:00 a.m. and the The Beacon/Jenna Stephens first 200 customers that make a $20.00 purchase will receive a free MP3 player. usually stretches from the front of the store “The door busters that we are running all the way to the back on Black Friday acand the MP3 players that we’re handing cording to Melissa Brewer, store manager. out, we’re expecting that to generate a lot Best Buy will be giving out free AT&T of business earlier in the day,” said Jennifer Nokia N6555 Cell Phones with two year Kane, the store manager of Old Navy. agreements early on in the day. Throughout Black Friday, three-quarters “I look forward to Black Friday every of all items in the store will be on sale. year,” Brewer said. “I come in at 2:00 a.m. Kane predicts that a lot of the sweaters, out- I’m supposed to work a split shift because erwear, sleepwear, and robes will constantly I’m a manager, but I’ll stay all day.” need to be restocked. Best Buy will open at 5:00 a.m., but employees come in to work between 2:00 and 3:00 a.m. and work eight to ten hour shifts as needed. They also attend two meetings called “Green Day” prior to Black Friday to prepare for the day. Chuck Sullick, the operations manager of Best Buy, said, “If you think about Best Buy, we’re going to do ten times more business on Black Friday-look at Wal-Mart-they’re probably going to break one million, two million dollar days, so we’re talking about a lot of money on Black Friday. “ Wal-Mart is typically open 24 hours a day, but will not open until 5:00 a.m. on Black Friday. On Thursday evening, everything will be set out onto the floor so all the associates have to do Friday morning is take the black plastic off the merchandise, according to Amy Bencoster, store manager of WalMart. Cashiers come in to work at 4:30 a.m. and the overnight employees work until 6:30 a.m. Bencoster estimates that costumers would ~ probably spend around $200-$300 on Black Friday. The most popular merchandise of the season is electronics and items from the toy department like Tickle Me Elmo. People have different reasons for waking up early to face the huge crowds on Black Friday. “I think it’s just tradition. So many people have done it for so many years and there is a lot of great buys out there and like anything else, people just can’t pass up a great buy,” says Bencoster. “If what I’m purchasing is absolutely worth it [I would definitely stay in line for hours],” says Erin Sweet, a sophomore integrated media major. “Any kind of software I would like to see on sale. Typically they are around $600, so I’d be willing to buy it at around $200.” Although large numbers of shoppers are expected to be out on Black Friday, at least one manager is worried that rising gas prices might have an affect on sales. “I would say the weather would be a big part of it, the price of gas, if the weather gets really cold people are going to be trying to decide whether they actually want to shop or pay their heating bill,” Bencoster said. 10 11 ..... I \ . . ~--\ \ \ \ \ --~ .. ---- \ �10 LIFESTYLES NOVEMBER 20, 2007 Student of the Week: Alisha Cain BY CHRISTINE ZAVASKAS Beacon Asst. Lifestyles Editor sibly next year to fit the needs of University Towers. Alisha Cain, a fifth year senior (P3) pharmacy and English major, knows the meaning of the word busy. In addition to her double major in two subjects at opposite ends of the academic world, she is involved in a plethora of extracurricular activities. She is the founder and president of the Equestrian Club at Wilkes and also the founder of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association. Along with being an officer in both Sigma Tau Delta and Rho Chi, she is a member of Alpha Chi, Christian Fellowship Club, and serves as an E-mentor/Orientation Leader and a pharmacy mentor for P2 students. This year, Cain took on the new role of Senior Resident Assistant, which was created to better serve the increased number of students living in University Towers. She is also starting a project as historian of the pharmacy honor society to create a sort of practice book for pharmacy majors. For all her efforts to serve the Wilkes University community, The Beacon chose Cain as this week’s Student of the Week and sat down with her to learn more about the activities she is currently participating in. The Beacon: Can you explain the pharmacy book you are helping create? Cain: In pharmacy we have what we call our modules. They are our really big drug classes. For example, right now we’re in cardiovascular, so we learn about every single cardiovascular disease and what you would treat those with. On the test we’re actually required to apply what we know…Some of the teachers are really good with providing cases for us to practice with… Some other modules, they don’t really have a lot of cases. What we’re trying to do, is put together a book that is going to have cases for every module. It will just give students the chance to practice more, or they can save it to look back over right before they take their test to get certified. The Beacon: What does the position of Senior Resident Assistant entail? Cain: My RA job is kind of a new role this year. With acquiring University Towers and having more students in there, it is kind of a similar situation to Evans Hall, where we have a lot of students in one particular building. I’m essentially there as a go-to person for the other seven resident assistants in University Towers. So, if they’re having roommate conflicts or any sort of problem that they don’t know how to deal with, or if they need ideas for programming, I’m kind of a point person in between them and Brenda Stanley, Director of Residence Life. It’s a spot they created at least for this year and pos- The Beacon: What are your future plans? Cain: After completing pharmacy school, I’m interested in going for a residency…Ideally when I enter the workforce, I would love to be able to work 20 hours a week in some field of pharmacy. Then, [I’d like to] have the rest of my time devoted to a home office with either writing for medical journals or possibly teaching…I’d also like to have a little farm and a little dressage (a type of horseback riding) business on the side. Courtesy Alisha Cain The Beacon: What made you decide to double major in two such very different subjects? Cain: I’m fascinated by the medical world. My mom, aunt, and grandma are all nurses or respiratory therapists, so I have a lot of family members that are involved in the medical world. Pharmacy itself sounded very interesting because you could break down the body, learn all about it, and how different drugs affect it. But then, with English, that was my strongest subject in high school. I work with a pharmacist a few hours a week, and she actually has kind of created her own job definition. She teaches the Hershey Medical School students, works a couple hours a week in a pharmacy, has a clinical practice, and writes for medical journals. She was the person who, through talking with her, I got the idea of how I could intertwine pharmacy and English. The Beacon: How do you handle your workload? Cain: Time management is huge. I actually enjoy doing both curricula because if I start getting frustrated in pharmacy, I can go and work on my English. As for all the extracurricular activities, I think you have to keep in mind that school is why you’re here and that’s the most important thing. Something I’ve always struggled with is saying no and not getting involved. So this year, I’m kind of realizing that a little bit. Finally, I think you have to have that selfish time. So I actually ride my horse five times a week. He is kind of my sanity. 1 IG '- I - ~I_· ...------·I)~ m - 9 1P ~ ., on of · rurd -y - Sanday . .3 P.M. -5, p ·· . . 'S �NOVEMBER 20, 2007 LIFESTYLES 11 Native American singer, storyteller enlightens audience BY CHRISTA SGOBBA Beacon Asst. Lifestyles Editor for multicultural and community affairs. “When we learn about heritages and communities within the U.S., we learn different With a few somber beats of a drum ac- perspectives about life and environment companying a haunting, wailing chant, and different cultural traditions.” Namorah Gayle Byrd can take an entire Wearing a traditional buckskin outfit audience back to the funereal songs of her with fringe and turquoise beading, Byrd Native American ancestors. sang welcome, battle, and funeral songs. But before the mood becomes too mo- Her many silver bracelets caught the light rose, Byrd switches to quick, firm taps on as she beat her traditional drum or shook the drum and starts a rhythmic, confident rattles that came from all across the chant that grows louder and louder. Americas. Suddenly, the audience can feel the preShe explained to the audience battle excitement of the first people of that the songs were made up America. of sounds and syllables Byrd, a Native American strung together to cresinger, dancer, and storyate meaning. Verteller, came to Wilkes on batim translations November 14 to share her were not possible, cultural traditions and but the meaning talents with the Wilkes for each could community in honor of be understood Native American Histhrough the mood tory Month. Nearly 30 transferred to the students, faculty, and listener. staff members turned out “When she sang, to hear her sing traditional I wanted to stand up songs, tell time-honored stoand dance. I closed my ries, and share personal experieyes to listen,” Suarez said. ences of her culture. “There’s something very spe“It’s not only important for students, but cial about the songs. I felt at peace, even for faculty and staff as well,” said Dr. Maria though the room was noisy.” Suarez, the special assistant to the president Byrd was raised in a family where Native American traditions were PACKAGE HANDLERS taught implicitly. She grew up in a Westernized world, attending Catholic schools throughout elementary and high school before going on to Temple University. FedEx Ground. Thinking about some fast cash and There, she earned her bachhelp with college? Join the fast-paced FedEx® team elor’s and master’s degrees as a part-time Package Handler. You’ll work up a sweat and, in return, get a weekly paycheck, tuition in English literature. assistance and more! A standout debater and SORT OBSERVATIONS MUST BE COMPLETED animated storyteller, Byrd PRIOR TO APPLICATION. later shared these talents with her children, telling Part-time them lengthy, detailed bedPACKAGE HANDLERS time stories each night. As QUALIFICATIONS: a child, her favorite stories • 18 years or older were fairy tales, which she • Able to load, unload, sort packages passed on to her children. • Part-time, 5-day week, early morning hours “I wanted to entertain STOP IN OR CALL TO SCHEDULE my children, to keep them A SORT OBSERVATION. happy, and laughing, and FEDEX GROUND also in bed,” she said. “But 220 Armstrong Road because I was in competiCenterpointe Commercial & Trade Park tive speech, I learned how (follow sign) Pittston, PA 18640 to make my voice express Phone: 570-654-1362 FedEx is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer (M/F/D/V), emotion. I began to read committed to diversifying its workforce. Visit www.fedex.com/us/careers them as if the animals were alive, as if the characters were real.” Ground Soon, her storytelling Think fast ~ think FedEx. ~ ® prowess caught the attention of administrators at her children’s schools. They asked her to tell stories in classrooms, and later during assemblies. As her reputation grew, schools from all over the area were clamoring to book her for events. When she began telling stories, she stuck to fairy tales and mainstream children stories. It was not until a life altering event prompted her to throw herself into the depths of her ancestral culture. In 1991, Byrd was living in Philadelphia when she came across an ad for a Native American powwow in the Philadelphia Inquierer. Curious, she persuaded her parents to accompany her. Although Byrd knew she was part Cherokee and part Chitimacha, she had never actively practiced the culture. When she arrived at the celebration, she was drawn to the drums and the sacred circle where the dancers performed. Leaning against a tree in blue jeans, a red blouse, and a baseball cap, she heard a voice call from behind. “I was just standing there watching and I heard a voice behind me Courtesy of Namorah Byrd say, ‘Why aren’t you dressed for dancing?’” she recalled. “I ig- Namorah Byrd, who took the Native American nored it, and then the voice said name of Spirit Keeper, travels to colleges and unilouder, “Why aren’t you dressed versities to share her culture through songs, dances, for dancing? You have ten min- and stories. utes.’” ly 15 years, and would often drop by the Byrd turned around and realized the voice center after work to listen to different stowas coming from an Apache chief, and he ries and hear all kinds of songs. was addressing her. Dancers in beautiful, Soon, she began dancing, drumming, and beaded buckskin regalia and men in full singing. She traveled to different reservafeathers passed her in a flurry. tions where she learned unique songs and He asked her if she celebrated her Native dances of each nation. Then she started to American heritage, and she told him she share her culture with non-Natives in coldid not. He told her that was a shame, and leges and universities throughout the area. handed her a brochure for the United AmerBalancing the Native American lifestyle ican Indians of the Delaware Valley. in a Westernized world has proven difficult The brochure lay on her dresser for for Byrd. But the values and wisdom she months. has learned from her culture make “I just stared at it. I was really nerit worth the struggle. vous, and I didn’t know what to think “The West does not reinforce about it,” she said. “But the brochure tranquility, adequate time for kept calling to me. I kept walking over contemplation, and it doesn’t to it and looking at it.” nurture the vision and views of Finally, Byrd attended a meeting, and balance,” she said. “In order to was astonished at what she saw. practice the traditions that require “It was just packed. There were peace, harmony, and tranquility, hundreds of people there from 52 nait’s necessary to ignore many of tions across the United States,” she the distractions of the West, and said. that is not always easy.” She began to learn the traditions of her culture. She attended meetings once a month for near- �A&E NOVEMBER 20, 2007 History professor recalls rock and roll days BY NICK PODOLAK Beacon Managing Editor As a child growing up in the small western Pennsylvania town of Monongahela, historian Dennis Hupchick remembers watching would-be pro football Hall of Famer, Joe Montana. But while the other children may have emulated “Joe Cool” at the time, Hupchick’s idol was Mick Jagger, frontman for the Rolling Stones. At the age of 16, Hupchick and his friends formed their first band and latched on to the expression, “a rolling stone gathers no moss,” to come up with the name The Mossy Rocks. “We were the ones that didn’t roll,” Hupchick joked. Comprised of a singer, drummer, bass player, and guitar player, The Rocks were led by Hupchick’s vocals and harmonica playing. The group played mostly blues/ rock covers like the early Rolling Stones, but they drew the line at The Beatles, who didn’t exactly fit their playing style. “Our bass player was the lone Beatles’ fan in the group,” Hupchick said. “The Beatles were OK, but ‘I Wanna Hold Your Hand’ just didn’t fit ‘Let’s Make It, Pretty Babe.’” But when Hupchick’s cousin convinced him to join a band called The Rogues, who were in need of a lead singer, Hupchick’s real musical career took off. He and his newfound band would eventually go on tour for four years using Hupchick’s 1960 Chevy station wagon. Their main stomping grounds included the western half of Pennsylvania; Akron, Ohio; Morgantown, West Virginia; and “the arm” of Maryland. The Rogues played six nights a week. The group even landed a gig at Geneva on the Lake, Ohio, where they served as the house band, and made $1,000 a month. “That was pretty amazing pay for that time since it was the sixties,” Hupchick said. “An average worker was making ten thousand a year, and we stayed there for two months and were making quite a bit of money.” One of The Rogues’ most popular songs was Van Morrison’s “Gloria,” in which Hupchick would shout out the letters ‘G-LO-R-I-A.’ Their manager actually released the song as a single, and the crowd thought it was a Rogues’ original, though they never took credit. “‘Gloria’” wasn’t making it big on the radio at the time, and people demanded we play it,” Hupchick said. “We actually did a cover of Robert Johnson’s ‘Crossroads’ before Cream put it out.” After completing grad school, Hupchick joined another band comprised of for- Photo Courtesy of Dennis Hupchick “Like a Rolling Stone...” 12 My Ghost, My Vengeance 13 Empty Bowls 14 Crossword/Website 15 mer Rogue members and friends, called Uncle John, a reference to the Grateful Dead’s “Uncle John’s Band.” “We had a really crazy, eclectic mix; some people in the band liked to do country western, so we did sort of rock/country thing, usually with some satirical content in the lyrics, you know. I don’t hold it as the best. The Rogues were really…that four year stretch with The Rogues was the highlight of my rock career,” he said. Though staying a loyal devotee to music throughout the 80s and early 90s, Hupchick admits that music does not play as an important role in life as it once did, though he still likes to rock out from time to time, especially to the likes of Dr. Hupchick live on stage in Bulgaria (Summer German electronic bands such as 1975) Tangerine Dream, Rammstein, and The Armageddon Dildoes. matter if it’s head-pounding rock or classi“Over time, it became repetitious. What cal music,” Hupchick said. people think is new today…I heard it. The only music that Hupchick does not There’s very little new that has come along enjoy, though, is main-stream country and in rock music, I hate to say it, that isn’t hip-hop. repetitious to me. However, I still consider “I guess I just never acquired a taste for music important. I find it to be one of the it,” he said. most enjoyable ways of relaxing. It doesn’t Dinner Review: Norm’s Pizza and Eatery BY ALISSA LINDNER Beacon Asst. A&E Editor Not being from the area, I usually stay safe choosing chain restaurants over the smaller, locally owned dining areas. A friend of mine recommended Norm’s Pizza and Eatery, on Sherman Street, so I decided to give it a shot. Upon first entrance, the restaurant appeared more like a hotel than a dining area; however my guest and I decided Norm’s was still worth a shot. The menu offered little variety from other classic Italian restaurants. Everything from regular Sicilian pizza and wings to calzones and submarines could be found on the menu. I also immediately noticed the prices, which were extremely reasonable for a college student on a budget. Most of the menu items were priced at approximately $5.00. A large round pie was $7.95, with specialty pies ranging anywhere from $6.50 to $14.50. My guest and I both decided on a slice of Sicilian pizza for $.99 and half dozen wings for $3.00. A topping can be added to the pizza for an additional $.15. The Sicilian slices were brought to us first. At about two inches by six inches each, the slices were definitely only worth the the money. Although the crust was just right thickness, the sauce was extremely chunky and lacked the right amount of cheese. My guest ordered his slice with mushrooms and bacon, which added substance to the pizza; however, he still commented on the lack of cheese. About ten minutes later, our wings were delivered. My wings were cajun style and my guest ordered mild. The wings were much better for their value. The outside of every wing was The Beacon/Alissa Lindner crispy and each wing offered a substantial amount of meat. The cajun style offered a little more spice than the mild; however, neither left your mouth burning. We visited Norm’s on a Saturday afternoon. For the few people at the restaurant, our service was definitely lacking. To begin with, our server seemed pushy, not giving us much time to look over the menu. Upon delivering our food, the server never checked back with us to make sure everything was all right. My guest even had to stop her for a refill on his drink. Maybe because I am a server myself, I am highly critical but I believe she could have been more attentive. At approximately $10.00, our bill was reasonable. Despite the small size of the Sicilian slice, the perfection of the wings definitely was worth their money. With tip, dining at Norm’s Pizza and Eatery was $15.00. If you are searching for a local place to dine out with friends at a reasonable price, Norm’s is a great option; however if your hope is to impress a date you might want to stick to a pricier chain Italian restaurant. Grade: C+ �NOVEMBER 20, 2007 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 13 Local Band Spotlight: My Ghost My Vengeance BY MATTHEW GOGAS Beacon Staff Writer My Ghost My Vengeance is a metal-core band currently based out of Wilkes-Barre, PA. The band originally started in 2004 under the name Drain the Life. After a series of member changes, a record label signing, and a name change, the current nucleus is stable and most importantly, successful. My Ghost My Vengeance frequently plays in NEPA at venues such as Backstage Enterprises in Kingston. They have also played in Allentown, East Stroudsburg, and Lancaster. The Beacon recently spoke with the band’s bass guitar player, Jim Conlon. Although Jim is not the original bassist, he joined in 2005 and is considered irreplaceable by all of the other members. The Beacon: How did you join the band? Conlon: The lead singer, Rob, and I were formally in a band together called Snakes Among Us with Tom Cawley and Angelo Parente who became the drummer for Motionless in White. After Snakes spilt up, Rob asked me to join Drain the Life when things didn’t work out with their original bass player and the guy they got after him. The Beacon: What are your greatest influences? Conlon: Let’s see…Botch, In Flames, Unearth, Metallica of course. Jason Newsted is my idol. Brian really likes Botch, Jay likes Unearth, Dave likes All that Remains, and Rob likes Evanescence…..seriously he does. I’m not kidding. The Beacon: How do you define the genre that you guys play? Conlon: Well, we don’t like to define ourselves, but I guess metalcore, which is a cross between metal and hardcore. The Beacon: What is the difference? Conlon: Metal is more just really fast guitar and the vocals are pretty much just all screaming. Hardcore is more like fast drums, constant guitar riffs, not so much soloing, and more breakdowns. The Beacon: Does My Ghost My Vengeance play many shows in the area? Conlon: Not really. There are not many places to play around here except for Backstage, which is closing down by the way. We play in Stroudsburg, Allentown, and pretty much anywhere. The Beacon: Do you think My Ghost My Vengeance has a big fan base in the area? Conlon: Yeah, we have a lot of friends here. They always come out when we play. Photos courtesy http://www.woodbrass.com www.zingseducation.co.uk The Beacon: Tell me about the other band members. Conlon: Brian Gildea is a stand up gentleman and great guitar player with Lego hair. His hair looks like a Lego person’s hair. Rob Fulletta and Dave Kenderdine are very good fathers and they are both talented musicians. Jay Smith is a very good drummer and loves Mountain Dew a lot. The Beacon: Why did you change the name of the band from Drain the Life to My Ghost My Vengeance? Conlon: Well, we got signed to a record label and they didn’t think the name was really marketable, so we changed it. The Beacon: What record label does My Ghost My Vengeance play on? Conlon: We play on East Coast Independent. The Beacon: What type of record label is East Coast Independent? Conlon: It’s an indie label. The Beacon: Do you guys feel like you are building a name for yourselves? Conlon: Yeah, they’re going to put us on tour over the summer. We are going to play some Warped Tour dates. They are funding us well; they’re helping us out a lot. They’re good guys getting our name out there and stuff...We cut two records; one of them with our label and one of them on our own. The one on the label is self titled. You can pick it up on iTunes and all those internet download sites or you could just buy it at one of our shows. The Beacon: Are there any interesting or funny stories about the band that you want to share? Conlon: We were going to play a show in Allentown and we got a little lost and just kept driving around singing lines from the song “Allentown” by Billy Joel. We just kept driving around singing “Well we’re driving here in Allentown.” It was pretty funny. When we finally got to the show, we ended up not playing and driving home and I was pissed. Another funny story is when Dave tried to flip his guitar around his body and dropped it. He put a huge chip in the side of it and we laughed at him for so long. The Beacon: What does My Ghost My Vengeance want their fans to know about them? Conlon: We really appreciate our fans coming out to see us and support us. For those that do not know us, add us on Myspace.com because we’re really cool guys. Schedule of Events Tuesday, November 20 - The Art of Betsy Havira at Beer Deli in Forty Fort from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, November 21 - Theives and Villians, Riot Like Words and TBA performing at Backstage at 6 p.m. - The Menzingers, Title Fight, The Big Green, Captain We’re Sinking and Curtis Iria performing at Cafe Metropolis at 7 p.m. - Go Go Gadget performing at the Woodlands at 10 p.m. Thursday, November 22 Happy Thanksgiving! Friday, November 23 - The Doodlebops Live! At the Kirby Center at 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. - The Mad Conductor, The Stupid, Stupid Henchmen, Below Me and Chee performing at Cafe Metropolis at 7 p.m. - The Five Percent and 39 Mariner performing at the Woodlands at 9 p.m. Saturday, November 24 - Endless Mike and the Beagle Club, CD and the Broken Strings, The Washer Dryer Combo and The Naught Naught Nurses performing at Cafe Metropolis at 7 p.m. - Bootleg Slumber Part #4 premier at Backstage at 8 p.m. - Sweetwater performing at the Woodlands at 10 p.m. Sunday, November 25 - Kirby Park birding event in Kirby Park at 8 a.m. Monday, November 26 - String Ensemble Concert at the Darte Center at 6:00 p.m. - Religious Rights Roundtable in the Henry Student Center Ballroom 6:30 p.m. �ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 14 NOVEMBER 20, 2007 Empty Bowls auction serves area’s needy and other bowls were hand-crafted by local artists as well as student, Amanda Zerfoss. Once they had created the bowls, local artists, as well as student and faculty were asked to paint a bowl for the auction. Some of the people who took part in painting a bowl included Mrs. Patty Gilmour, Dr. Chad Stanley, and Dean of Arts Humanities and Social Sciences Darin Fields, students such as Matt Armstrong and Amanda Zerfoss. There were also local artists involved such as Georgiana Cray Bart. In reaching out to the local artists for this project, Pearce contacted artists who had either done projects for, or had a connection with the Cultural Council, which was founded in 1989 and is a volunteer-based organization supporting local artists and the arts. Pearce explained, “The Cultural Council’s home has generously been offered by Wilkes since 1999, and members of the council are thrilled to be able to collaborate with Wilkes University in a project to help this cause.” Organizers of the Empty Bowls auction raised $1,226 for charity. The price range of the bowls ran the gamut; some going for $12, while others went up to $80. The money will support the St. Vincent DePaul Soup Kitchen, which Boone explained “serves hundreds of homeless people every day” and is part of the Wilkes community service partner network. Some of the money will also be donated to Ruth’s Place, a women’s homeless shelter in Wilkes-Barre. Although the event served as a showcase of local art on one hand, the main focus in the end came back to serving the needy in the area. Adams stated that she wants to see the event improve each year. “We would like to see it grow because of the incredible need.” Beacon/Gino Troiani BY MARISSA PHILLIPS Beacon A&E Editor When the presenter explained the auction rules as “bid with cards, and stand up, and make animal sounds,” the room went silent. No one expected a charity auction to include making a public spectacle… Luckily, it was just a playful way to begin the night, and the auctioning rules remained fairly standard: a simple raise of a colored, number paddle placed a bid on one of the hand-crafted, hand-painted bowls up for auction. The Empty Bowls auction was organized by Jean Adams, Wilkes ceramics instructor, Megan Boone, Community Service Coordinator, Shelley Pearce, the Director of the Conservatory and Chair of the Cultural Council, and student Zach Bremmer. The event was the second of what is hoped to be an annual occurrence and was arranged as a part of Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week and the money that was raised will be going to aid those in need in the area. Last year the event was organized by Angela Hermes, former director of Campus Interfaith, along with Adams. This year there was much more time to organize the event, which paid off. There was about a 30% increase in the money raised for charity this year. The bowls themselves were a combination of functionality and fine art. Adams crafted all of the larger bowls for auction, intending to “give artists a canvas to paint on,” 'Ihmksgiving Holiday the Bookstore will be closed on 'Ihanksgi.ving Day! ''Open Mic Night" For Poetry :and Acoustic Music Hosted by Jim Warner TuesdayNo.-..em~ 27th 7:00-8:30pm , IN T IE ·R · "On-going Champion Sale" Huny in Now! Sale ends November 25th 25% off all :men's, women's, and children's swe atshi:rt.s and sweatpants! NE1fl ITEMS: Cluistmas Ornaments and Toddler T-Shirts ! Don't f-Ol'ge:t to pid up a ••Fre.qu,ent Buye.r Card,"tooat■ · Dontt foq:ct to me yow: 'FJLEX :OOIJ.ARS a.np.rh.erc in ,o ur stot"ie.' . . H Ip · ave lives! D asma t d y.. a n up to mo th! n tc st t ·m Inc. 665 a y vc ·ilfo . -Bar· , a . a I (570) 823- 1 9 I �15 Kudracross NOVEMBER 20, 2007 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 14 15 17 21 23 25 26 27 29 30 32 33 35 38 42 45 47 49 50 51 52 Shock Uttered by the mouth Hang down unevenly See at a distance Exchange for money DOWN Cooking measurement Fixed charge per unit Teheran’s Country Country between The Netherlands and Poland Large orbiting bodies Period Presidential time period Bubbly beverage More Land devoted to agriculture Oak, for example _____ of the Lost Ark Opposed to Hairless Starts over, in a video game Delivered a speech Support people Lubricated Opposite of what occurs in school Upright To free from obstruction Nonresonant sound Borders Metal worker Desensitizes Popular pizza chain Symbol of a country Slender double-reed instrument Anguish Gears Length x width Move upward 53 55 56 57 60 Small social insects Become exhausted And others Move by revolving Equal to 8 fluid ounces I 0 ! ., s L "o L . H A .. 0 R' A .. 'i, u ~, I S " R ~S A 0 0 "K u A ■ • v• T .. 0 0 • " "A L p E ·" 0 s "E I p p I R 0 0 R p E s ~, s s R A y R 0 " -·,. •ps "e R E 0 -■ E "s ■ ■ ::,so R " " - e s 0 W A p o ■ 'o u T A G E s s ■ •v o L I( 0 u o ■ s L y ■ H A A ■ l!N " I "s ~ C T I o I *e T 0 "I ~ ~c u R ao R E E ,. . . D E N G L J;... H V E A U'E H9 O L M M-S HC ItA • M A 9 A p "M P I E 1· ' T p ""o s" s W H 0 E I ■ ~, I B E T c ■ 0 s A L "• ■ 0 H "L E s Answers 11/13 BY CHRISTOPHER KUDRAK Beacon Staff Writer ACROSS 1 H.S. math course 5 One of two NYC baseball teams 9 Toward the stern 12 Without covering 13 Hydrox competitor 14 A means of location 16 Right-hand side of a ship 18 ____ the Giant 19 A writer or author 20 Pertaining to the sea 22 Along with 24 Revise 25 Noise 28 Apply again 31 Frosty substance 34 Miniscule 35 Time ____ Inc. 36 Ancient 37 Total 38 Abhors 39 Harass 40 Payment for services 41 Chooses by votes 42 Native of Denmark 43 Food and drug org. 44 Increase the amount 45 Family 46 Carried along on 48 Tropical tree 50 Capital of Australia 54 Leather covering for the ankle and lower leg 58 Contains Betelgeuse and Rigel 59 Disguised 61 Physical units of heredity 62 63 64 65 66 OverheardInNewYork.com BY ANDEE SCARANTINO Beacon Editor-in-Chief Ever since I was 14, I’ve done this really innovative thing. I’ve written down quotes in these little notebooks. Yes, everything that I found really amusing that people have said, or I’ve overheard, I’ve written down. Pretty genius, right? Wrong. Turns out, there’s a web site that does this: OverheardInNewYork.com. The site is what it sounds like. People write down things they hear in New York, whether it be on the street, at work, on trains, or at the various universities. They submit them, and the quotes are displayed on the site. The site even does special features, like “Wednesday OneLiners,” and blurbs dedicated to Subway train drivers. Here is what you can expect to find on the site: White mom:Which kitty is your favorite? Little girl holding book of baby animals: The black one! Mom: The black one? He sure is a cute kitty. Little girl, loudly: Once you go black, you never go back! Passing thug, flashing her a thumbs-up: Word! White mom: I don’t care what your father says, we are so moving to Westchester. *** Nerdy hipster to friends: You want nerdy? You know what I did today? I worked on this robot helmet I’m making on my floor. Yep, a robot helmet complete with LED lights -- for my girlfriend. See? That’s love right there. Girlfriend, explaining: I told him we could have butt sex. Nerdy hipster, emphatically: But not until I finish the helmet! *** Black guy with clipboard: Anyone? A minute of your time to save the children! Anyone! ‘Scuse me, pretty miss! Excuse me! [Pretty girl ignores him.] Oooh! I’m too flyyy fo’ da children. I’m too hot fo’ da children. [To old lady] Ma’am, do you wanna save the children? Old lady: I hate children. *** So, you see, this site is purely entertaining. I think my opinion, here, is that I just want to get the word out to everyone. If you want a laugh, go visit Overheard In New York. However, I totally give this site an “S” for “S”tole my idea, you jerks! Ma ,· 1 Room ~HE CITIZ us~ VOICE PA Rl T IM I!: 1 1 ni1 t<l· · ln roN NIGi IT HI T ~ 2.um lo Approx 3:3 0mm FIR.IDAV. - 11 : Orun • Lant K . . RD.AY - I~ Noon Llll1. Mim.oo I .Ap lic.E1mio may I frn11L I .HI: . oo mw out k af • vo1:c Loo Sit. 11 �SPORTS 16 Commentary NOVEMBER 20, 2007 The biggest sports turkeys of all-time Overpriced and underperforming athletes headline a holiday tribute BY TIM SEIGFRIED Beacon Asst. Sports Editor Since it’s Thanksgiving season, the sports staff here at The Beacon decided to do a tribute to our favorite sports turkeys, which can be defined as any professional athlete who consistently failed to come up in the clutch, live down expectations, or has otherwise engaged in behavior that diminished their stardom. And now, in no particular order: the biggest sports turkeys of all-time. Ryan Leaf: After being picked as a finalist for the Heisman Trophy in his junior year in college, Leaf was the second overall pick of the 1998 NFL Draft, where he was drafted by the San Diego Chargers, who traded two first-round picks, a second-round pick, and two players to the Arizona Cardinals to get the second spot in the draft. The result? 26 games, 317-655 (48.4% completion rate), 3,666 yards, 14 touchdowns, 36 interceptions with a quarterback rating of 50.0. David Beckham: One of the most popular soccer players of all-time, Beckham also established himself as one of the best footballers of his era, as well as one of the wealthiest. In 2007, Beckham signed a five year, $250 million contract with the Los Angeles Galaxy, in what would be one of the most notorious multi-continent free agency moves in the history of sports. At the end of the 2007 season, an injury-laden Beckham would play in only five games with 2 goals in 252 minutes. As a result, the Galaxy missed the playoffs with 7-14-9 record. Photo courtesy www.smh.com.au David Beckham doesn’t understand why he is on this list. The National Hockey League: Seriously, do they even play hockey anymore? I could swear that they were broadcasting their games on Lifetime this season. ending his career. He would play for tional League Championship Series. He the Cincinnati Bengals, the Washington was traded to the Cincinnati Reds, and then Redskins and the New Orleans Saints. to the New York Yankees, where he would He finished his career with 319 carries win a World Series in 2000, but signed as a free agent with the Colorado Rockies in for 1144 yards and 20 touchdowns. Rashaan Salaam: Salaam, who beat 2001, to a lucrative contract worth $51 milout Ki-Jana Carter for the Heisman Tro- lion dollars over five years. Over the next phy (under much debate), would see a three seasons, Neagle would go 19-23 with much less successful career than Carter, an ERA of 5.57. He missed the entire 2004 after being selected in the 1995 draft season due to injuries, and would run into legal troubles, which included a drunk drivPhoto courtesy www.themightymjd.com by the Chicago Bears. 31 games, 470 attempts, 1682 yards, 13 touchdowns and ing arrest and a guilty plea to patronizing a Ryan Leaf is also confused. several dime-bags (see also: Marijuana) prostitute. Mike Hampton: After six years with the Sidd Finch: 28-year-old Hayden “Sid- later, Salaam found himself on the outside Houston Astros, including the 1999 seadhartha” Finch was a reclusive young man looking in, and would end up playing in the son when he went 22-4 with a 2.90 ERA. who was being recruited by the New York XFL and the AFL, where he wouldn’t find In 2000, he was traded to the New York Mets in 1985, despite the fact that he has any further success. Mets, where he would go on to lead them never played baseball in his entire life. Roger Clemens (2007) and Freddy Garto the World Series before signing with the Finch, whose adopted father died in a plane cia: “The Rocket,” who was resigned to Colorado Rockies crash in Nepal, briefly attended Harvard playing for the highest bidder in for $121 million University before leaving to study in Tibet, his later seasons, joined the New dollars over eight where he claims to have discovered his true York Yankees in May of 2007, years. Hampton calling: A Major League Baseball pitcher signing a contract that was worth would fall prey to whose fastball topped out at 168 miles per over $28 million dollars. Clemthe thin air of Colohour- yes, you read that right - 168 MPH. ens failed to prove his worth for rado, where he was Just one week after a training session with the Yankees, as he went 6-6 in 18 21-28 with an ERA the Mets, Finch would announce his retire- games with an ERA of 4.18. of 5.76, before bement from baseball so he can concentrate When the Phillies traded for ing traded to the on his other true calling: The French Horn. Freddy Garcia in December of Atlanta Braves folSam Bowie: A 7’1” center and phenom 2006, it appeared that the Phillowing the 2002 throughout high school and college, Bowie lies cemented themselves as the season, where he was named to two All-American teams, best team in the National League was rather sucwhile also being selected to represent the east, as he solidified their already cessful, despite United States in the 1980 Olympic basket- sound rotation. It wouldn’t come injuries. Hampton ball team. Bowie would enter the NBA draft to pass, as Garcia ended his seaPhoto courtesy www.partmule.com would miss the enin 1984, where he would be drafted second son with a shoulder injury after The Rocket is furious of his intire 2006 season to before future Hall-of-Famers Michael Jor- only 11 starts, in which he went clusion among this mediocrity. have Tommy John dan, Charles Barkley, and John Stockton. 1-5 with a 5.90 ERA, while costsurgery, and would go on to miss the entire Bowie would end his career after 10 years ing the Phillies $10 million dollars. 2007 season after having further surgery due to numerous injuries, finishing with Their combined stats: 29 games, 7-6, 4.82 performed on his left elbow. 10.9 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. ERA at $38 million dollars. Special mention goes to the Florida Mar(In all fairness, Bowie wasn’t a complete Similarly, Kyle Kendrick, who was called lins, who acquired Hampton from the Rockturkey. It’s only after he is compared to Jor- up from Double-A in early June to replace ies on November 16, 2002, only to trade dan, Barkley and Stockton that his turkey- Garcia, went 10-4 with a 3.87 ERA in 20 him the next day to the Atlanta Braves for ness is revealed.) games. His salary? A paltry 400 K. pitcher Tim Spooneybarger. Hampton never Ki-Jana Carter: Widely regarded as Carl Pavano: Originally drafted by the pitched in a game for the Marlins; he barely one of the greatest running backs in col- Montreal Expos, Pavano found his best had enough time to put their uniform on, but lege football history, Carter was part of the success with the Florida Marlins, with his they still ended up paying $38 million dolundefeated 1994 Penn State football team best season coming in 2004, when he went lars of his salary in the trade to the Braves. along with Kerry Collins, Bobby Engram 18-8 en route to a World Series championI don’t know what’s funnier: The fact that and Joe Jerevicius, who would go on to win ship. In 2005, Pavano signed with the New they paid him enough money to finance the the Rose Bowl over Oregon. (Most people York Yankees with a four-year contract movie Garden State 40 times over, or that will tell you that Penn State should have worth $39.95 million dollars. In his first two they traded him for a guy named Spooneygone to the National Championship Game seasons in the Bronx, Pavano pitched in 19 barger. What is this, Fraggle Rock? that season…but that’s another story for games, with a 5-6 record and a 4.78 ERA There you have it, the biggest sports turanother day.) Carter would win co-MVP of amid several injuries, including Tommy keys of all-time. We’re sure we’ve missed the Rose Bowl, and would later finish sec- John surgery, which will likely sideline him some, and perhaps even some were unfairly ond to Heisman Trophy winner Rashaan for most of the 2008 season. Salaam. Carter was the first overall pick in Denny Neagle: In 1997, Neagle (then included. But the great thing about sports is the 1995 draft, but he would tear his ACL in with the Atlanta Braves) went 20-5 with a that there can always be discussion. Happy Thanksgiving, to you and yours. his first NFL pre-season game, essentially 2.97 ERA, helping the Braves to the Na- �NOVEMBER 20, 2007 SPORTS 17 Lady Colonels Fall Twice In Boston BY CARLTON HOLMES Beacon Sports Editor The Lady Colonels suffered two losses last weekend in Boston at the Endicott College Tournament that featured three other teams. The team fell short in their opening game on Friday against Endicott College (MA). The Gulls went on a 17-2 run in the first half en route to an 84-34 win over the Lady Colonels. Endicott out-scored the Lady Colonels 43-18 in the first half. Freshman guard from Spinnerstown (PA), Sam Lynam, led the Lady Colonels in scoring with 13. Senior Katie Cappelloni followed with seven points while snatching six boards. On Saturday, the team took on Rhode Island College at 1 PM for the consolation game and ended up losing to the Anchorwomen 81-55. The Lady Colonels trailed by eight entering into the second half but couldn’t produce enough points to stay in the game. Cappelloni led the team in scor- PIZZA ltomull'iN 12"Medium Pizza 16" La:cac Pizza ll"PmPizza ing with 15 points as the Lady Colonels dropped to 0-2. Lynam scored 11 off the bench and junior Chelsey Gosse dropped in 10 points for the Lady Colonels. The Lady Colonels hit 42 percent of their shots in the second half but couldn’t weather the Anchorwomen’s storm. RIC shot 58 percent from the floor as six of players scored double figures. Jennifer Knott led all scorers with 19 points and Sara Coughlin chipped in with 10 points and dished out 10 assists for RIC. “One thing I could never fault the players for is if they play their hardest, that’s all I could ask for,” said head coach Rachel Emmerthal. “There are going to be nights where the ball doesn’t go into the basket, but if you continue to play, you gain confidence.” The Lady Colonels go on the road to face Marywood University on Tuesday, November 20 at 6PM. The Beacon/Gino Troiani Wilkes sophomore Nicole Quick and freshman Sam Lynam run drills during practice last week. The Lady Colonels went 0-2 during the Endicott College Tournament in Boston on November 16 and 17. .-i\PPETIZERS FrlcdMus1nooml Pried,Ra,rio1i(6} MmzanllaStiab(S) MlmTacos(12) Mini Pumtu Pam:abs (12) �SPORTS 18 NOVEMBER 18, 2007 Commentary GGreen AME OF THE WEEK Bay Packers v. Detroit Lions NFC rivals battle it out on Thanksgiving Day Double Take BY TIM SEIGFRIED Beacon Asst. Sports Editor Every year, on the fourth Thursday of November, families and loved ones gather to take part in one of the most celebrated of all holiday traditions; a time-honored tradition that supercedes race, creed, sex, and age. Of course, Thanksgiving Day football. Since 1934, the Detroit Lions have hosted the Thanksgiving Classic, a game which originally began in 1934 as a gimmick by the Lions in an attempt to increase attendance during the seasons. The fans took to it, and the Lions have hosted a game on Thanksgiving Day each year since then, except during World War 2 from 1939-1944, and have a 35-31-1 record in that span. However, unlike most seasons, the Lions are going into this game with a legitimate shot at the post-season, tallying up a record of 6-4, which is good enough for second place in the NFC North behind the rival Green Bay Packers. Detroit, which hasn’t had a winning season since 1993, has been one of the perennial losers in the NFL in recent years, including a 2-14 season in 2001, followed by a 3-13 season in 2002. Their turnaround comes as a surprise to most, as they haven’t made any key additions to their roster since last season, nor has the organization had any significant internal changes which could have resulted in such a shift. One key difference for the team is the performance of their quarterback John Kitna, who is having a remarkable season in comparison to his previous work, including last season, in which he threw 21 touchdowns and 22 interceptions, resulting in a rating of 79.9, resulting in a 3-13 finish on the season. This year, however, Kitna is looking like a completely different quarterback; passing for 2,296 yards through 9 games with 12 touchdowns and 8 interceptions; with a completion rate of 67.8% and a quarterback rating of 92.9, which ranks him 4th in the NFC. His main targets this season are former first-round draft pick Roy Williams (49 receptions, 613 yards, 5 touchdowns) and newly acquired Shaun McDonald (44 receptions, 519 yards, 4 touchdowns). Not to be outdone, however, are the tan- dem of wide-receivers Mike Furrey and 2007 first-round pick Calvin Johnson, who have quietly helped the offense, putting up a combined 781 yards with three touchdowns. On the ground, the Lions have been far less successful, as their running game is one of the worst in the NFL, having gained only 744 yards, despite only having 186 attempts, ranking them last in the NFL in that category. When they do run the ball, they turn to running backs Kevin Jones (339 yards, 5 TD) and Tatum Bell (182 yards, 1 TD), combining for one of the worst running back combos in the NFL. While it can be argued that the Lions have been successful this season, a further look at their schedule reveals games against seven teams with a combined record of 27-36, resulting in a rather easy schedule. Their real test is going to come in the second half of the season, where they will be pitted against the New York Giants, the Dallas Cowboys, and a second game against the Green Bay Packers on the final day of the season. Their first game against the Packers comes in the form of the Thanksgiving Day Classic, which will be their third game against Green Bay in the last 10 years, in which they will be looking to break the 1-1 tie of the previous two games. The Lions will have their work cut out for them, as the Packers are being led by a young, tough defense, and a grizzled veteran who is finding the fountain of youth while leading the team to their best start (91) since 1996, which was the last time they won the Super Bowl. The Green Bay Packers, who finished with a 4-12 record two seasons ago, are among the great storylines that the NFL has going this year: A young, upstart team with an ageless quarterback is defying the analysts and the odds in defeating their opponents in a rather convincing fashion, while simultaneously making it look as fun as a pick-up game on a Saturday afternoon. The Packers realized that statement three weeks ago, only minutes after the Denver Broncos sent the game into overtime on a last second field goal, when Brett Favre, on the first play in overtime, threw and 82-yard touchdown pass to win the game, sending the team into a frenzy. After the game, Favre would say: “That was fun. I can’t wait to watch the tape.” Indeed, that has been the mantra of the Packers this season, who are currently leading the NFC North, after three straight wins against the Philadelphia Eagles, the New York Giants, and the San Diego Chargers to start the season, culminating in a 34-0 slaughter against the Minnesota Vikings during week 10; a game that saw Favre go 33-46 with 351 yards and 3 touchdowns. That game gave the Green Bay faithful another reason to smile, as it added another “W” to the column and also saw Favre join Dan Marino to become only two quarterbacks in history to pass for 60,000 yards. Favre, at age 38, is one of the biggest reasons that the Packers are atop the NFC North, as he has passed for 2,757 yards (1st in the NFL), 16 touchdowns and a quarterback rating of 96.2, which would rank him as one of the best quarterbacks this season. He is helped out by veteran wide-receiver Donald Driver, who leads the team with 48 receptions and 602 passing yards, while second-year receiver Greg Jennings is putting up good numbers with 27 receptions for 517 yards, while leading the team with six touchdowns. On the ground, however, the Packers have struggled mightily, as they have the worst production out of their backfield in the NFL this season; running for only 697 yards and scoring only six touchdowns from their running backs. However, the Packers have shown some life on the ground in the last three weeks, as rookie running back Ryan Grant has put up more than 100 yards in two of the last three games. Defensively, the Packers have excelled this season, holding their opponents to 306.2 yards per game (10th in NFL), while holding their opponents at bay with 92.9 yards per game on the ground. With the playoffs looming on the horizon, the Packers will turn to Brett Favre once again to lead them to victory on Thanksgiving Day. The Pick: Green Bay Packers: 28 Detroit Lions: 13 *The player stats are through week 10 Steph examines the stats that truly matter... BY STEPHANIE GERCHMAN Beacon Asst. Opinion Editor In wake of the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, I planned on deciding the winning Turkey Day Game team by looking at some biographies and finding out which team had more players that chose Thanksgiving foods as their favorites. Unfortunately, upon trying to do some research I found that finding that type of information on football players is not like finding that information on singers and actors. I can find out Paris Hilton’s weight, (115lbs) and Britney Spears’ shoe size, (6) but I can’t find out what the players of football teams like to eat. Instead, I decided to settle for going on wikipedia.org, searching each team and looking for familiar words. The Detroit Lions were first. I found out that Marvin Gaye tried out for the team in 1970 and two of the team players sang back up on his song “What’s Going On.” I recognized this because of the remake of “What’s Going On” in 2001, featuring Britney Spears and P. Diddy. It’s probably sad that I’ve only heard the remake version and think that it is pretty sweet. Looking at the Green Bay Packer’s Wikipedia entry the only word I really recognized was cheese. Packer’s fans are called “Cheese Heads.” This stood out because as a big fan of Full House I remember Michelle calling Uncle Jesse a Cheese Head. I actually continued to read after this one and saw that the Packers have one of the longest wait lists for season tickets with a wait time of 35 years. Some fans leave their tickets to family members in their wills or put their newborns on the waiting list. I’ve decided that while Marvin Gaye is pretty cool, “Cheese Heads” are way better. They are crazy enough to put newborns on the waiting list for tickets and they were even mentioned on the show Full House. The winner of this game will be the Green Bay Packers because as Michelle Tanner would say, “You’ve got it dude!” �SPORTS NOVEMBER 20, 2007 19 Athlete of the Week Felipe Queiroz BY CARLTON HOLMES Beacon Sports Editor Two solid seasons in the 125-pound weight class is the reason he’s ranked sixth in the nation among Division III wrestlers and after manhandling Scrantons’ Scott Puglisi last Tuesday, he may be on his way to another. At the 4:10 mark of the Colonels home match against the Royals, Felipe Queiroz slammed Puglisi to the mat to score a second period pin over Puglisi. Queiroz efforts in the opening match gave the Colonels a 6-0 lead en route to a 41-7 victory over Scranton. “This year when I go out there, I’m looking to pound people,” said Queiroz. “I’m looking to stuff their face in the mat.” After placing second in the King’s Tournament a week prior to their match with the Monarchs, the Colonels were looking to do some damage in their first dual match of the season and Queiroz provided the spark they needed. Last year, Quieroz finished the season with a 19-7 record and went 2-2 in the NCAA Division III National Tournament. He was the lone wrestler from the Colonels roster to compete in national’s, but still manages to think he posted a bad season. Now Quieroz is in his junior season at the 125-pound weight class and believes his opponents should be wellprepared before they step onto the mat with him. “I feel like last year, I wasn’t that focused because it was coming off a good freshman season,” said Queiroz. “I’m hungry now so I’m more focused and ready to go.” In Queiroz debut season as Colonel in 2005-2006, he posted a 26-9 overall record, 10-2 in dual matches and won by way of 11 falls. He took home first-place 15 Total number of points scored by senior captain Katie Cappelloni on Saturday against Rhode Island College. in the King’s Tournament during this season in the 125 pound weight class. In the MAC Championship, Queiroz won first place as the Colonels placed third out seven teams. He wrapped up the 2005-06 season as one of two Colonels representing the team in the NCAA Tournament and placed sixth. After posting back-to-back successful seasons, Queiroz believes the pressure for him to do well lingers on. “There’s always going to be pressure to do better,” said Queiroz. “You have a bullseye on your back and everybody is looking to take you down so there’s pressure on everybody.” Queiroz and the Colonels will be back in action on the road, December 1 for their RIT Tournament. The Beacon/Gino Troiani Freshman center Mackensey O’Hara preparing to make a move on one of her teammates during practice last Friday. CROSS COUNTRY Runners, start your engines. The Beacon/Gino Troiani Wilkes junior wrestler Felipe Queiroz is 6-2 this season, following a 19-7 record last season. For the first time since 1994, Wilkes University will sponsor both men’s and women’s cross country varsity sports in the fall of 2008. Both teams will compete in the Middle Atlantic Conference. Due to lack of players in both sports 13 years ago, Wilkes could no longer sponsor cross country. Nick Wadas will serve as head coach and is in the process of recruiting students and local talent. NUMBERS OF THE WEEK 50 Number of Division III players representing the U.S. against the Mexican National Team on December 8 in Chihuahua, Mexico. Senior All-American Kyle Follweiler will be joining the team. 41 2 Number of points scored by Days remaining until the all wrestlers combined in their Thanksgiving Classic between home bout against Scranton Green Bay and Detroit. The on Tuesday. The Royals were Packers are 8-1, second in the held to seven points. NFC, while the Lions are third with a 6-3 record. �Sports NOVEMBER 20, 2007 20 Colonels Explode 41-7 Over Former Conference Foe BY CARLTON HOLMES Beacon Sports Editor The Colonels home performance a week ago might pose as a sign for another successful season for the nationally ranked team. In their first dual match of the season, the 19th ranked Colonels dominated former conference rival, The University of Scranton, en route to a 41-7 win over the Royals. Junior Felipe Queiroz opened the night for the Colonels by pinning Scott Puglisi at the 4:10 mark. The Colonels went up 6-0 after Querirozs’ win. At the 133-pound weight class, freshman Ryan Wilson from Manasquan, NJ, added six more to the scoreboard when he pinned Jeff Kapica after tussling for only 2:10. Three matches later, nationally ranked junior Justin Barowski would take on Mike Guenther at the 157-pound weight class. Barowski, ranked 9th in Division III, spanked Gunether in a 15-1 decision. The Colonels would win four of the last five matches against the Royals following the great start by Quieroz, Wilson and Barowski. Jon Laudenslager received his 44th win in dual matches as Colonel head coach in the teams’ win over Scranton. “The Scranton win was good to get under our belt in front our home crowd,” said the fifth-year head coach. “Seems like we’re getting better everyday. The guys were aggressive, they went after (Scranton) and I thought they wrestled well.” Senior Ryan Feldman put the finishing touches on a successful night for the Colonels with a victory by way of pin after 3:59 against Neil Slocum. “We’re looking tough for how early it is,” said Feldman. “(Winning) gave us confidence although Scranton is not really a powerhouse. But it’s not where you start, it’s where you finish. Every year we start good but the finishing has been hard for us.” Last year the Colonels won eight of their initial ten matches before dropping six of their last eight. The Colonels concluded their season at the Metropolitan Conference Championships. The team finished fifth. Queiroz continued wrestling in the NCAA Division III Championships and finished with a record of 2-2. The Colonels wrestled in the East Stroudsburg Open on Saturday. The tournament featured teams from all NCAA programs, such as, Duke, Virginia Tech, Maryland and many others. The Beacon/Gino Troiani Two Colonels getting busy during practice last Friday. The team was preparing for their tournament at East Stroudsburg University the next day. The team combined for a record of 24-25 throughout 10 different weight classes. Freshman Chris Smith from Wantage (NJ) reached the quarterfinal round, the farthest of all of all Colonels. Follweiler Selected to Represent United States BY CARLTON HOLMES Beacon Sports Editor Although the curtains closed two weeks ago on the Colonels 2007 football season, Kyle Follweiler has one more scene left on his script. Follweiler was recently selected to play for the American Football Coaches Association’s Divison III All-Star Team. He will be suiting up on December 8th to represent the United States in this years’ Aztec Bowl against the Mexican National Team. Follweiler will be one of 50 Division III seniors on the team. Follweiler, senior All-American from Slatington (PA), was named MAC Defensive Player of the Year for the 2007 season. This is the third season in a row he was chosen for the postseason award. He finished the season with 131 tackles, six sacks and four interceptions. Follweiler finished his career with 434 tackles, a conference championship ring in 2006 and First-Team Defensive honors each season. He was also named Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2004. The Aztec Bowl serves as a season-ending game for Mexico’s college football season. This year will be the 11th consecutive year the AFCA created a team to take on Mexico’s top players. The United States is 9-1 alltime against Mexico. Former Widener, Delaware Val- ley and LaSalle head coach, Bill Manlove will coach this year’s team. Manlove was also an assistant coach in the 2002 Aztec Bowl. Estadio Olimpico Universitario , a stadium that seats 22,000 fans on the campus of University of Chihuahua in Mexico, will host the contest. Chitwood Sports Media of Jefferson, Texas will provide a live webcast of the Aztec Bowl. Announcers Charlie Chitwood and Ned Frantangelo will provide commentary for the game on December 8 along with 90-minute preview shows on December 5, 6 and 7. The preview shows begin at the hotel of Team USA each night at 6 p.m. on CST. The game webcast and preview shows can be accessed on afca.com or aztecbowl.com. The Sports Information Department contributed to this report. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon Newspaper Collection, 1947-present Description An account of the resource <p>This is Wilkes University's <em>Beacon</em> Newspaper collection, 1947-present. We also have digitized copies of the <em>Beacon's</em> predecessors, <em>The Bucknell Bison Stampede</em>, 1934-1935 and <em>The Bucknell Beacon</em>, 1936-1947 June. It should be noted that Wilkes University does not have a complete set of issues for the Bucknell Bison Stampede and Bucknell Beacon. For researchers who are interested in seeing the complete issues for these publications, please contact <a href="https://researchbysubject.bucknell.edu/scua">Bucknell University's Special Collections Department</a>.</p> <p></p> <p>Missing Issues:</p> <p>1947 August 8th<br />1947 September 5th<br />1947 October 3rd<br />1947 October 17th<br />1947 October 31st<br />1947 November 21st<br />1947 December 19th<br />1948 September 9th<br />1950 April 28th<br />1953 April 10th<br />1962 February 2nd</p> Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Beacon staff is comprised of Wilkes University students who are advised by a full-time faculty member of the Communication Studies Department. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1934-present Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright of the Wilkes Beacons is retained by Wilkes University. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Professor Emeritus Harold Cox digitized the collection from 1934-1970 and created a <a href="https://beaconarchives2.wilkes.edu/">legacy website</a>. Digital Archives student John Jenkins digitized the collection from 1970-present. Special thanks goes to Communication Studies Professor Dr. Kalen Churcher, Editor-in-Chief Kirsten Peters, Beacon staff member, Emily Cherkauskas, and other Beacon staff for their help in acquiring digitized copies of the Beacons from 2006 onward. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon 2007 November 20th Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2007 November 20 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Communication Studies Department Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Wilkes University https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/a3d0b8aef390d901c3db8b79c2796d26.pdf f7722256a35795fbc93997906166dcde PDF Text Text Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA The THE NEWS OF TODAY REPORTED BY THE JOURNALISTS OF TOMORROW NOVEMBER 6, 2007 In This Issue... Movie Ticket Woes Page 8 Volume 60 www.wilkesbeacon.com Former Mexican President to speak in W-B Issue 8 Immigration issue sparks protestors to assemble BY ANDREW SEAMAN Beacon News Editor On Monday, November 5, Wilkes University will host the former President of Mexico, Vincente Fox, as the Outstanding Leaders Forum keynote speaker. Christine Seitzinger, Associate Director of Marketing Communications, said that she has been part of a “ten or twelve member core team that has been meeting once a week for about six to eight months to plan everything surrounding this event.” She acknowledged that local plans for protest of the event have been discussed. The protest was in response to President Fox’s views on immigration. He is against illegal immigration, however he feels that natives of other countries should be able to come and go between the U.S. and Mexico on a guest worker pass. “We don’t really know what we are in for because we do expect protestors. And given what happened at Syracuse, with the bomb threat, we are running through a number of contingency plans for what we are going to do,” said Seitzinger. Recently, Syracuse University was forced to abruptly cancel a speech to be delivered by Fox because a bomb threat had been called in. Seitzinger also mentioned that the school is aware of the grassroots organization, Voice of the People, based in Hazleton, that organized the protest outside the F.M. Kirby Center on the night of the lecture. On its website, the group offers a call to action: “Stand up for America!!! This is about pride in our country, respect for our country, and standing up to those who blatantly disrespect and bad mouth our country. It is time to draw the line in the sand!!!!” See FOX page 4 MRSA @ Wilkes Courtesy Marketing Comm. Page 9 Whooz Pfa3in '?/ Page 13 , Inside News................................1-5 Opinion.............................6-8 Lifestyles.........................9-11 Arts & Entertainment....12-15 Sports...........................16-20 \. BY JAMIE GWYNN Beacon Staff Writer Local and national reports of antibiotic-resistant staph infection cases have schools and athletic facilities taking extra precautions to reduce the risk of multiple cases and minimize public concern. There have been two confirmed cases of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) within the past year at Wilkes, according to university officials. Diane O’Brien, Director of Health Services, confirmed one case this semester involving a student, which has since been contained. “Yes, we did have a confirmed case, and we had a confirmed case last year also,” she stated. Joe Giunta, senior athletic trainer, confirmed the other case last fall involving a coach from the football team. “[The] football coach this past fall was diagnosed with MRSA in his leg,” said Giunta. “He came to the athletic training room with what presented like a spider bite and was seen by the staff and we noticed it right away as a potential infection. We instructed him to go to his doctor the next day, and the next day his doctor diagnosed it as MRSA,” said Giunta. “It was a case where if he didn’t bring it into us he might have been in some serious trouble with the infection of where it spread.” According to a special report last month by PaperClip Communications, “MRSA is a staph bacteria that, in healthy people outside of hospital settings, typically shows up as skin infections, such as pimples and boils that can be treated with antibiotics. However, staph bacteria can also cause serious infections, such as those within surgical wounds or bloodstreams, or pneumonia.” Dr. Karen Beth Bohan, Assistant Professor in the Nesbitt School of Pharmacy, is leading an ongoing grant-funded study to determine the number of MRSA reports in the Wyoming Valley. Bohan explained that there are primarily two different types of MRSA, hospital acquired (HA-MRSA) and community acquired (CAMRSA), and they are both genetically different. She initially thought those who were locally affected primarily had hospital acquired staph, but has discovered an uptick in the communityacquired incidents. “It’s important because one of the main things is that [community-acquired staph] produces a toxin more often than the health care associated one,” Bohan said. “In the health care setting, the organism only produces a toxin about 5 percent of the time, but the community-acquired See MRSA page 5 �NEWS NOVEMBER 6, 2007 2 Residencey Increase Fox News Briefs MRSA 3 4 4 5 Studio 20 offers IM students new co-curricular opportunity BY NICOLE FRAIL Beacon Asst. News Editor Since its introduction as a major in the fall of 2005, Wilkes University’s Integrative Media (IM) program has grown significantly. Class sizes are larger, the quality of equipment is better, and sudents have begun to participate in a variety of internships. Although IM students are receiving more chances to study offcampus through internships with companies like the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees, E!, and Digital Deluxe, they can also now gain real world experience through a new co-curricular organization called Studio 20. Formally created this past September, Studio 20 is “a design firm run by students,” said Darin Fields, Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. “It’s where the students going through Integrative Media get their first opportunities to do real world projects that are within the areas that they want to work on.” The IM suite’s location played a key role in the creation of Studio 20. Located in the basement of Breiseth, the IM suite is neighbor to the Writing Center and Zebra Communications, a student run public relations firm that serves as a co-curricular experience. “It’s built on the Zebra Communications model… It can complement Zebra and work with Zebra on projects,” said Fields. The Zebra Communications firm links students studying aspects of public relations such as design, event coordination, and fundraising with actual clients. These clients are often non-profit organizations or individual business owners who need help developing and managing specific public messages or campaigns. “Studio 20 was a deal we discussed because we were getting requests from multiple areas [internal and external] to do work,” explained Eric Ruggiero, Director of Integrative Media. According to Ruggiero, the firm was designed to take requests for productions from Wilkes departments or individuals on campus and also from non-profit organizations or start-up businesses that may not yet be able to afford an expensive production. “For example, we’re working with the pharmacy department taping lectures, editing the lectures and putting in textual elements so students can receive it on DVD. We’re also working with the PPD program in the business department and making a promotional piece for them. We’re a lot like Zebra, but we do more graphical work,” said Geoff Forman, a senior IM major and Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Studio 20. Alongside Forman, the Board of Directors is comprised of four other students and Ruggiero. Travis Davis is a freshmen IM student and is also the Underclassmen Coordinator on the Board of Directors. “[Studio 20] is a good opportunity for freshmen to get their foot in the door. It’s good for them to work with the upperclassmen and help seniors do projects that they might need help with. Even though we have classes right now, it gives us an opportunity to work more with all of the equipment,” said Davis. “It’s a way to give us an idea of what we’re getting into.” Although participation is on a volunteer basis, students are encouraged to take part in the projects presented to the firm. “Every project that we work on is portfolio material for anyone who worked on it… Anything they do, they can put in a portfolio and say what they did with it,” said Forman. As Studio 20 and the Integrative Media program both continue to grow, equipment in the IM Suite will also continue to advance and expand to meet the needs of the increasing number of students. Currently, the studio boasts video equipment, cameras, microphones, green screens, animation software, a variety of 2D, 3D and effect software, and also seven Macs and three PCs in the IM Suite. “We’re trying to add a few more [computers] to fulfill the needs and the growth of the department… We’re on a three year life cycle turn around anyway, so since we’re coming up on three years next year, the hope is that we’ll get some new machines to get us up to capacity of the students we have in the program,” said Ruggiero. BEACON Serving the community through fair and accurate reporting while supporting the views and opinions of our readers. Editorial Staff Editor-in-Chief: Andee Scarantino Email: wilkesbeacon@gmail.com Managing Editor: Nick Podolak Email: wilkesbeacon@gmail.com News Editor: Andrew Seaman Email: news.beacon@gmail.com Op/Ed Editor: Mark Congdon Jr. Email: thebeacon.oped@gmail.com Lifestyles Editor: Alison Woody Email: beacon.lifestyles@gmail.com A&E Editor: Marissa Phillips Email: thebeaconae@gmail.com Sports Editor: Carlton Holmes Email: beaconsports@gmail.com Photo Editor: Cara Koster Advertising Managers: Stephanie Yachim Dana Zlotucha Email: thebeacon.ads@gmail.com Advisor: Dr. Andrea Breemer Frantz Established in 1936 PA Newspaper Association Member Printed on Tuesdays during the academic school year. The Beacon / Gino Troiani Senior Integrative Media student Geoff Forman hand-draws his animations using the department’s most recent purchase, a light table. Various pieces of equipment such as software, high-tec computers, and video equipment aid members of Studio 20 in their productions. 130 S. River St. First Floor, Conyngham Hall, Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 (570) 408-5903 wilkesbeacon@gmail.com www.wilkesbeacon.com �NEWS NOVEMBER 6, 2007 Master Plan to evolve as on campus residency increases 3 Conyngham and Pearsall likely to become residence halls YOHANNA DE LOS SANTOS MARIA Beacon Correspondent Within the next five to seven years, on campus residents who are currently separated by some distance, may find themselves physically closer to one another. Moving all residents closer to the heart of the campus is part of the master plan, Petra Carver, Vice President for Finance and Support, said. “[The master plan] is a plan that on an annual basis states what kind of project and capital decisions we will be making.” The master plan is part of what will be changed at Wilkes, and it has to be revised in order to take action. At the moment University Towers has a population of nearly 250 students, and the rest of the apartments are inhabited by people who lived in the building before its purchase by Wilkes. However, original community residents have begun to move out. As those apartments become available, Wilkes will populate more and more of the building eventually occupying it 100% with approximately 400 students in the Towers. Of course this depends on the other people that live there, Paul Adams, Vice President of student affairs, said, “We are not forcing those people out.” Those who have left the building have done so of their own accord and the process is seen as a natural progression. The student population in- crease at the University Towers will also depend on other projects. One of the planned projects is, “To sell the 300 block Wilkes buildings located at South River Street to move students near campus,” said Adams. It will also have to do with the increase of the student body. He added that Wilkes administrators do not want more than 1,200 students living on campus. The challenge of huge growth in residential students is that it requires growth in a variety of other services beyond simple residential space. For example, with more on campus students, Wilkes would need to axpand dining space. Dining locations in diverse areas would need to expand so that the Henry Student Center doesn’t become overcrowded. Adams also said that the 1,200 on campus student population can be expected within the next three to four years. The University is also planning to establish a residential cluster which is a student neighborhood, a community composed mainly of students. For the student cluster to take place, “The University is planning on making Conyngham and Pearsall Hall [into] residence halls,” said Adams. Therefore, the offices previously offered at Conyngham and Pearsall Halls will be relocated. The offices of Student Affairs, previously located in Conyngham Hall moved to Passan Hall on South Franklin Street two weeks ago. This in a longer-term project that is likely to take between five to seven years, “[It] depends on how quickly we can get out of the 300 blocks of South River Street, how quickly we acquire the apartments, convert Conyngham to residence halls and what the future is for Pearsall Hall,” said Adams. The main reason to make these changes possible is because the buildings located Fried Ravioli (6) M02Zarel1~. Slim (.5) 16"" Lq'=' Pizza 12; an Pizza PIZZA " WINOIJ - - - SALAINI Fried Si c:ffiam . Vlhiw Cut B'foc-oo.li Cut The Beacon/ Cara Koster At the moment University Towers has a population of nearly 250 students, and the rest of the apartments are inhabited by people who lived in the building before its purchase by Wilkes. Fried Mru moo:m R.ound Pies 12,,., ·· ediwm Pilla . at South River Street are outside campus. 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Dallu 67 " 77-77 Tlma �NOVEMBER 6, 2007 FOX from FRONT PAGE The founder of the group, Daniel Smeriglio, talked with The Beacon about what his organization has planned for Monday evening’s event. “We are hoping everything goes good on Monday as well… We are going to be at the Ramada Inn from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the Tiffany Ballroom… we are going to have a meet and greet with the speakers and give little speeches. Then from 7 p.m. until the time Mr. Fox is done speaking is when we are going to be in the square, in active protest, and after the speech the people who were inside for the speech are going come over, back to, the ballroom and tell us what Mr. Fox had to say.” Smeriglio also noted that his organization has confirmed Steve Urban, Luzerne County Commissioner; Peter Gadiel, Bruce DeCell, Joan Molinaro from 9/11 Families for a Secure America; Carmen Morales, Miquel Cruz from You Don’t Speak for Me; Gayle Kesselman, John Rucki from New Jersey Citizens for Immigration Control as possible speakers for its alternative event. The organization has also reached out to Mayor Lou Barletta from Hazleton, representatives from the Minutemen Civil Defence Corps and many other people NEWS to speak at the protest event in the Tiffany Ballroom. Seitzinger acknowledged, “We are preparing for the protestors to be very visible and very vocal right outside the Kirby Center perhaps on Public Square. We’re hoping the event itself is not disrupted because we see that as a disruption in the learning process. As an educational institution it is our responsibility… to provide a forum for these discussions and whether they are controversial or not, to have a foreign head of state to come to this area, we are very proud of that.” Smeriglio commented that his group plans for peaceful protest and there will be representatives from different organizations in the event to ask questions. Dr. Jane Elmes-Crahall, Professor of Communication Studies at Wilkes, will moderate the question and answer part of the forum with former President Fox. “I help them decide what is the best format to be fair and still control what can be a pretty loud audience and make sure we still give President Fox a chance to answer the questions,” she said. Elmes-Crahall explained how the questions for the session would be addressed and handled. “The format we are using is a pretty common one in a public forum in politics, where everyone, as they come in, they will be given cards and pens, and instructed that at any point during the lecture they can write out a question and submit them to people who will be available in the aisle… who will screen them, not really in terms of content as much as in duplication. While the lecture is going on, they will hand me… five or six to start and that way we will have an opportunity to get things rolling… Others may be submitted while he begins answering the first or the second question... “I think part of it is as moderator, me just not looking ruffled. If someone does get loud I will remind them that that is not how we are taking questions; it is disrupting the other people. There will be a security presence visible. That is not really done to intimidate the audience as much as it is to protect a head of state,” Elmes-Crahall said. Seitzinger also addressed the topic of ticket sales for the event. “I think tickets are not selling as quickly as we had hoped. I think name recognition has something to do with that; however, once President Fox began his national press junket to promote his book, people became more aware of who he was,” said Seitzinger. “He has been in the national media quite a bit lately… So I think that has 4 impacted ticket sales, but certainly they are not selling as quickly as more recognizable figures like Colin Powell and Rudy Giuliani.” Former President Fox, recently released his memoirs Revolution of Hope: The Life, Faith, and Dreams of a Mexican President. The day’s events include a question and answer session with area high school students, a luncheon, press conference, banquet dinner, and the lecture. Please visit www.wilkesbeacon.com on Tuesday, November 6 for The Beacon’s coverage of the former president’s visit. Editor’s Note This story was written in future tense due to the fact that it was released online Sunday, November 4th . For an updated version of the story and pictures from the various events please check www.wilkesbeacon.com. Andrew M. Seaman Beacon News Editor Beacon News Briefs Local lapsed during the United States Olympic (WILKES-BARRE) Wilkes-Barre offi- trials in Central Park. The runner was cials awarded later pronounced a contract to a dead at Lenox Hill wrecking comHospital. The winpany from Durner of the trial, Ryan yea to demolHall, and Shay were ish the Murray close friends. complex building gutted by International fire in Octo(ISLAMABAD, ber. The city Pakistan) Televiawarded the sion and telephone $306,500 conservices were taken tract after allotdown, barricades ting $250,000, and military forces while the surround parliamenstate awarded tary buildings, offi$750,000 in aid cial’s homes and the for the demoliSupreme Court in tion. The conPakistan after Gen. tract awarded Pervez Musharraf to LAG declared a state of Wrecking only emergency throughThe Beacon / Andrew Seaman provides for out the country. By Remains of the Murray Complex fire. the demolition doing so, Mushof a portion of arraf suspended the the complex, the rest of the buildings will be country’s constitution and independent demolished at a later time. media. Musharraf said this decision was made after he saw a rise in Islamic exNational tremism. (NEW YORK) At the five-and-a-half-mile For more News Briefs, read online at mark Ryan Shay, a 28-year-old runner, col- www.wilkesbeacon.com. �NOVEMBER 6, 2007 MRSA from FRONT PAGE MRSA produces probably an excess 90 percent of the time.” As reported in the October 17 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), MRSA caused more than 94,000 life-threatening infections and nearly 19,000 deaths in the United States in 2005, most of them connected with health care settings. Those numbers approximate about 1 death in every 5 cases. But O’Brien is convinced that students should not worry. “If [students] have something that may look like an infection come see us, but really, there’s no need for panic,” she said. “We have staph on our skin all the time, so if you cultured any healthy human being they would have staph on their hands and on their body. “I think a lot of it is blown out of proportion, but really it’s all in culturing because what we do is culture it and then it will identify 10-12 antibiotics that will absolutely kill that bug,” O’Brien added. Christine Seitzinger, Associate Director of Marketing Communications, agreed with O’Brien that students should not panic. NEWS “I think [the JAMA report is] where this story took on a life of its own and people became very sensitized to it,” said Seitzinger. “And any time you have a healthy individual, an athlete or young person become so sick that their life may be threatened because of a staph infection, many people find that unacceptable and become scared by that.” Bohan noted that, “Where there are actual deaths involved, it’s people who have underlying immune problems that weren’t recognized before.” “You can have it on you right now and [you] wouldn’t know it, but as long you don’t get a cut or get it into your skin or something, you’re going to live just fine with it and not be a problem. What happening is so many people are getting it on their skin that when these people get cuts, it’s causing infection,” Bohan explained. What concerns Bohan most is the high risk for student athletes at Wilkes. “Any athletes who are in really close physical contact are at higher risk.” But as far as student-athletes are con- 5 cerned, Giunta noted that during his six years he hasn’t had any such cases of MRSA. “Athletes-wise, no we haven’t had MRSA. We haven’t had any staph infections, per se.” Addy Malatesta, Director of Athletics, highlighted the process of avoiding an out- break of any type of infection. “The cautions that we’re well aware of in terms of laundering here, we’re attentive to that, particularly with sports like wrestling where there’s a lot of contact between student athletes in the wrestling program,” Malatesta said. “We disinfect wrestling mats twice a day, minimally.” Students don’t seem to be worried about a possible outbreak in MRSA. Justin Jones, a freshman English major and a former football player, said he believes Wilkes has solid protocol for dealing with the health issue. “Since I’ve been here there hasn’t been any medical scares, and I’m sure Health Services would go through every precaution to avoid a major outbreak,” he said. Tim Jones, a sophomore political science major, agreed. “I can’t say I’m concerned about it now, but after hearing about it, I do have a bit of a concern about what Wilkes is doing about the situation.” “I don’t see that it should be any real cause for concern in this community setting,” said O’Brien. “I think education is key and I think it’s really basic common sense things that kids don’t do.” O’Brien is referring to common sense things such as reporting anything that looks suspicious. “If you have a healthy individual that has a staph infection that we can keep confined and find out what the proper treatment is, their chance of recovery is excellent,” said O’Brien. Watch �Opinion Identity Crisis Movie Tickets Angry Rant NOVEMBER 6, 2007 6 America’s freshwater is in jeopardy Conservation and planning are vital BY THE BEACON EDITORIAL BOARD Picture this: a neighbor sneaks out of her own house in the middle of the night to water her garden so that the tomato plants don’t die. A second neighbor hears the spray of the hose and looks out his window to witness the crime. He immediately calls the police, who arrive quickly and arrest the culprit. The charge? Unlawful and excessive use of water. The scenario may sound farfetched, but places like Atlanta,GA may soon face something similar as water restrictions are tightened, and businesses like car washes are threatened, should they not recycle water on the premises. Moreover, Orme, Tennessee, a town of 145 residents, has run out of water due to the drought that’s occuring in the Southeast. The nation’s freshwater sources are depleting as droughts threaten water reserves, the population booms, sea levels rise, and the Sierra Nevada snow-pack melts. Despite all of this, the latest U.S. Geological Survey released in 2000 reported that Americans still used about 500,000 gallons of freshwater per person. This adds up to more than 148 trillion gallons of water used by the U.S. alone. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a United Nations network of scientists, estimated that freshwater will become a scarce resource for up to 2 billion people worldwide by the year 2050, which is why people need to start conserving water now. A recent article posted by the Associated Press even stated that over the next five years, the government estimates that 36 states will face water shortages. Such shortages are already a reality in California, Georgia, and Florida. The problem is two-fold: Americans, and indeed people all over the world, use too much water, and widespread climate change is manifesting as drought in many regions. Drought conditions that fed the flames of the 16 wind-blown fires in California are becoming more common according to an article in The San Francisco Chronicle. Additionally, an entire reservoir was used to put out the fires in California. Due to the unusually hot conditions, the Sierra Nevada snow-pack is melting prematurely, which is jeopardizing the future supply of freshwater. California uses 23 trillion gallons of water annually, most of which comes from the Sierra Nevada snow-pack. On October 20, Georgia’s governor, Sonny Perdue, declared a state emergency in 85 counties and ordered utilities and water systems to reduce their water consumption by 10%. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers estimates that Lake Lanier, a reservoir in Bloomberg, GA, will run out of clean water in about 110 days. So far this year the area has received only 25 inches of rain, which is approximately half of what usually falls. Unlike California and Georgia, Florida’s supply of freshwater is not threatened by drought, but by the rising sea levels that are caused by melting ice glaciers, which push saltwater into underground sources of freshwater. Florida reuses about 240 billion gallons of water annually, but Michael Sole, Florida’s environmental chief, said in an Associated Press article, that “it is not nearly enough” to quench the thirst of Florida’s booming population. By 2025, the population will increase 34 percent and the annual use of freshwater will jump from 2.4 trillion gallons a year to 3.3 trillion gallons a year. Students at Wilkes University can help reduce the demand for freshwater by simply conserving water. By conserving water, less pressure is placed on sewage treatment facilities, because there is a greater number of people using the same amount of water instead of more. It also saves energy and saves students money. According to the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, there are many ways people can save water in the bathroom and the kitchen. One of the best places to cut back on water usage is in the bathroom. About 300 gallons of water could be saved every month by placing a plastic bottle filled with pebbles in the toilet tank, which causes less water to be used with every flush. If you turn off the water while shaving and brushing your teeth you can save six gallons of water a day. By shortening your showers one or two minutes you can save up to 700 gallons of water per month, and if you install a water-saving shower head or flow restrictor, you can save an additional 500-800 gallons per month. By washing your dishes by hand you can save anywhere between 200-500 gallons of water in the kitchen by just filling one side of the sink up with water that you will use for rinsing dishes. You can reduce the amount of water used to rinse off detergent by using a smaller amount, which will save 50-150 gallons of water. If you do use the dishwasher or even the washing machine, only wash full loads, because you can save 300-800 gallons of water per month. When preparing a meal you can save 150-250 gallons of water per month by filling up a bowl and dipping your vegetables in it instead of letting the faucet run over them. You can also keep bottles of drinking water in the refrigerator instead of getting it from the tap, because it saves 200 to 300 gallons of water a month. By following the tips provided by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, Wilkes University students can do their part in saving what is left of our freshwater resources. Your Voices Dear Editor: Concerning “Be the change you want to see…” Whenever I hear people preaching that “anybody can achieve whatever they want if they just work hard enough,” my stomach cramps up. Can anybody seriously be that naive? Sure, if you were born into an American middle class family, 7 8 8 chances are you can get very far if you work hard. But to believe that anyone, no matter what their circumstances are, can do the same, is buying into an oversimplified ideal. Maybe Alberto Gonzales is a nice example for the American Dream, but to argue that because he made it, anyone else can too, is faulty logic. It is also an excuse for people to say that anybody who does not make it must be lazy and therefore to be blamed for their own position in society. What a convenient lie! Wouldn’t that make the world so much easier and so just? I agree that ambition and hard work can get you a lot further than apathy and laziness, but unfortunately, some people cannot “rise up and do as [they] will” - even if they are ambitious and work hard- er than anyone else. Even though the US has a high degree of social mobility compared to other countries, it is not a classless society. Your place of birth and the conditions that come with it make a difference, and for many people, the American Dream is nothing more than a dream. Felixa Wingen Junior, English Ed. Major Beacon Poll Results Americans have a lot to worry about. The ongoing Iraq war, stock market and housing investThe following are results of a ment instability, drug busts, AIDS, poll that The Beacon conductand environmental concerns domed online this past week. The inate the nightly news reports. Is poll was unscientific, and does it any wonder that with such boldnot claim to reflect the overall face headlines other issues fail to attitudes of students on camcapture our attention? Seemingly pus. Results are based on 100 “less important” social problems responses. like homelessness, poverty, and the growing deficit tend to make inside pages, if that, because of The Beacon asked: the pressing nature of the other stories. 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Next Week’s Question: Just two weeks ago the Makah tribe made wirething over tothe isWhat’s thethe hardest sue of whaling. Years ago the Naconserve? tive American tribe legally killed whales something of a sport. • as Water The •tribeGas/oil suspend its practice because• theElectricity grey whale was placed on the species list and • endangered Paper federal government prohibited • Time whaling. However, in 1994, the • Money grey•whale cameconsumption off of the endanCalorie gered• list. Anytime minutes The• tribe obtained a permit in Other 1999 to kill a whale which outraged animal rights groups. After a Visit www.wilkesbeacon.com court hearing became necessary to cast your itvote. Results will for be thepublished tribe to in receive a waiver next week’s in orderissue to hunt whales. Recently, of The Beacon. members of the tribe shot a grey whale repeatedly with a rifle before they were due to receive their waiver. The five men involved are all facing fines of up to $20,000 �NOVEMBER 6, 2007 OPINION 7 My name is Andee, and I’m having a “Senior Identity Crisis” BY ANDEE SCARANTINO Beacon Editor-in-Chief Over the past few weeks, I’ve been sluggish. There once was a time when I was sleeping 10 hours a week, and just pouncing on every project I could possibly take on, because I could. I did it because being a college student fascinated me beyond belief, and I wanted to be the absolute very best I could be… And I was. But like many people I know, I am having the “Senior Identity Crisis,” which essentially means I’m in an “in-between phase of life.” I’m ready to move on; ready to conquer bigger and better obstacles in life, but because of the way my path has been structured for me, I am stuck in college, meshed in a pool of students searching to find themselves, when I already have. Here are some symptoms of the Senior Identity Crisis: Classes are just not interesting anymore. Well, when you’re taking 300 level courses for the third year in a row, or even the second year in a row, it may be hard to engage. Some of you may have also taken courses at other universities that have a lot of overlapping material. Two years ago, you may have rushed in a flare of excitement to jump on that project, hoping to impress the heck out of your professors. Now, they already know what you can do, and you already know you’re more capable than some of the wide-eyed sophomores in your classes to complete the projects/assignments sufficiently. Therefore, you wait until the last minute, and face hours of stress. Your friends are a bore. Well, let’s face it. You’re the oldest out of all of them. If you’re a traditional student, you’re in your early 20’s, and you’re going to the bar with people your age, or much older. You’re generally stuck with those people you’ve known for years, and they may be getting on your nerves. However, people younger than you seem to be lighthearted and naive, these days. You can’t find common ground with them. You can’t discuss what classes you may take in the future, or what trips you may go on, because you’re “Seeyabye!” You used to solve the world’s problems all night in your phone conversations with friends. Now, you’re reminiscing about the “good ol’ days,” which is always depressing. You’re getting rejected. Your GREs suck. You have to take them again. Your LSATs suck. You’re not going to law school. David Letterman doesn’t want you as an intern, and you already burned your bridges at the local TV stations. Oh no! What do you do? “If I have to spend another month with my parents, I’m going to die! And I’m gaining weight! Can I sell my eggs to pay for rent in New York City!?” You’re lonely. Your significant other is a waste. You’re going to be a college graduate, and they aren’t. You don’t want to date someone older, because you might not be here in a year. You can’t find a mate on campus that doesn’t make you feel like a pedophile! You’ve decided to buy a stuffed animal from Wal-Mart, name it Henry Kissinger, and cuddle with it on a nightly basis. Pathetic. Well, I’m here to help. Take a deep breath. That’s the first thing you need to do. Tomorrow morning, after you read this article, go to the gym, because you’re not eating right anymore. Those rejection donuts went to your hips. Go see your advisor and plan out your life. Try to take on an independent study, and work through those issues of boring classes. Maybe you are too smart, or maybe your major just doesn’t have enough to offer you. Your advisor is there to help. If you’re like me and haven’t seen your advisor in two years, go visit a professor you trust, and work through your schedule. They’re there to help, whether it be with courses, resumes, internships, or job opportunities. Be productive in the time you spend reminiscing with friends. The past is full of memories, but only that. You can’t cling to memories anymore. They’ve passed, but in order to make new memories, you need to move forward. So, you got rejected. So did I. My way of dealing with it was to print out a banner in 300 point font that said “Sh*t Molasses” and tape it to the wall of my office. Once I did that, I ate a bag of chips and moved on my life. You need to do the same. Don’t let rejection paralyze you. Find other options. And finally, if you’re lonely, my email address is on the second page of The Beacon. I’d be glad to tell you a story to cheer you up. For anything more intimate, you may want to consider EHarmony.com. Hang in there seniors. You’re going to be fine. Fashion truisms: leggings are out and other facts Leggings may seem like the answer to all your fashion problems; you can wear them with that skirt that’s just too short, along with keeping the dresses and skirts in your wardrobe in rotation until at least early winter. Leggings are not pants. I cannot stress this point enough. All they are in reality is a thicker version of tights, and you wouldn’t just wear tights and a t-shirt now would you? When you wear a short shirt, dress, tunic or skirt with leggings, we can all see everything. The leggings may be be physically covering, but they are not blocking our view of anything, which I believe is the intended purpose of clothes. Since leggings tend to be on sheer side, meaning that yes we can indeed see your underwear (God willing you’re wearing any). Furthermore, most wear leggings in an unflattering manner; they’re pretty unflattering to begin with but when you wear them all the way down to your ankles you just make your legs look even bigger. Leggings should stop mid-calf, no higher, no lower. The color of leggings is also extremely important. White leggings do not, and I repeat do not, look good on anybody, all they do is accentuate any imperfection. Also the bright colors and patterns should be left in the 1980’s or to eight year-olds. Horizontal striped leggings, and ones with stars or leopard prints, make legs look enormous, and often look suspiciously like last year’s Halloween costume. Leggings aren’t even in this season; tights are, so let’s just ditch the leggings. More fashion observations: Should sweatpants or pajama pants be worn in public, either to class or in general? I have no issue with either; anyone who has seen me on a Tuesday or Thursday knows that I wear sweatpants. They’re very comfortable and when you’re sick, (whether it be alcohol induced or not) it’s amazing to be able to be in your comfy clothes all day. However, if you’re awake and feeling well enough to put on make up and do your hair, then you are well enough to at the very least put on a pair of jeans. This new trend of sweat pant-chic must stop. Sweatpants are not sexy, no matter how much money you spend on them, how much glitter they have on them, or what choice word plastered across the butt. The worst error in fashion has to be the VPL, better known as the visible panty line. It breaks my heart to see a woman dressed up in nice dress pants or a beautiful dress for it to only be ruined by the sight of her underwear line. The answer to this problem used to be thongs, and they are an answer, except for when they’re too tight or you’re pants are too tight and the underwear in question is still visible. Also, there is a giant misconception that if you’re wearing jeans then you are free from the fear of the dreaded VPL. I have witnessed many women on this campus, other cities, and other countries with this problem. Ladies, if you have jean VPL then your jeans are too tight! Now, onto the issue of the “muffin top.” Muffin top is when either your pants are too tight, or the rise is too low and your stomach hangs over. Even thin girls can suffer from muffin top. Ladies, check the waist band of your jeans. If there’s skin hang-over, buy bigger pants or put the ice cream down. So let’s recap: leggings are out, tights are in, we can all see through your leggings so remember to wear underwear and underwear that matches the color of your leggings (but nude is always a good option). Sweatpants are not sexy but are sometimes necessary and always remember to check for VPL, and a good friend will always tell you when you have it. The Beacon/Andrew Seaman BY CARA KOSTER Beacon Photo Editor �NOVEMBER 6, 2007 OPINION 8 Movie tickets: only 7% of students can buy weekly BY MARK CONGDON JR. Beacon Opinion Editor How many of us have actually purchased a $3 movie ticket this year from the school? My guess is, not many. According to Vashty Vazquez, a junior criminology major, who works at the information desk at the SUB, the school only has 150 movie tickets to sell weekly. Considering there are thousands of students at Wilkes, is it any wonder the tickets usually sell out around 12 every Monday? The 2006-2007 Wilkes University Fact Book reported that there are 2,245 undergraduate students total. After the recordbreaking freshman class enrolled this fall, I assume there are even more undergraduates on campus than last. When last year’s enrollment figures are calculated with the number of movie tickets, it appears that at best only 7% of the undergraduate student body is able to obtain a university-subsidized movie ticket. Students pay a $340 General University ment is up, such figures are likely also to Fee, $30 for a Recreation Fee, $110 for an be higher. Now, it’s quite clear that student activities Activity Fee, and $25 for a Student Center Fee. Considering all the students pay the fees go to many different things. Obviously, activity fee, shouldn’t a majority if not all, it’s not just movie tickets the university purchases with that money, be able to obtain a and I am not suggesting movie ticket? that we should prioritize Using last year’s movie ticket purchase enrollment figures, over, for example, bus the university makes Movie trips to New York or a $763,300 from the Tickets concert. But, because General fee, $67,350 Sold the $3 movie tickets are from the Recreation sold out so quickly in the Fee, $246,950 from Out week , I think we need a the Activity fee, and new process. $56,125 from the 1. Wilkes should conStudent Center fee sider purchasing more with a grand total of than 150 movie tickets $1,133,725 from all so a greater percentage these fees. of the Wilkes population That’s a substantial can participate in this amount of money. The Beacon/ Gino Troiani activity. And if overall enroll- Once again, another Halloween has come and gone with the usual array of costumes, cheap candy, and tacky work-parties playing their role in this “holiday” that seemingly gets far too much attention. Not that I have anything against Halloween, mind you. Maybe it’s just because I’m not a kid anymore, and that certain part of me that enjoyed knocking on my neighbor’s door and asking for candy has moved on to bigger and better things--like earning money to pay for my tuition, perhaps. One thing with Halloween that I never understood was the fact that we were encouraged by everyone; parents, neighbors, friends, teachers, to go to a complete stranger’s house and ask for candy. I guess its OK to get candy from a stranger when you’re wearing a flimsy, plastic mask, but not when you’re all alone on a playground. I don’t know who makes up these rules. Personally, I think that the kids get their candy far too easily. I remember being asked for a joke or a song in order to get the goods. No song - no candy. True story: I once had to perform the entire first act of “A Streetcar Named Desire” to get a bag of caramel creams. No joke… OK, maybe a little joke. The point is that nowadays kids knock on the door, dressed up like God-knowswhat, and demand candy. They don’t even say “trick-or-treat.” They just hold out their bag while they are dressed like The Cheetah Girls or Teletubbies or some other reprehensible television show character. And guess what? If they don’t get candy, they end up covering your house with toilet paper or giving your car a nice coat of soap or wax. Which brings me to my point: Can college students celebrate Halloween without feeling like they are breaching some unwritten rule that states that you can’t go trick-ortreating after a certain age? Come on, it only makes sense. Instead of candy, they can just give out thinks like gas cards, resume building tools, or packages of ramen noodles; you know, anything that a 22-year-old college student needs. When we were young, we’d dress up like something that we wanted to be one day. The girls dressed like a princess or Barbie or something, and the guys dressed like G.I. Joe or Superman. Jerry Seinfeld once said that Halloween costumes weren’t just costumes; instead they were career options. Now that we are older and somewhat wiser, our costumes would need to change based on our career plans. For instance, a pharmacy major could wear a white coat and give out fake antibiotics, a philosophy major can wear a tunic and just ask “Why?” when the door opens, and theater majors can wear a hairnet and a What do you think? - The Angry Rant: Halloween Hangover BY TIM SEIGFRIED Beacon Asst. Sports Editor 2. Students should only be able to buy a movie ticket every other week, so those who were unable to buy one on a given week have an opportunity to in the next. I feel both options would be conducive to eliminating the problem at hand. If Wilkes’s enrollment continues to grow each year, 150 price-reduced tickets will seem fewer and fewer, and the percentage of students who are able to buy a movie ticket will also appear to dwindle. I urge movie lovers who haven’t been able to get the cheap tickets to voice their concerns to their Student Government leaders. McDonald’s uniform. Anyway, Halloween is taken far too seriously by some people, the ones that build elaborate gravesites in their front yard, complete with strobe lights, cobwebs and the tombstones that are emblazoned with names like “I.B. Dead” or “Bonsey Nolife” or “Glen” or something. It’s just an awful lot of work for a day that has no staying power. Thanksgiving gives you leftovers for a week, and Christmas perpetuates itself with multiple gift-giving days. Halloween doesn’t have any big feast, it just has one night of low-quality candy and a costume that you spent far too much time or money on. The moral of the story? Forget the fancy costume; stay home, and when kids knock at your door, ask them for candy. Boo. ■ The Beacon wants your voice to be heard. Your Voices is the opportunity for students to voice their concerns. If you want your voice to be heard, please contact The Beacon with the following information: 1 Contact information including your email address and a phone number where you can be reached 2 Your name, major, and year 3 Your opinion thebeacon.oped@ gmail.com The Beacon reserves the right to edit submitted pieces for space and content. A Sight for Sore Eyes by: Aleksander Lapinski �LIFESTYLES NOVEMBER 6, 2007 Taste of Home History Film Series Student of the Week 10 11 9 Fifteenth Annual Taste of Wilkes will be held on November 8 BY CHRISTINE ZAVASKAS Beacon Asst. Lifestyles Editor The Beacon/Cara Koster Students, faculty and staff don’t have to wait until Thanksgiving for a huge, home-cooked family meal this year. The 15th annual Taste of Wilkes luncheon promises to satisfy that need for home cooking as Wilkes University family members create and share their favorite kitchen concoctions. Taste of Wilkes, which will be held on November 8 from 12-1 p.m. in the Henry Student Center Ballroom, highlights students, faculty, and staff as chefs for a day, and participants share their creations of everything from pierogies to salsa. The theme this year for the event is “Lunch in the Pumpkin Patch.” “I think it’s just a really great opportunity for us to get together and celebrate the family atmosphere. I don’t think that’s something you can get at other campuses, especially the larger campuses,” said Megan Boone, Community Service Coordinator and first time planner of Taste of Wilkes. Boone also believes that the event provides a unique opportunity for people to step out of their usual campus roles and see each other in a whole new light. “I think Taste of Wilkes is a really nice way just to kind of level the playing field, so to speak, and break down some of those barriers.” The cost to attend the lunch is $6.00 for faculty and staff and $3.00 for students. A silent auction w i l l also take place at the event for items donated by local businesses such as Starbucks and Target. According to Boone, the auction can get fairly intense, especially towards the end. “It gets pretty heated so there’s also maybe a comedy show for students…it’s pretty hilarious.” Proceeds from Taste of Wilkes will benefit the United Way of the Wyoming Valley. Boone thinks that this is a worthy charity because the United Way not only arranges their own charitable services, but supports local programs like “REACH” of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church as well. Last year, Taste of Wilkes raised approximately $700 for the organization and according to Boone; this year’s goal is to raise even more. “Our goal always is to do just a little bit better than we did last year, so of course I would love to have $800 or $1000, but in reality I think any amount that we can donate and any awareness we can give to the United Way is good.” Although no one seemed to be able to remember the exact details of how it got started, Margy Sromovski, office coordinator for Student Development, said that someone heard about a similar event and liked it enough to bring it to Wilkes. Sromovski is assisting in the planning of the event and also cooks for it every year. According to Boone, Sromovski is well-known for making one of the most popular dishes at the event, a broccoli and cheese casserole. Sromovski said, “It was brought into the family from a friend…and my mother started making it and then I just kind of kept up the tradition.” Her favorite part about this event is watching the faces of people as they enjoy what she cooks. “The home cooking makes it fun, and there’s that little taste of different foods,” she said. Students living in the community service house are also planning to submit several dishes according to Resident Assistant, Valerie Martinez, who is a junior communication studies and political science double major. “A lot of my residents like to cook. So I think as house we’re going to bring a couple of things…” Martinez also thinks that Taste of Wilkes has an important underlying lesson to teach members of the campus community. “I just think it’s so essential to building a community where people can embrace one another’s culture and learn from one another…It’s like you have your own ideas, your own ideologies, and your own tastes and literally you’re getting a taste of my tastes. That’s basically what it is. You’re just enjoying each other’s lifestyles for a day.” The Beacon/Gino Troiani Sodexho chefs will also contribute to Taste of Wilkes, including a butternut squash soup. �10 LIFESTYLES Film lecture series teaches world history BY YOHANNA DE LOS SANTOS MARIA Beacon Staff Writer The academic discipline of history has long been associated with dusty, old books and documents. But in the digital age, some professors are using movies to spark student interest in key historical happenings. Dr. Michael Davidson, assistant professor of history, encourages every student who wants to learn more about history to attend the History and Film Lecture Series. It is free and open to the public. The series kicked off on October 3 and will continue through April 8. Although some of the movies presented at this event offer a historical view on American society, other deal with questions of world history, “The best example of that is the film which is coming up next Wednesday which is the film called The Vikings about early medieval European history. So a number of the things there deal with things outside of American history,” said Davidson. The series is designed to tie in with certain events on campus. One of the things Davidson did before setting the schedule was to have several meetings with Dr. Maria Suarez, Special Assistant to the President for Multicultural Affairs and Community Relations, to ensure a purposeful tie in with cultural events in each of those months. “November, for example, is Native American history month so we have a film dealing with the indigenous people of South America,” Davidson explained. He added that films pertaining to Black history month in February, and Women’s history month in March are also planned. One goal of the project is to explore the social mix that is going on in the area and how that is evolving. “Last month, for example, the film we did was And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself which was a film dealing with the Mexican revolution,” said Davidson. Students involved with the History Club were also involved in the selection of the movies. Davidson suggested a number of movies and students discussed how they could work. Steve Felter, junior history major and President of the History Club, said, “I think the [series] is a great idea because it brings history to life. By incorporating recent movies, it will give students the chance to understand history better.” In December the movie 300 will be presented. It is a film “dealing with ancient Greek and Persian history,” said Davidson, and it met with critical acclaim for technical effects when it was released. Students are becoming involved in the “lecture” component of the series as well, and for this movie there will be a student presenter. At the beginning of each presentation there is a speaker who talks about what was going on in that period of time. Dr. Davidson said that the Pancho Villa movies has been so far the most accurate perhaps, “There is a portion of it that they get wrong, sometimes the filmmakers didn’t do research that is good enough, often is because they have two hours to get their message across they have to simplify things” said Davidson. One side purpose of the series is to illustrate how filmmakers can misinterpret and even manipulate public perception of history. This is why there is an introductory talk before each of the movies. The next event is on Wednesday November 7, Davidson encourages the students to go because, “It is entertainment, it is free, there are free refreshments, and also it is just a way to broad your education.” NOVEMBER 6, 2007 Upcoming Dates Wed., November 7 The Vikings Wed., November 14 The Mission Ill IRONS N Wed., December 5 - TBA Wed., January 23 Mississippi Burning Wed., February 20 Glory Wed., March 12 The Crucible �LIFESTYLES NOVEMBER 6, 2007 11 Student of the Week: Michael Lewis BY CHRISTA SGOBBA Beacon Asst. Lifestyles Editor The Beacon: What was involved in planning the Halloween Bash? The Beacon: How were the Christian Fellowship Club members involved? Lewis: The Christian Fellowship Club is unique because we really try to bring forth leadership roles in our members. We really get the members involved. The officers act as the overseers, but the members are who bring it all together. The Beacon: What aspect of the event were you most proud of? Lewis: The turnout was good. We had over 50 people at the midpoint, around 9:00. It was great just seeing everyone there having a great time, seeing them smile. That fellowship is just really important in building friendships and relationships. The Beacon: What prompted you to start the Christian Fellowship Club? Lewis: When you get to college, it’s hard for a student to keep focus on morals, or the church, or God. We just allow an opportunity for students to come together to worship, make friends, and have support. College is hard, and people need help, they need guidance. The club lets us worship together, have fellowship together, and have fun together. The Beacon: What are your leadership duties in the Air Force ROTC? Lewis: I’m the cadet major squadron commander in the Air Force ROTC. I oversee two training flights which are composed of freshmen and sophomores. I oversee that their supervisor is training them properly, effectively, and efficiently. All photos courtesy of Michael Lewis Michael Lewis, a senior mechanical engineering major, has used his talent for leadership to help the Wilkes community throughout the last four years. In 2006, he co-founded the Christian Fellowship Club, which officially achieved club status last October. The club offers an active, supportive atmosphere for students interested in Christian activities to join together with like-minded individuals. Lewis is also president of the Running Club for students interested in keeping in shape and training with those who have the same goals. He is also a cadet major squadron commander in the Air Force ROTC. As co-president of the Christian Fellowship Club, Lewis organized and executed the Halloween Bash on October 30. Because of his leadership abilities in a wide range of activities, The Beacon chose Lewis as our Student of the Week. Lewis: We started out with five committees, and delegated responsibilities to leaders in each committee-candy and drink, decorations, games and prizes, setup, and advertising. We had a Tang-pong tournament-that was a big hit-and bobbing for apples, a donut-eating contest, and costume contests. The Beacon: What appealed to you about the Air Force? Lewis: I just had a desire to serve my country, and take the responsibility to carry on the great freedom we have in America. I’ll be going to pilot training after graduation. THE RS IN I Ile p : stna · d y.. ·0 1 t ! ·v n k ·all (570) 823vc Inc. , ·( '9 Top: Students dress in costume at the Halloween Bash; Left: Lewis and other Christian Fellowship members enjoy their trip to the corn maze. �A&E NOVEMBER 6, 2007 12 Whooz Playin’?! Guns Babes Lemonade Crossword/Website 12 13 13 14 14 15 15 The Language of Comics offers new comics perspective BY SHANNON CURTIN Beacon Staff Wrtier This season’s exhibition at the Sordoni Art Gallery features a genre it has never included before; the artistic work of graphic novelists. The new exhibit, entitled The Language of Comics, features the work of Jessica Abel and Matt Madden two prominent graphic artists who currently teach at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. Both artists have had several graphic novels published, and have received critical acclaim for their work. The Sordoni exhibit will feature original drawings from Abel’s La Perdida and Madden’s 99 Ways to Tell a Story: Exercises in Style. Kramer explained that officials at the Sordoni decided to feature The Language of Comics after seeing it at the Richard F. Brush art gallery at St. Lawrence University and the “wonderful response it received from the campus community” there. Due to the nature of the exhibit, gallery coordinator Brittany Kramer hopes that there will be a large student turn out. “We are hoping to have a lot of student interest in this exhibition and hope to interact/collaborate with the Wilkes University Comics club. In recent years there has been a lot of interest in graphic novels because many graphic novels have been made into big budget Hollywood films such as 300 and 30 Days of Night. Though the exhibit officially opened on Saturday, some students have already planned to check it out. Senior mechanical engineering major and artist for the comic book club Aleksander Lapinski said he plans to visit the exhibit. “I did hear about the exhibit, but haven’t gotten a chance to visit it yet,” he said. According to Lapinski, graphic novels function as a unique form of art, “It takes a considerable amount of skill to combine a storyline and drawings to make an interesting and engrossing story.” Madden and Abel’s graphic novels definitely fit the bill. Madden’s 99 Ways to Tell a Story was inspired by Raymond Queneau’s Exercises in Style, where 99 different versions of the same story were created by varying the tense, style, voice, etc. of the narrative. Madden’s book features the same narrative portrayed in a multiple ways by a selection of different comics, varying by point of view, style of drawing and of course, interpretation. According to a previous statement made by Madden, “It’s exciting to consider how many different ways a story can be told, how art and text interact, and how these comics relate to other visual and narrative media.” Abel’s comic, La Perdida follows the adventures of Carla, an American woman with Mexican roots who travels to Mexico City in search of her true self. Carla’s time in Mexico City leads her on an interesting adventure as she reconnects with an old lover, befriends two unsavory individuals with their own character flaws and catches the interest of a drug lord. And it was for this interesting adventure that Abel was awarded the 2002 Harvey Award for Best New Series. The Language of Comics exhibit provides an interesting and unique perspective on narratives and according to Kramer, “a legitimate topic for scholarship and exhibitions...and can be assimilated in the curriculum of many classes, such as literature and integrative media classes in particular.” The exhibit will continue through Sunday, planation,” Baker said of the plot theme. In the Wilkes production, Charity will be played by Deirdre Lynch, a senior musical theater major. Lynch explained, “[Sweet Charity] centers around Charity, a dance hall hostess. It is just [about] what happens to her, random things. She meets a movie star and hangs out with him for a night and then she gets stuck in an elevator.” “Because it is set in the sixties, which is when the whole sexual revolution started, there was more sexual freedom for women. There was a real tension between the loose sexual morals of the time period and Charity, who has a real innocent quality about her,” Baker added. Lynne Mariani is choreographing Wilkes’ production of Sweet Charity. Mariani danced for the original choreographer, Fosse, many years ago, according to Baker. “This is the first show we have done that has a lot of dancing in it. It is very high energy,” explained Lynch. She added the theater department recruited students to specifically dance for the show. Other leading roles in the Wilkes production of Sweet Charity include Dan Pascoe as Oscar, the male lead, Jessica Krupski and Greta Kleckner as Charity’s best friends, and Stacie Gogo as a featured dancer play- $7.00, and $15.00 for the general public. A ing several roles. senior citizen discount is also available. “It is essentially a love story, but... I don’t want to give anything away, but Tuesday, November 6 it’s more about a - “An Evening of Dubstep” at the Jazz Café person’s happiness - An Albatross, The Dinosores and Ultra Dolphin performing at doesn’t necessarily Café Metropolis at 7 p.m. Wednesday, November 7 come from anyone - Film: ‘The Vikings’ in SLS 101 at p.m. else. That all sounds - M-80 performing at the Woodlands at 9 p.m. real deep, but it’s not. Thursday, November 8 It’s a really happy, - Willie Waldman project performing at the Jazz Cafe fun show,” Baker ex- Friday, November 9 - Clarence Spady performing at the Jazz Cafe plained. - $3 Show at Backstage featuring Death’s Cure (more bands need Sweet Charity will ed) at 6 p.m. take the stage Novem- - “Sweet Charity” musical theater performance in the Darte Cen ber 9 and 10, 16 and ter at 8 p.m. 17 at 8:00 p.m. and - Groove Box 6 performing at the Woodlands at 9 p.m. Saturday, November 10 on November 11and - Ritter, A Golden Era, Losing Caulfield and Stay Six performing 18 at 2:00 p.m. in the at Café Metropolis at 8 p.m. Dorothy Dixon Darte - “Sweet Charity” musical theater performance in the Darte Cen Center. For all Wil- ter at 8 p.m. kes students, faculty - Groove Box 6 performing at the Woodlands at 10 p.m. Sunday, November 11 and staff, admission - “Sweet Charity” musical theater performance in the Darte Cen is free. For students ter at 2 p.m. from surrounding Monday, November 12 colleges and univer- - Michael Bolton performing at the Kirby Center at 7 p.m. sities, admission is December 9, 2007. For more information please contact Brittany Kramer at 570-4084325. The Beacon/Allison Roth The opening reception of the show took place on Saturday. Prior to the opening, Matt Madden offered a slideshow and answered questions about his artwork. VPA to perform Broadway musical Sweet Charity BY ALISSA LINDNER Beacon Asst. A&E Editor The Wilkes University Visual and Peforming Arts department is set to perform the Broadway musical Sweet Charity Novermber 9-11 and 16-18. The play is directed by Naomi Hatsfelt Baker, an assistant professor of theater arts at Wilkes, and is based on an Italian film, Le Notti di Cabiria, by Frederico Fellini. American choreographer Bob Fosse saw the film and, with some assistance, created the musical Sweet Charity. The original musical featured music by Cy Colemen, lyrics by Dorothy Fields, and choreography by Fosse. Sweet Charity was originally performed on Broadway in the 1960s. In 1969, the movie was released featuring Shirley MacLaine as Charity. It returned to Broadway in 2005 with Emmy award winning actress Christina Applegate starring as Charity. The musical is currently on a national tour featuring Paige Davis as Charity, who recently replaced Mollie Ringwald in the leading role. “Sweet Charity is the story of a girl who wants to be loved. That’s the simple ex- Schedule of Events �NOVEMBER 6, 2007 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 13 LOCAL BAND SPOTLIGHT: Whooz Playin’?! BY MATTHEW GOGAS Beacon Staff Writer The chemistry is always important in having a successful band, andWhooz Play in’?! are no strangers to good chemistry. They are a local band gaining a steady fol lowing in the Wilkes-Barre and NEPA area. Two of the members are formerly from the band Crus, but decided to leave and start their own band. The Beacon recently spoke with one of the band’s founding members and lead singer, Krysten Montgomery. agree… It was the Office Convention. We played on the biggest stage we’ve ever been on and the sound was fantastic! The Beacon: What was the worst show you have ever played? Krysten: (Laughs) I would have to say the worst show I’ve played wasn’t with Whooz Playin’?! I’m going to be nice and leave it at that. (winks) The Beacon: How did each of you meet? Krysten: Joe and I were in the band Crush together for about four years… We became the best of friends! Joe’s friend bought a house next to our guitar player, Mikey. He in troduced us, we auditioned him… and that was it! He was in after the first song he played. When we told Mikey that he was in, we asked him if he knew any bass players and that’s where Ronio came into the picture… The same thing happened. He played one song, and he was in! Then we started talking about a rhythm guitar player. My cousin Del came immediately and auditioned! He was also in on the spot. The Beacon: What are your biggest musical influences? Krysten: Robert Plant, Billy Joel, Steve Perry, Aretha, Ann Wilson, and of course Mariah and Whitney Joe: Carter Beauford, Thomas Lang, Dave Grull Del: Elvis, and Dave Matthews Ron: Jaco Pastorious, Jack Bruce Mikey: Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Miles Davis, Jack Bruce Photos courtesy The Beacon/Andee Scarantino The Beacon: What type of music do you play? Krysten: Rock & Roll, Punk, Pop, a nice mix of almost everything! The Beacon: What is the story behind the name Whooz Playin’? Krysten: HA! Abbot and Costello?? We wanted an attention grabber! I think it worked. I love walking into a club and hearing a customer say “Who’s Playing to night?” And the club owner says “Whooz Playin’?!” and so on… That’s where we got it. The Beacon: Do you have a cult following, those few fans that take it to the extreme? Krysten: (laughs) I would never refer to our fans as a cult, but we have a cool crowd that likes us. The Beacon: What types of television shows do you each watch? Krysten: The Golden Girls, Desperate House wives, Law and Order CI & SVU, Danc ing with the Stars, The Bachelor Joe: South Park, King of the Hill, Law and Order, Family Guy, Mikey: Captain and Casey Show, and Fuse TV Ron: Mostly Movies and Baseball…. Del: Dr. Phil, Any Sports The Beacon: Do any of you play more than one instrument in the band? Krysten: Yes. Ron plays the Bass, Guitar, and the Drums. Mikey plays everything! The Beacon:Do you often, if ever, disagree with the way a song should be written/per formed? Krysten: Sometimes, but not too often… It’s the artist who has actually takes time to think, “Hmmm… I’ll do this here, put that note there; and yes, I’ll sing it this way. Stage presence is all in the performer. If the guy stage left wants to jump up and down, then so be it. If the guy stage right wants to smoke a cigarette and bob his head, it’s the same thing. Diversity is a good effect in this industry. The Beacon: What was the best show you have ever played? Krysten: Hmmm... I would have to say, and I know the band would most definitely The Beacon:What kind of performance or antics could someone typically expect at a Whooz Playin’?! show? Krysten: Great music! Amazing talent and a great time!! Oh yeah, did I mention alcohol? The Beacon What is the funniest moment that you could think of from one of your shows? Krysten: There’s been so many funny moments. I can not decide which one to choose from… Come and see us! You’ll find out! The Beacon: Do you have anything that you would like your fans to know? Krysten: Yes! If you want to hear a special song, tell us at a show or Myspace us at www.myspace.com/whoozplayin. We’ll do anything! Any song you want to hear! �ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 14 NOVEMBER 6, 2007 CD Review: Muscles’ Guns Babes Lemonade BY MARISSA PHILLIPS Beacon A&E Editor Photo courtesy www.grandmasfrenchcafe.com Aside from hip hop and oversexed diva pop tracks, there isn’t much attention paid to the dance quality of most new music. While numerous techno and electronic dance tracks made their way into the mainstream in the 90s, these days popular songs are more conducive to grinding than versatile dance moves. A lot of the fun has been lost in dance music. Although there are some people out there such as Spank Rock and Girl Talk who remix and resample songs with high quality results, it’s more satisfying to find a band with good delivery and original material. Muscles, a light-hearted electronic band from Australia, manage to freshen up and redefine dance music with their undeniably catchy beats and playful lyrics. With their first album Guns Babes Lemonade, they remind listeners that music can actually be fun. Lyrically, Muscles seems almost innocent. “Ice Cream” is a song about remedying a dangerous situation by bringing ice cream into the equation. “He could have a knife/stab me in the gut/bleeding on the floor/should have kept my mouth shut/and I don’t know how to react or if I should fight back/Ice cream is going to save the day.” Then there’s “Sweaty,” which is a frantic, upbeat love song with lyrics so simple, they almost veer into the realm of cheesy. “My hands slipped into your hands/and it was awesome/and diculous, sincere, and genuinely fun album that shows a you were special.” great deal of inventiveness currently lacking in American Musically, Guns Babes and Lemonade almost feels like dance music. In “Ice Cream,” Muscles sing, “I don’t want a bizarre mish mash of cheesy workout techno, 80s synth no other/I just want to dance,” and clearly dance in its pop, and European techno. The odd thing is, it works en- simplest and most carefree form was in the forefront of tirely. And it’s not just that the songs become embedded their minds when they produced the album. in your mind, (because they do). It’s more that the deep Grade: A+ (honestly) bass and shrill electronic beats are paired together so effectively. Music inevitably produces some sort of visual response in the mind of the listener, and in that realm, this album delves a bit into the absurd. It’s a bit hard to listen to a song without conjuring up mental images of one or more of the following: neon spandex, street break dancing, running in place with a sweatband, embarrassingly awkward and exaggerated dance moves. The thing that makes Guns Babes Lemonade work so incredibly well is the fact that Muscles is lighthearted, and abandons any and all pretense, which is almost impossible to escape in most cases. It’s as though they get away with their playfulness (almost silliness) just because their execution is so well-coordinated and infectious. I thought it was impossible, but somehow this If nothing else, the one thing that will inevitably stay with somealbum is executed flawlessly. It is an overall ri- one after listening to this album is the undeniable truth that ice cream has, and always will, save the day. AT YOU . -· TI-IIS "Steve Husted" Wedne sda1f.. N ovemkr 7th 6:30- 8:30 25% all cm items during the show TNith student ID ''Champion Sali' .starting N 01.i'3m~ 12th until N ovemkr 25th 2 5% olf all me.n's) women's) and clti1dren's sr.-watshirts and swea:tpants! I. il,B ll Gra Mu ·c• F'e· lurlng Tim.Yi Fridca}•, No¥tmbet t1i 7:3:0-10:30pm 25 ·items dJ · c·:1 o with mdcDtt ID ""Poetry Cmle: 7.00-,i: ·. ·• . ·· Hosted by Jen md Dan from ~per Kite Press Do-.n'tforge:t to, pi · up 1 ••Frequent Bi rre.r Carct"todl}1 1J anywhcIC in,Olli' st:o1"i1:! - ' _ER ~ VE · A. �BY CHRISTOPHER KUDRAK Beacon Staff Writer 1 4 8 12 13 14 15 16 18 19 20 21 22 26 28 30 31 32 33 38 41 42 46 49 50 51 53 54 ACROSS Air pressure Measurement Castle defense Military command Desert like Renter’s necessity Medicinal plant Heavy weights Star Trek vessel Business degree Embarrassed Cereal type Fashionable resort Domain Walks pompously Steal goods Harass “Matrix” character Insult, slangly Astounded Alias letters Old English ending Creepy looks Fine jeweler Bicycle type Insert Storage structure Common contraction Smart person 57 58 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 17 21 23 24 25 27 28 29 31 34 35 ____ Aviv Stephen Colbert satirical term Improper contraction Hillary to Bill Area of activity Swampy areas Foul scent Oct preceder WSW opposite DOWN Certify a will Ol’ Blue Eyes Freud concerns High-IQ club Sworn statements With Magellan Contract stipulation Coagulate A.K.A. Clay LAPD part Ball rest 36 No more than 37 Bounds’ partner 38 Lima’s land Meat and vegetables dish 39 40 Recipe word 43 Maui neckwear 44 Mr.’s mate 45 World power (abbr.) 47 ___ Capita 48 Costello or Gehrig 49 Utmost degree 51 Hallow ender 52 Filthy abode 55 56 58 59 60 61 MyFirstTime.com BY ANDEE SCARANTINO Beacon Editor-in-Chief I didn’t lose my virginity in an exciting way. I decided I was tired of being a virgin, because even at 17, I was intimidating and men just avoided me. I also had blue hair. I digress. It was awkward, typical, and in no way interesting to anyone but me. Even I wasn’t interested. However, there are thousands of Americans who are interested, as evidenced by the anecdotes on MyFirstTime.com. The site is rather simple, but ingenious! People write in, saying their sex, where it happened, and the language they are writing in, as to allow people to know the language to translate the text into, should it not be in their native language. Then, they write blog-like anecdotes about their first time… and people read them. I read them. The stories are really fascinating. The first one, on the day I accessed the site, was “Sharon,” who, at 14, slept with her married 28 year old music teacher. There was also a really interesting story of a guy who had sex in a photo booth in a Goergia amusement park. Priceless! There are other stories, too. Take this one, for example: *Note: No spelling was changed for the purpose of this article. Dressed in Barbie’s boyfriend Consumed Brethren Nautical direction Version Retribution Refines metal Gomez Addams brother Architectural feature Brief and to the point Land of Nod Common contraction Snake sound Fairy-tale opener Duce Banish Area 51 find Lincoln for short ”I know this happaned a while back. But im still pissed at what you did to me, because of what you did to me, I cant have a normal relationship thanks, to what happened in the relationship with you. I dont feel like talking to The PRINCIPAL, The POLICE, My PARENTS, and then Having to tell them everything in exact detail.” Yeah, apparently this girl cried rape and the poor spurned man cannot manage to have relationships anymore. Such a pity. The site is simple, but incredibly compelling. The stories range from mundane to down right erotic, and I won’t lie when I say I actually enjoyed reading them for this review. As you know from reading my reviews, I do not embrace celibacy. I think something like losing your virginity is an act that happens to almost all of us. We ALL have sex, even simply for reproductive purposes. Why not share with one another? OK, so maybe some of the anecdotes are a bit graphic, but fully entertaining, and a great way to spend an idle afternoon. I give this site an “H” for “Hornifying!” Answers: 10/30 Kudracross NOVEMBER 6, 2007 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 15 STSTRAVEL.COM Join America’s #1 Student Tour Operator CANCUN ACAPULCO JAMAICA BAHAMAS FLORIDA Sell Trips, Earn Cash & Travel Free www.ststravel.com STUDENT TRAVEL SERVICES 1-800-648-4849 / www.ststravel.com �16 SPORTS Lady Colonels shrug off players departure BY CARLTON HOLMES Beacon Sports Editor After three years of shooting hoops together for Wilkes University, they had become like a family. Last years’ leading scorer Randi Corbo, all-time block leader Karyn Perestam, multi-position threat Lacey Andresen and smooth-playing Katie Cappelloni, were a tight-knit group, that was supposed to be entering the most anticipated year of their career, their senior season. But the foursome was not destined to make it the end together. Cappelloni’s dedication to the end is what drives her to continue competing, even after her friends’ departure. “I have one more year left, I’m not going to throw the towel in now.” Corbo transferred. Perestam left for personal reasons. Andersen has a lingering back injury. And Cappelloni is still performing, like Nick Lachey after a 98 Degrees break-up. Now she’s the lone senior on the Lady Colonels roster and will be leading her team for the 2007-08 basketball season. Problem is, there are only seven other players on the team. That leaves the team with only three substitutes; five members of the roster are freshmen. Other players have dropped off the boat for the Lady Colonels, but for unspecified reasons. According to third-year head coach Rachel Emmerthal, who has to suit up in practice to help the team have enough bodies, the Lady Colonels are content with the change. “They made choices for their own reasons and they have to do what’s best for them,” said Emmerthal. “Most of the time even in the workforce they tell you get out of it. If you’re not happy with what your doing in the workforce find a new job.” Same thing on the court, if you’re not all in, sometimes it’s better to step away.” In fact, Emmerthal finds convenience in having a limited roster. Rather than twiddling their thumbs while waiting for numerous teammates to finish in drills, the players this year get more reps allowing them to quickly understand the routines and plays. The Lady Colonels began practice October 20 after wrapping up last season on a seven game losing streak. Emmerthal believes her players are hungry to do well this year and although they are relatively inexperienced, they are making strides towards improving. “We’re catching on to things,” said Emmerthal. “Some days are better than others which is normal for every team. They’re are starting to be able to move and counter what their teammates are doing. Things start to fall into place.” The Beacon/Gino Troiani The Lady Colonels run through plays during practice last Friday to prepare for their road scrimmage against East Stroudsburg last Sunday. The Lady Colonels played well against East Stroudsburg. Cappelloni stated the team made key defensive stops and gelled more so in the second half. Three Wilkes teams drop in opening round BY CARLTON HOLMES Beacon Sports Editor Good seasons in three sports abruptly came to an end last week. Three fall teams have quickly fallen out of the Freedom Conference playoffs, in the first round. Field Hockey After missing a postseason bid last year, the Lady Colonels field hockey team sneaked on-board as the third-seed with a 8-10 record. The team went on the road to take on FDU-Florham, the second-seed (NJ) on Halloween and left without any treats. The Lady Colonels were held scoreless while FDU punched in two early goals. Four minutes into the game, Christty Barbetto scored for the Lady Devils at home in front of an estimated 234. Lady Devils senior defender, Kaitlyn Dudzinski scored on a penalty goal nearly two minutes later. Lady Colonels conference foe, King’s College won this years’ Freedom Conference playoffs after beating FDU (NJ) in the championship round, one goal to nothing. Penalty Kicks Booted Them Both Out Women’s Soccer For returning Lady Colonels from the 2006 season and head coach John Sumoski , this season has been a mild case of dejavu. The Lady Colonels went on the road to face second-seeded Arcadia University (PA) last Tuesday and dropped in the first round for the second consecutive season. Instead they lost 3-2 on penalty kicks rather a 1-0 loss to Scranton like the year before. Both teams fought hard throughout the game and played through two overtime periods. Arcadia’s Kat Kraemer closed the game shut by scoring the final penalty kick after both teams were locked at two. Sumoski believed the Lady Colonels had their chances but just couldn’t capitalize on opportunities to “finish them off.” The Lady Colonels attempted seven shots on goals compared to the Lady Devils 13. The Lady Colonels finished their season with a record of 9-9-1. Manhattanville (NY) beat Arcadia 4-3 in the championship round. NOVEMBER 6, 2007 Men’s Soccer Conference rival King’s College beat the Colonels at home on Halloween 4-3 on penalty kicks to move championship round. The game was forced into double overtime which resulted in penalty kicks as the deciding factor. Sophomore goalkeeper TJ Baloga had nine saves on the day. DeSales spanked third-seeded King’s 2-0 at Center Valley for their third straight conference title. �SPORTS NOVEMBER 6, 2007 17 Change Your Life and Your Future with a Graduate Degree from ESU Students earning a graduate degree at East Stroudsburg University are among the most qualified, best educated candidates for today’s job market. Learn more about ESU’s 21 master’s degree programs and 22 post-baccalaureate certification programs on our website, www.esu.edu GRADUATE PROGRAMS Master of Arts Degree Programs History Political Science Master of Science Degree Programs Athletic Training Biology Clinical Exercise Physiology Computer Science Exercise Science Health Education Management and Leadership „�Public Administration „�Hotel, Restaurant & Tourism Management „�Sport Management Speech-Language Pathology Sport Management Master of Education Degree Programs Biology Elementary Education Health & Physical Education History Instructional Technology Political Science Reading Secondary Education Special Education Master of Public Health Community Health Education PREPARE TO SERVE Over 150 paid graduate assistantships are available for students in graduate programs. Call ESU’s Graduate Studies Office at 570-422-3536 or 866-837-6130 or apply online at www.esu.edu. EAST STROUDSBURG UNIVERSITY FOUNDED 1893 EAST STROUDSBURG UNIVERSITY A member of the Pennsylvania Pe State System of High Higher Education www.esu.edu �SPORTS 18 NOVEMBER 6, 2007 Commentary G AME OF THE WEEK Dallas Cowboys v. New York Giants NFC east rivals battle in midseason rematch Double Take BY TIM SEIGFRIED Beacon Asst. Sports Editor These days, Tony Romo has reason to smile. And it isn’t because he’s dated American Idol-winner Carrie Underwood, actress Sophia Bush, or that he is currently being linked to pop-star Britney Spears. No, it’s much more than that. Romo, the quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys who has been rather successful since his debut last season, was recently rewarded by Dallas with a six-year, $67.5 million dollar contract after leading the Cowboys to wins in 12 of his first 17 starts. Romo, who became the starter last season after Drew Bledsoe struggled with the position, led the Cowboys to the playoffs against the Seattle Seahawks, where he nearly led Dallas to a game-winning drive, before fumbling the snap on a go-ahead field goal attempt. The Cowboys would lose the game, 21-20, and Romo went into the off-season with a cloud of infamy above his head. It appears that Romo has put that moment behind him, as he has led the Cowboys to a 6-1 start this season, including a dramatic, come-from-behind victory against the Buffalo Bills that began with 18 seconds on the clock and ended with a game-winning, 53yard field goal from Nick Folk. This season, Romo appears to be primed for another appearance in the Pro-Bowl, as he has been one of the top quarterbacks in the NFC, where he is leading in quarterback rating (95.6) and touchdowns (16), and is second in passing yards (1,984), where he is trailing only Brett Favre, who has 2,046 yards. As a result, he has led the Cowboys to the top of the NFC East, where they lead all of the NFC in points per game (32.4) and yards per game (402.0), where they also rank in the top five in passing yards per game (271.6) and rushing yards per game (130.4). Romo is aided by his solid group of widereceivers, including Terrell Owens (34 rec, 556 yards, 5 TD), Patrick Crayton (26 rec, 400 yards, 4 TD), and tight-end Jason Whitten, who is leading all NFC tight-ends in receptions (42) and yards per game (77.1), while ranking second in touchdowns (4), behind only Washington’s Chris Cooley (5). On the ground, the Cowboys have been solid; averaging just over 130 yards per game, with eight total rushing touchdowns on the season, due to the contributions of running-backs Marion Barber (84 carries, 479 yards, 5 TD) and Julius Jones (78, 296, 1 TD). The one-two punch of the passing and running game has been the key to success for Dallas all season, and they will need to keep it going on Sunday against the New York Giants, whose 6-2 record puts them in second place right behind the Cowboys in the NFC East. The two teams met earlier this season during week one, in a contest that saw over 300 yards passing and 4 touchdowns from both Tony Romo and Eli Manning, which ended when the Cowboys held off a late-rally from the Giants to win the game, 45-35. The Giants, who suffered that loss to the Cowboys earlier this season, have been playing great as of late, winning their last six games by a combined score of 152-79, including three games in which they held the opposing offense to ten points or less. Their offense is anchored by the young Eli Manning, who has yet to solidify himself as one of the best quarterbacks in the game. His 13 touchdowns trail only Tony Romo, but his completion rate of under 60% and his 9 interceptions (3rd most in the NFC) still leave doubt in the minds of many. However, that hasn’t stopped the Giants’ offense from being one of the Steph examines the stats that truly matter... BY STEPHANIE GERCHMAN Beacon Asst. Opinion Editor most effective in the NFC, scoring 25.0 points per game, which ranks behind only the Dallas Cowboys. The best weapon in New York’s arsenal has been wide-receiver Plaxico Burress, who leads all NFC receivers in touchdowns (8), while ranking in the top ten in receptions (37) and yards (564). Along with Burress, the Giants have turned to the tandem of Brandon Jacobs and Derrick Ward, who have combined for 898 yards and four touchdowns this season. Another key in the Giants’ offense is the presence of tight-end Jeremy Shockey, whose 358 yards and two touchdowns this season have put him in the middle-of-thepack among NFC tight-ends, but a big game from Shockey could tip the scales in New York’s favor. The real strength for the Giants this season has been their ability to slow down their opponents passing game by allowing just 197.5 yards per game this season. The key to the game will be whether or not the Giants can successfully stop Tony Romo’s passing game. The Giants will be able to put pressure on Romo, as they lead the NFC in sacks with 28, while having two cornerbacks in Aaron Ross (23 tackles, 3 INT) and Sam Madison (39 tackles, 2 INT), who will be able to slow down the Cowboys downfield. In the end, look for Romo and company to struggle early against the Giants, but a strong second half should lead the Cowboys to victory. The Pick: Dallas Cowboys: 22 New York Giants: 13 This week when I got the e-mail telling me which teams to write about, I noticed something a bit odd. Tim gave me three teams instead of two. The part that is even stranger is that he gave me three FAKE teams. Instead of e-mailing him back telling him “I am not that stupid, I know fake teams when I see them and I know that only two teams play at once” I decided to humor him and go with his suggestions. The first team I was given was the “Houston Oilers.” What a joke. Who would name a team after people who oil things, a type of ship, or a worker in an oil plant? I mean at least the Steelers are named after workers who work with a tough, durable material. The Oilers are named after workers who work with a liquid. Honestly, I would assume they would lose because of their slippery hands. Next up is the “Oklahoma City FrameMakers.” The first thing I think when I hear that type of name is that they weren’t even good enough to create the artwork or photography in the frame. They just got to make the ignored part around the outside of the artwork. They sound like a second rate team to me. I would imagine they would name their cheerleaders the Frame-Hangers or something equally as ridiculous. The team that stood out to me was the Arizona Alliterations. As an english major, I may be biased to this team. I love words and alliteration makes reading things aloud so much easier because of the flow. Read this sentence out loud: “Steph seems to be a spectacular sports writer.” All of those S’s are like music to one’s ears. Arizona Alliterations has a nice ring to it and I think this is the perfect way for a team to win, intelligence. It seems to me that the Arizona Alliterations are always aimed for another victory. �SPORTS NOVEMBER 6, 2007 19 Athlete of the Week Jason Prushinski BY CARLTON HOLMES Beacon Sports Editor For two years, Jason Prushinski has taken notes from the lower portion of the Colonels depth chart while the more flashy receivers hit the field and performed their jaw-dropping plays. Graduation has pushed those snazzy players off the field making Prushinski the number one receiver and the show has certainly continued. In the beginning of the season, the coaches had different plans for the 6’4” target from Wapwallopen (PA) by giving him the cold shoulder when it came to starting Prushinski at wide receiver. But a small conversation with head coach Frank Sheptock, along with coming up with big plays down the stretch earlier in the season, has turned things around for him. “I went up to coach before one of the games and I was like, ‘even though I’m not starting I still feel like the guys are coming up to me for advice,’ said Prushinski. “I feel like I have embraced that.” His work ethic in practice, following a much-needed chat with the head coach, has garnered him a starting spot ever since. “The biggest challenge has been going from a role player to someone to who has to make the big play,” said Prushinski. “The past couple years, everybody has been looking at Jimmy (Jordan) and Stephon (Burgette), because they know they’ll make the big play. Now it’s the reverse role and everybody is looking at me to make the big play.” Prushinski, proud member of the “Chea Squad”, leads the Colonels pack of wide receivers with 641 yards on 46 catches. He also leads the team with three touchdowns this season. On Saturday, Prushinski was the main recipient of Karaffa’s outstanding performance by hauling in seven catches for 100 yards in the Colonels 27-24 win over Delaware Valley. 322 Number of passing yards thrown by senior quarterback Al Karaffa. He completed 28 passes on 47 attempts in the Colonels Saturday win over DelVal. The Colonels opened the fourth quarter with possession trailing DelVal 24-20. The team would later score seven points on that same drive with the help of a 31-yard reception by Prushinski from Karaffa to put the Colonels at DelVal’s 15 yard line. It has been similar plays to his 31-yard reception that has Prushinski leading the Colonels in receiving. Although Prushinski has focused on becoming better, he still has time to joke around. “The biggest part about him is that he makes playing fun,” said junior wide receiver Gennaro Zangardi. “He’s a funny guy and if you need a big play, he comes out and makes a big play for you.” The Beacon/ Gino Troiani Sophomore mid-fielder Sean Vona tippy-toes around the ball as senior Andy Curry darts down field in the Colonels Halloween home loss to King’s College. WRESTLING Courtesy of Jason Prunshinski Aside from hard-hitting tackles in football, wrestling is arguably the most physical sport out there. Two viciously aggressive men seeking to power-slam their opponents to the mat, square off in a circle with no ropes to escape under. No acts. No gimmicks. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin won’t be crashing any beers together, nor will “Degeneration X” be crossing their arms to direct attention to their private parts to offend their foes. Just grab the man across the circle, slam him, pin his back to the mat, let the referee do his job and raise your arm in glory. Speaking of wrestling, the Colonels will begin their season with a tournament hosted by King’s College this Saturday at 11am. Be there, or be square. Sports Editor/Carlton Holmes NUMBERS OF THE WEEK 13 Total number of saves by senior goalie Liz Pauly in the Lady Colonels first round loss to Arcadia University (PA). Pauly snatched 65 saves during her final season as goalkeeper for the team. 115 2 Tackles by senior All-AmeriTotal number of can, Kyle Follweiler, this seawomen’s soccer players son for the Colonels. Of all, named to the ESPN The Mag81 are unassisted. Follweiler azine Academic All-District II scans the field from the middle Team, senior Briana Bertoni linebacker position. and junior Catherine Simone. �Sports NOVEMBER 6, 2007 20 Football builds momentum with big road win The Beacon/Gino Troiani Karaffa sparks the charts against Aggies with strong passing performance BY GERARD HETMAN Beacon Staff Writer Heading into Saturday’s road contest, the Wilkes University football team was looking to pick up a victory against a program that it has battled for MAC conference supremacy during much of this decade. At the end of the day, the Colonels left for home having claimed another chapter in this fiercely-contested series. Quarterback Al Karaffa posted a career high in passing yards with 322, while throwing two touchdowns and running for another, as Wilkes picked up a 27-24 victory over the Aggies of Delaware Valley College Saturday at James Work Stadium in Doylestown. With the win, Wilkes sees its overall record improve to 4-5, while moving to 4-2 in MAC play. “I’m extremely proud of the total team effort our players put forth today,” Wilkes head coach Frank Sheptock said after the victory. “We’ve grown and matured tremendously as a program in the past few weeks. I’m proud of the young men we have in this program who have stayed focus through the difficult times for us this season.” After receiving the opening kickoff, Wilkes would put together a 16-play, 89-yard drive that concluded with Al Karaffa’s one-yard scoring run on fourth down to put Wilkes on top 6-0. After a Delaware Valley field goal, running back Sean Madden would take a third-down screen pass from Karaffa for a 52-yard touchdown and a 13-3 Wilkes advantage. “I just caught the ball and no one was in front of me” Madden said of his touchdown jaunt. “Our offense kept it rolling even when things got tough today.” Delaware Valley used several big plays to take the lead in the second quarter. The Aggies started by scoring on a third-down touchdown strike from the Wilkes 10yard line. On the ensuing Wilkes possession, Karaffa was hit while throwing and the ball which was intercepted and returned for a touchdown, putting the Aggies on top 17-13. However, the Colonels were able to regain the lead when Drew Letcavage broke several tackles and found the end zone from 14 yards out. The PAT gave Wilkes a 24-20 lead at halftime. Early in the second half, Delaware Valley pieced together an 8-play, 72-yard drive that allowed them to retake the lead when Matt Cook picked up an 8-yard touchdown run. The PAT pushed the Aggies lead to 24-20, but Wilkes responded to move in front for good on the next possession. Karaffa found Jason Prushinski for gains of 13 and 31 yards to set up Alex Pearson for a 6-yard touchdown run and a 27-24 lead. The Wilkes defense held off the Aggies on each of their last three possessions to secure the victory. Karaffa finished the afternoon connecting on 28 of 47 passes, with Prushinski hauling in seven catches for 100 yards. Madden caught five passes for 81 yards, while Pearson picked up 57 yards rushing on 27 carries. Kyle Follweiler led the defensive charge for Wilkes with 11 tackles and two sacks, while David Grega and Rex Harris had five tackles each. Wilkes will look to finish the 2007 campaign on a high note when it hosts Widener, who clinched the 2007 MAC title last week, for a 1:00 showdown on Saturday at Ralston Field. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon Newspaper Collection, 1947-present Description An account of the resource <p>This is Wilkes University's <em>Beacon</em> Newspaper collection, 1947-present. We also have digitized copies of the <em>Beacon's</em> predecessors, <em>The Bucknell Bison Stampede</em>, 1934-1935 and <em>The Bucknell Beacon</em>, 1936-1947 June. It should be noted that Wilkes University does not have a complete set of issues for the Bucknell Bison Stampede and Bucknell Beacon. For researchers who are interested in seeing the complete issues for these publications, please contact <a href="https://researchbysubject.bucknell.edu/scua">Bucknell University's Special Collections Department</a>.</p> <p></p> <p>Missing Issues:</p> <p>1947 August 8th<br />1947 September 5th<br />1947 October 3rd<br />1947 October 17th<br />1947 October 31st<br />1947 November 21st<br />1947 December 19th<br />1948 September 9th<br />1950 April 28th<br />1953 April 10th<br />1962 February 2nd</p> Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Beacon staff is comprised of Wilkes University students who are advised by a full-time faculty member of the Communication Studies Department. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1934-present Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright of the Wilkes Beacons is retained by Wilkes University. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Professor Emeritus Harold Cox digitized the collection from 1934-1970 and created a <a href="https://beaconarchives2.wilkes.edu/">legacy website</a>. Digital Archives student John Jenkins digitized the collection from 1970-present. Special thanks goes to Communication Studies Professor Dr. Kalen Churcher, Editor-in-Chief Kirsten Peters, Beacon staff member, Emily Cherkauskas, and other Beacon staff for their help in acquiring digitized copies of the Beacons from 2006 onward. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon 2007 November 6th Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2007 November 6 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Communication Studies Department Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Wilkes University https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/9c26374e1df81c1877d0b752d94b9f99.pdf e2fc954a3a8b357c896cda4929f27d39 PDF Text Text Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA The THE NEWS OF TODAY REPORTED BY THE JOURNALISTS OF TOMORROW OCTOBER 30, 2007 In This Issue... Traffic Ticket$ page 6 Sexy HaHoween CosttJ-mes www.wilkesbeacon.com Volume 60 Issue 7 SLC 166 not conducive to learning, faculty say Age, initial design cited as causes of technical problems BY NICOLE FRAIL Beacon Asst. News Editor According to a December 2006 2-FIX log, facilities officials received a complaint about cooling issues in Stark Learning Center, Room 166. Bob Swetts, Manager of Capital Assets, said a team addressed the issue, but complaints from Wilkes faculty and students about cooling and a number of other issues have continued. SLC 166, known as the Novartis Amphitheater to some and “the pit” to others, was last renovated in 1998. “During the renovations, SLC 166 received new desks, new computer wiring, floor coverings, lighting improvements, painting and the latest smart classroom... The AC units were part of the renovations or added shortly afterward,” said Paul Kapriskie, Manager of Capital Projects. Despite upgrades to the smart technology this past summer, there have not been any major updates since ‘98. Members of Wilkes faculty who hold classes and meetings in SLC 166 are not satisfied with the current The Beacon / Gino Troiani state of the classroom. Students sit elbow-to-elbow in SLC 166, also known as “the pit.” See SLC page 5 Portal deemed success, despite limitations page 9 BY CHRISTINE ZAVASKAS Beacon Asst. Lifestyles Editor HALLOWEEN MOVIE SPECIAL .----:---,'[ NOTHI JfPA IN ' r l/Fa :1 t-C' ~ .~:J r~, ~~~ ~,.. ✓• • ~-=-::.~ page 12 ,. Inside News................................1-5 Opinion.............................6-8 Lifestyles.........................9-11 Arts & Entertainment....12-15 Sports...........................16-20 The MyWilkes Portal fully launched on the first day of August this year as a way to provide single login access to online resources for the University community. Now that it has been in operation for half a semester, the campus has had a chance to form assessments of the Portal’s performance so far. Mike Salem, Chief Information Officer of IT, and Chris Bailey, Director of Campus Support Services, both feel that progress with the portal is going well and at the level they expected it to be at this point. However, Salem said, “[There have been a] couple of bumps here and there. We’re fighting a performance bug in the software right now.” One of the hurdles Salem mentioned occurred recently when the email link on the Wilkes University website was redirected to connect through the portal, but within a few days was changed back. “That had an issue with how many people were hitting the access point at the same time…” said Bailey. Once this problem is fixed, students can expect the link to once again connect to the portal. The redirecting of the email is part of a gradual transition that will move the University towards exclusive use of the portal. Christine Seitzinger, Associate Director of Marketing Communications, said, “The old way of doing things…is still live and will remain so at least until the end of the semester…For now we’ve created this transition period to a new system to eliminate any of that hesitancy to change.” However, even a gradual change seems undesirable to some. Richard Read, a senior business administration major, who uses the portal mainly to check his practice schedule said, “I got used to separate logins, and I guess people are creatures of habit…It’s just, it’s something new and I don’t really want to use it.” Despite these feelings, he did think the concept will be beneficial in the long run. Several other students liked the idea of the portal, but were frustrated by technical problems. “I guess it’s good, except when it doesn’t let you log on to check your mail,” said Megan Judge, a freshman elementary education major. Jeremy Weinstock, a sophomore accounting major, thinks that the portal is a good change overall, but said, “I’ve tried to log on to my email and it gives me an error sometimes and usually I have to refresh it three or four times…” Faculty have also experienced difficulties while using the portal. Michael Elias, math/ computer science adjunct professor, posts quizzes, review information, and a link to his website on the Portal. “I would say about half of the time, it’s too slow...The part that really gets me is when I get a message saying ‘Too many log ons, try again later.’…In my quiz this morning, there were four in the first class that couldn’t get in the normal way and had to go in through WebCT on the original Wilkes homepage.” However, like the students, Elias is enthusiastic about the convenience the portal has the potential to offer. In response to comments about many technical problems with the portal, Bailey said, “I don’t know if I would agree with ‘a lot’ [of technical problems]… with any new technology tool you are always going to have certain See PORTAL page 4 �NEWS OCTOBER 30, 2007 2 Another Starbucks in town Search for SHE building Fire on Main St. Portal 3 3 4 5 Class podcasting offers students new options for learning BY ANDEE SCARANTINO Beacon Editor-in-Chief At some point in the future, teachers may simply be able to provide their students with a special electronic file that instantly downloads what they need to know into students’ brains. But until that day, innovative teachers will simply experiment with the latest technology can offer to enhance their students’ experiences with class materials. Take Dr. James Culhane, Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, for example. Culhane, who was the recipient of the 2007-08 Carpenter Award for excellence in teaching, has been making strides to enhance the classroom learning experience since he started at Wilkes. First, he developed a concept of integration in the classroom with his innovative Pharmacotherapeutics class. Culhane describes the class as an integration of pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, pathophysiology and therapeutics, which are taken as separate, three credit courses in more traditional programs. With student retention rates over a year period, this class has been integrated at Wilkes to help students better understand the material. However, course integration is not the only thing that helps student retain information in this flagship course. Culhane also utilizes podcasting to better convey information. A podcast is a digital audio file distributed usually online or to be downloaded onto an MP3player. The use of podcasting in classes to enhance lecture and/or demostrate new techniques in a variety of fields is becoming a new means of reaching students on different levels. “There has been a relatively moderate campus-wide movement to utilize podcasting to help supplement classes that professors offer. Podcasts have been very useful for a number of reasons for me personally. I’ve used podcasts to help supplement classroom mate- rial, particularly difficult material, that students tend to have trouble with. Over a period of years you kind of get a sense of... what areas students tend to have trouble with. After I identified those areas I did podcasts on them so that students could, after the lecture, download a podcast onto their MP3 player or sit at their computers and listen to a kind of alternate explanation of Beacon Podcast online at: wilkesbeacon.com the material multiple times if they needed to,” said Culhane. The other thing Culhane uses podcasting for is to cover information that he doesn’t have a lot of time to go over in class. Because an array of new drugs are introduced each year, but class time does not necessarily get longer, Culhane will do a Podcast to get the information out to students. “Dr. Culhane uses podcasts to help explain confusing topics that students might not fully understand in the time he has in class. They are used to explain complicated topics like the coagulation cascade. It is nice because you can now study in a situation where you would not be able to study with books,” said Todd Weibel, P3 Pharmacy student at Wilkes. Culhane isn’t the only one using innovative methods of teaching in the classroom. Dr. Daniel Longyhore, Assistant Professor of pharmacy practice, uses his very unique website to provide services to students. Since P4 Pharmacy majors do not have access to WebCT, which is the platform that many professors use to share podcasts with their students, Longyhore uses his website to essentially “fill the gaps.” He also holds online office hours, and using a platform called “Meebo,” can chat with his students online. Dr. Thomas Hamill, Instructor of English, also uses podcasting to help his students get a better sense of the material he covers in his classes. Hamill will produce audio files of himself reading text in Middle English, particularly Chaucer and Medieval English Literature, to give his students a better understanding of the texts. “When my students who are working with Chaucer in the Middle English, as they’re reading for the class, they can sit down with their text book and read the texts that are assigned for the class while they listen to me reading it in Middle English. They get a sense for what Middle English sounded like, and they get some reinforcement in their reading for pronunciations I want them to learn, or basic features of Middle English that I want them to pick up and acquire as part of taking the class,” said Hamill As Wilkes moves into a more technological era, Provost C. Reynold Verret seems quite optimistic. “I think in some cases podcasting may be useful, especially for things where the student may want to be able to review. In some of our online instructional modes, podcasting is a perfect mode,” said Verret. According to Verret, Wilkes is making efforts to get professors up to speed with current technology. “There are some workshops that are of help, for example, there was a recent workshop where a representative from Apple’s educational division came and gave a workshop to the faculty,” said Verret. “Also, Russel Dively, who is an instructional designer, visits departments to give a clear idea of what the common program objective [is]. He’ll meet with an academic department and visit them and act as a resource for them,” Verret added. According to the Provost, pod- casting may also be useful to University College. “I could envision podcasting being useful, for example, because much of University College involves academic support, or supplemental instruction modes. Having access to the course to review with a mentor or a tutor, to actually understand what we did not understand, may be useful.” But as with any new use of technology, some have struggled with See PODCASTING page 5 BEACON Serving the community through fair and accurate reporting while supporting the views and opinions of our readers. Editorial Staff Editor-in-Chief: Andee Scarantino Email: wilkesbeacon@gmail.com Managing Editor: Nick Podolak Email: wilkesbeacon@gmail.com News Editor: Andrew Seaman Email: news.beacon@gmail.com Op/Ed Editor: Mark Congdon Jr. Email: thebeacon.oped@gmail.com Lifestyles Editor: Alison Woody Email: beacon.lifestyles@gmail.com A&E Editor: Marissa Phillips Email: thebeaconae@gmail.com Sports Editor: Carlton Holmes Email: beaconsports@gmail.com Photo Editor: Cara Koster Advertising Managers: Stephanie Yachim Dana Zlotucha Email: thebeacon.ads@gmail.com Advisor: Dr. Andrea Breemer Frantz Established in 1936 PA Newspaper Association Member Printed on Tuesdays during the academic school year. 130 S. River St. First Floor, Conyngham Hall, Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 (570) 408-5903 wilkesbeacon@gmail.com www.wilkesbeacon.com �OCTOBER 30, 2007 NEWS New Starbucks slated to locate across from existing Starbucks 3 Wilkes/King’s Barnes and Noble already offers franchise cafe BY ANDREW SEAMAN Beacon News Editor Starbucks Coffee has applied for a zoning permit indicating that it has plans to put a new store in downtown Wilkes-Barre - directly across the street from the Wilkes/ King’s Barnes & Noble, which already sells Starbucks coffee. One question that looms over this proposed business plan: can the business survive right across the street from another business that sells the same product? Diana Hess, project manager for Starbucks in King of Prussia applied for the zoning permit and said that she is new with the company and didn’t know a lot about the project. John Chaump, who manages the Wilkes/ King’s Barnes & Noble, acknowledged that a new Starbucks across the street from the first in downtown Wilkes-Barre could cause a loss of business to the original. “I think you might have some customers that are going to go over there, that would normally come here, but really, ultimately, I think it is going to help the whole downtown, which is going to help my business.” Dr. Anthony Liuzzo, professor in the Jay S. Sidhu School of Business, explained that the project Starbucks is venturing into is unusual but not shocking. He noted that while it is unusual for the same company selling the exact same product as another, to place a second cafe across from another within the same company, it is also common. “Like-businesses tend to operate very close to one another… and so under the economic theory of locational decision making, it is a smart move, actually, to open up a restaurant near one of your competitors. So again it is kind of usual and unusual... in this par- business around them because that’s a type of business that you want walk-in customers and if you are driving all the people away, how are you going to be successful? So I would like to think that Starbucks knows BARNES&NOBLE ~ r 'Prrnully Brew IUCICS COFFEE • The Beacon / Cara Koster ticular situation.” Chaump echoed Liuzzo’s thoughts, “I would have to imagine that a huge corporation like Starbucks is going to make smart business decisions.” He then added, “They’re not going to put themselves in a place that is going to ultimately fail quickly, and they are not going to put themselves in a position where they are going to hurt the what they are doing.” Another point that Chaump stressed is that the Barnes & Noble bookstore business is different than Starbucks. For example, Wilkes/King’s Barnes & Noble has a Barnes & Noble Cafe, which serves Starbucks Coffee. “It’s the same product, the quality of the drink that you would get here or there should be exactly the same.” Chaump added that he believes his store can offer a wider variety of items. “We have Pepsi and Coke, we have Herrs and Frito and every kind of chip imaginable... in our store,” he said and also pointed out that at Barnes & Noble, students can use their flex dollars on their student ID. Liuzzo agreed that Barnes & Noble and Starbucks could be going after two different customers. “Maybe Starbucks feels that the Barnes & Noble Starbucks doesn’t have enough draw to it to persons outside the college community. And they want to draw in consumers that are not college students, and the Barnes & Noble feels, ‘Well the college students are looking to come here because they are buying their coffee mugs and tshirts, and they are going to want to have their coffee right here.’ So that is probably a good way of justifying it.” As for the students, will it be worth traveling across the street to the new Starbucks? Jackie Butwinski, a psychology major, said, “I would probably rather go to the Barnes & Nobles Starbucks, because I will be there more often anyway.” Erin Sweet, who is studying integrated media and business administration, agreed, “I would probably, most likely, go to Barnes & Noble, just because I could use my flex dollars there and when I go to Barnes & Noble I am not just stuck buying coffee.” A representative from Starbucks and the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber did not respond to The Beacon’s request for comment on this matter. Search continues for SHE building location, design BY AMY FUSCO Beacon Correspondent The quest for the location of a new health sciences building on Wilkes University’s campus is underway. For the past few years, administrators have acknowledged they are in the process of developing a plan for the anticipated Science, Health Sciences, and Engineering building, alternately dubbed the “SHE” building. According to Michael Wood, Executive Director of Advancement, there has been a “feasibility study underway with the architects to determine how to accommodate the faculty and students of all the sciences.” Along with Wood, there are a number of members of the project team, including John Pesta, Director of Capital Projects; Dr. Bernard Graham, Dean of the Nesbitt School of Pharmacy and Nursing; Dr. Ken Klemow, Professor of Biology; Dr. Marleen Troy, Associate Professor of Environmen- tal Science; Dr. Dale Bruns, Dean of the College of Science and Engineering; Dr. Deborah Zbegner, Associate Professor of Nursing; Dr. Art Kibbe, Chair of Pharmaceuitical Sciences and Dr. Reynold Verret, Provost. Furthermore, Becky Mullens, an architect from Sabatini Architects, is aiding in developing building design ideas. However, right now there is no concrete location for the planned building. One option would be to build it facing South Franklin Street behind the Henry Student Union building. Another option is to renovate a section of the Stark Learning Center building and add new labs to it. Bruns explained that a possibility would be “the combination of a new lab complex in place of Stark, but nothing is on the map as of now.” In selecting a location, student and faculty opinions are key components because it gives the project team an educational perspective. Justin Balint, a sophomore pharmacy major, commented, “The building should be located near the student union building because it’s a nicer location and it expands the campus.” Nick Koch, also a pharmacy major, believes “the location doesn’t matter as much as the quality of the building itself.” In order to select the location, the design of the building is taken into consideration. Pesta explained that a few of the project team members “take field trips to other institutions of similar size as Wilkes University.” Several colleges they visited were Drexel University, Swarthmore, and Dickinson. Traveling to these different institutions enables the committee to expand on their ideas and form new ones about design specifications. One design idea involves the concept of sustainability of the environment on Wilkes campus. The project team wants the new SHE building to be “green,” which means it will be energy efficient and less harmful to the environment. One “green” feature could be a solar-paneled roof. Troy, an environmental engineer, and Klemow, a plant ecologist, are key consultants in achieving sustainability within the new building design. An environmental committee consisting of students is also there to aid in the development of a “green” building. The Capital Campaign, which is currently underway and aiming to raise funds in part for this major project, is in its early stages. �NEWS OCTOBER 30, 2007 4 Fire under Main St. knocks out power PORTAL from FRONT PAGE issues with deployment. This is the first semester we’ve had it so we didn’t really know what the use patterns were going to be… Hopefully it’s not enough to scare people away.” Late last week, Salem sent a message to campus on today@wilkes acknowledging, “The technical difficulties recently experienced by some portal users could be attributed to several different factors but most likely was caused by an increase in the average number of portal users. Because the software was recently released and interfaces with numerous university systems, it would have been hard for engineers to anticipate what these problems would be.” He continued that software engineers are continuing to work on the problems with intermittent “error” messages users receive during high traffic times. Both Salem and Bailey mentioned that the majority of feedback they have received about the portal has been positive. Bailey also noted that two senior students even told him they were upset the portal had not been available earlier in their college careers. In the future, students can expect work on the portal and the rest of the website to continue. “There will continually be enhancements, small ones, but there will be this continuous maturing of the portal site. Then the biggest thing the students are going to see is starting in the spring when we take a significant look at the website and how that is redeveloped,” says Bailey. BY ANDREW SEAMAN Beacon News Editor A part of downtown Wilkes-Barre lost power for most of the day on Saturday, October 26, when an underground electrical cable fire started mid-morning under South Main Street in front of University Center on Main and University Towers. Public Safety officials said, “This was a small electrical fire in a transformer under South Main Street this morning. This fire impacted electric service to the UCOM Garage, University Service Center and Public Safety Office.” Witnesses say they saw flames and smoke coming from beneath the street through a manhole, the cover of which blew off, struck a Wilkes Public Safety vehicle, and left a dent. Main Street between Northampton and South Streets was closed Saturday. Graduate classes held in the UCOM on Saturday were dismissed early because of the smoke and threat of power loss. Because of the location of the buidlings on the power grid, some lost power and some did not. Students living in University Towers did not lose power as of Saturday late afternoon; however, the Public Safety building next door, Bart & Urby’s and downtown traffic lights were all out. Workers continued to try and restore power into Sunday. More pictures and video online: SSOHJ JOI/ 0011//J JJ/JOd www.wilkesbeacon.com The Beacon/ Andrew Seaman Clu -_ Birt 0111: ■■ 72 South Main St. W ..-I _ s- B arr __ 0 '.1'°'5· onday-TI1.u sd .Y l Dill .'"day . - a .d y 10am-1 · p ayl.2 - p 1 1 . ..,. ---~tmg~ar ? eting? P .a r _? sw r · o al these - a 1znos" Q SSJHJJP# PD q -- -- - t "II' o . ·- • •• ZNOS CAT -· NG t : rill g tr: ays. ". a 1:•ng · t I9~ 9 Ca �OCTOBER 30, 2007 SLC from FRONT PAGE The cooling system, which is comprised of two air conditioning units mounted on the back wall of the room, is at the heart of many of the faculty’s complaints. “I teach in there the first three weeks of the semester so I can only speak for my experiences… [but] that classroom is unbearably hot,” said Dr. James Culhane, Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences. “I know that I am soaked when I am done lecturing after two hours and the students are uncomfortable.” Dr. Dan McCune, Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, agreed. “It’s almost always too hot in there, even during the winter months.” Another issue with the cooling system in SLC 166 is the noise level of the units when they are turned on. While Culhane compares the noises to being on the “business end of a 747,” Payal Patel, a P3 Pharmacy student, claims that the vibrations “sound like someone’s doing construction work and, of course, it takes months to get used to.” McCune pointed out that if a professor is soft spoken or doesn’t realize that the students seated in the back of the room can’t hear, students may struggle in class. SLC 166 is typically used for classes of 30 to 70 students so if hearing is difficult, switching seats is often not an option. In addition to complaints about the cooling system, it is also uncertain if the thermostats work properly. When checked, one device was turned completely off and another was flashing a message of “P-6,” that even puzzled Swetts. “I know one issue we often find in [166] is that people turn the air conditioners off PODCASTING from page 2 various aspects to podcasting, such as students neglecting to take notes, assuming they can hear the lecture again later to study for exams. Verret said that while podcasting does present information to students, students have to choose to listen to them. The podcasts do not learn for the students, but rather, the students learn for themselves. Just as students select important information from in-class lectures to write down, they must do the same with the podcasts. “I think you’ll always have people that will take a look at technology and see the negative side of it. I think it’s important for professors to take a look at technology, find out what they can use to help facilitate student learning, and use that,” said Culhane. Hamill also agreed that technology can be NEWS [with the] switches on the walls,” said Swetts. “The reason we don’t lock those switches is that some professors don’t like the noise from them.” Swetts also added, “Those are two independent units and if people mess with the position on the thermostats, you can actually get into a situation where you will run simultaneous heating and cooling… They can start fighting each other so that’s why the lock boxes [on the thermostats] are there.” In addition to issues with cooling and noise levels, Dr. Arthur Kibbe, Chairman and Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, noticed that the outlets for power and internet hookup have never appeared to work. In addition to the technical issues, the white boards are now gray and “completely destroyed [with a] residual ooze on them,” said Culhane. In addition the podium is placed too close to the front wall, the steep set up of the room enables students to easily see down below them which is a concern when giving tests, and the accessibility of the seats is almost nonexistent. “The seats are incredibly hard to get into if someone is sitting next to the seat you want to [sit in],” said Jeff Niemiec, a sophomore mechanical engineering student. “Also, people stretch their feet out from rows behind you, and I’ve been kicked in the head a couple of times.” The slope of the classroom and the distance from the students makes Culhane feel as if he is a vendor in a baseball stadium, while Dr. Liuzzo, Professor of Business and Economics, said, “You almost have this feeling that you’re in a Roman Forum Coliseum and that people are going to give you thumbs up or thumbs down and the lion’s going to come out.” In the past, both McCune and Culhane helpful in the classroom, if used correctly. “I’m somewhat skeptical of technology in the classroom to certain level. I think it can be very useful, transformative, illuminating, and often profoundly transformational. My concern with technology as a vice to education in the classroom is when it’s used [as] some sort of functional replacement for the classroom. My sense of technology is fundamentally supplemental. I would never ever work to use technology as a replacement for some type of work that we do in the classroom,” he said. 5 have called 2-FIX about the cooling and noise issues. They claim that facilities has always responded, but the work they accomplish never appears to endure. “I’ve called facilities throughout the years multiple times, but I don’t know what the real problem is. I’ve come to accept the fact that it’s going to be miserable in that classroom, but I deal with it,” said Culhane. “It’s just not very conducive to learning.” Because faculty members aren’t reporting any problems, Chris Bailey, Director of Campus Support Services, said that there’s no way of knowing that something needs to be addressed. “The building itself is difficult because of the age of it. It does continually need maintenance,” he explained. “Are we going to put large amounts of money into it to address a comfort issue? Probably not, given that we will be taking the building down at some point in the foreseeable future… [But] we’re not going to ignore or neglect the building and we will address facilities issues as they are raised to us. A lot of the times people will make certain complaints about things, but if they don’t use the 2-FIX system, then we don’t have the opportunity to address them.” Swetts agreed and also added: “When a work order is called in, the more informa- tion the better. The more detailed and specific information will help [workers] know what needs to be fixed.” Until this past week, the last noise complaint facilities received was earlier this month, but the last cooling call was made nearly a year ago. Having been presented with the complaints by the faculty and students on Monday, October 22, Swetts took immediate action. “I met with Dr. Kibbe this afternoon [Monday] and set the fan speeds on the air conditioners to low,” he said Monday evening. “I also put in a work order for one of our technicians to check the operation of both air conditioners. He will also look into the P-6 code [seen] on the thermostat. As for the outlets on the tables, we are going to have our electricians verify operation of the receptacles and possibly install labels indicating 120 Volt Laptop Receptacle. Currently this room is not wired for Ethernet connectivity at the desks but the lobby of Stark does have wireless access.” While issues with the slope of the room, seating, and stairs will most likely not be addressed in the near future, technical and mechanical problems should always be reported using 2-FIX. “We can’t fix it if we don’t know,” stressed Swetts. ST DE~H U I G FORTH - 21 tCENTIJR'Y CAll: BILL tlEN Y at 2.15-768-4619 OR ( HE(jK THE WEB SmE FOR IN F-mtMATION 1 �Opinion OCTOBER 30, 2007 6 Chewing in class Angry Rant Colbert for President? Your Voices Should Halloween decor be politcally correct? BY THE BEACON EDITORIAL BOARD Imagine for moment that you’re a junior in high school, and there was a rift between the boys and girls on the homecoming committee as to whether or not the class float’s theme should be “Ghostbusters” or “Peter Pan.” Outraged by the overwhelming number of votes “Peter Pan” received, one of the class officers suggested that dissenters hang “Mr. Pan” from a noose. Though this idea may seem quite humorous to some, the concept could be offensive to others. Was this class officer guilty of committing a hate crime against a Disney character? As silly as this may sound, it is just another testament as to how politically correct this country has become. Currently, in the suburbs of Chicopee, Illinois, a semi-realistic looking witch dangles from a tree in a man’s front yard by a noose in recognition of Halloween. Harmless decoration, right? Wrong. According to Kelly Lynch (yes, that is her real last name), who happens to be a practicing witch, the display constitutes a hate crime against her religion. And while neighbors laugh at her ridiculous plea, she plans to protest in front of the man’s house if it is not taken down immediately. According to the Anti-Defamation League website, a hate crime is defined as “an attempted act by any person against the person or property of another individual or group which in any way constitutes an expression of hostility toward the victim because of his or her race, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, gender or ethnicity.” The Supreme Court has also ruled that one may put a symbol in their yard because it’s their right of freedom of expression, though there is some gray area when it comes to neighbors who may feel threatened by the symbol. Wicca is a legitimate practice and form of religion in United States and around the world, but this scenario is a far cry from the Jena Six. The symbol is disturbing, granted. And we can understand how Wiccans would be offended by the caricatures of witches during the holiday. However, it’s important for people to remember that the caricatures of witches are in no way representative of the real thing. Practicing Wiccans most likely do not dress up Stevie Nick’s style with long, pointed hats and leather trench coats, as the witch hanging in this man’s yard portrays. They most likely don’t have green, wart-covered skin and curved, parrot noses either. Political correctness, which takes into account who may be offended by a particular public statement and to what degree, ultimately seems to limit too much in situations like these. Soon, trick-ortreaters will need to first interview folks in the homes where they will be begging for candy to make sure that their pirate, devil, or ladybug costume won’t offend seafaring, Christian entomologists. In the end, some images may push at the bounds of taste, certainly, but Ms. Lynch needs to talk to her neighbor and learn whether his motivation really was meanspirited. In Puritan times in Salem, Massachusetts, witches were “burned at the stake” because of religious prosecution. At that time, there was no such thing as freedom of speech. Ms. Lynch should be grateful for the fact that she can profess her faith freely, just as her neighbor can also freely express his celebration of Halloween. Traffic tickets = Big business and revenue BY GINO TROIANI Beacon Staff Photographer Gino Troiani/The Beacon I would just like to say that the ludicrous values and percentages that I discovered while writing this piece made me sick to my stomach. Traffic tickets have become a main source of revenue for both local government and big business. According to the National Motorist Association, between 25 and 50 million tickets were issued last year, and at an average of $150 a pop, that ads up to around $3.75 to $7.5 billion in generated revenue. For many small towns and cities, traffic violations are a quick and easy way to accumulate money for the annual budget. I honestly cannot recall how many parking tickets I’ve received since moving from the sticks to the big city of Wilkes-Barre, but in the larger picture, it seems that big business- stay up for the next three years. So es have also jumped on the band- why wouldn’t the insurance comwagon as well. panies want to donate radar guns? Last year Geico insurance com- This multimillion-dollar industry pany donated $20 million to police whose initial goal focused on pubdepartments in the form of new la- lic safety is now one of the most ser and radar guns. Certainly they corrupt money making scams in are looking out for the welfare the United States. of the people, right? Wrong. It is For those less fortunate who a simple equation. More tickets have already experienced the grief equal higher insurance rates, and of a speeding ticket, it is a well higher rates equal more money. If known fact that if you plead “not an average driver gets two speed- guilty” and attend a small hearing tickets ing at the over a threecounty year period, courttheir prehouse, mium is exmost of pected to rise the time by 75%. the judge To make will let things worse, you off of once the the hook, drivers’ rates dependgo up, ing on they will An unlucky student recieved 2 parking tickets! y o u r prior driving record. But you still have to pay for the court costs, which usually add up to a substantial sum. This means that the only benefit of pleading not guilty is avoiding possible points on your license, which in the long run still provides money for the local government. Today there are so many laws that pertain to driving that an officer can pull you over for virtually anything. Now, I am certainly not trying to condemn the efforts of local police officers who put their lives on the line day in and day out. I am condemning the out of control ticket writing practices whose sole purpose is to generate revenue. Face it. The numbers do add up, and this problem needs to be addressed as soon as possible for the better welfare of the citizens of Wilkes-Barre and the general population of the United States. 7 7 8 8 Beacon Poll Results Americans have a lot to worry about. The ongoing Iraq war, stock market and housing investThe following are results of a ment instability, drug busts, AIDS, poll that The Beacon conductand environmental concerns domed online this past week. The inate the nightly news reports. Is poll was unscientific, and does it any wonder that with such boldnot claim to reflect the overall face headlines other issues fail to attitudes of students on camcapture our attention? Seemingly pus. Results are based on 45 “less important” social problems responses. like homelessness, poverty, and the growing deficit tend to make inside pages, if that, because of The Beacon asked: the pressing nature of the other stories. If you any superhero One ofcould those be sidebar issues that for occasionally Halloween, which one only squeaks onto the wouldradar you is be? public animal cruelty. Recently animal cruelty has become • mainstream Wonderwoman-7% a more issue with ma• Superman-18% jor corporations, football players, and •evenBatman-13% local people stirring up • Spiderman-9% the issue. Animal cruelty involves • Hulk-2% anything from dog fighting, and • Catwoman-18% shooting whales, to killing aniWolverine-7% mals•for fur and animal testing. • problem Elektra-4% The isn’t awareness; it • more Captain America-7% is that people appear to believe• thatStorm-15% it’s okay to hurt animals for personal benefit or enjoyment. Worse, is aQuestion: small contingent Next there Week’s in the country who believe that the practice of animal crueltyold can be What was your favorite excused because of age-old school Nickelodeon show? cultural practices. Just• two ago the Makah Areweeks you Afraid of the tribe made the wire over the isDark? sue of • whaling. Double Years Dare ago the Native •American legally killed Salute tribe your Shorts whales something of a sport. • as Hey Dude The •tribeLegends suspendofitsthepractice Hiddenbecause theTemple grey whale was placed on the species itlist • endangered Clarissa Explains Alland federal government prohibited • The Secret World of whaling.Alex However, Mack in 1994, the grey•whale All came That off of the endangered• list. The Adventures of Pete The tribe a permit in and obtained Pete 1999• to Doug kill a whale which outraged animal rights groups. After a court hearing it became necessary Visit www.wilkesbeacon.com for receive a waiver to the cast tribe your tovote. Results will in order to hunt in whales. Recently, be published next week’s members of of theThe tribeBeacon. shot a grey issue whale repeatedly with a rifle before they were due to receive their waiver. The five men involved are all facing fines of up to $20,000 �OCTOBER 30, 2007 OPINION 7 Classroom is no place for spit cans: it’s not allowed BY NICOLE FRAIL Beacon Asst. News Editor Few things are more disgusting than sitting next to someone while they fill their clear, plastic bottle with dark, brown, chunky spit. The chewing tobacco itself smells, the bottle’s contents aren’t exactly appealing to the eye, and if the tobacco isn’t scented, the chewer’s breath smells god-awful. And of course the incessant sound of spurting into the bottle or cup gets irritating. According to Wilkes student handbook, “Chewing tobacco use is prohibited in all classroom buildings, as well as labs and offices. It is also prohibited in the Marts Center, UCOM, Munson Field House, the Farley Library, the Center for Performing Arts, the Student Center and University shuttles and vans.” If this is the case, why are some students armed with a bottle/cup and half a can of dip tucked behind their bottom lip or cheek when they settle down at computers in the library or at desks in classrooms? It’s not like the professors don’t notice the huge bulge in their students’ mouths when they answer their questions. I was in class about two weeks ago when I heard someone behind me spit. I glanced over my shoulder and one of the guys in the back row had a white Styrofoam cup in his hand and a rather large chunk of tobacco in his mouth. I watched the student raise his hand and respond to one of the professor’s questions and after his response, he dribbled into his little cup. First of all, I’m not ridiculing those who chew. All I’m asking is that you be mindful of the people around you. It’s bad enough that some people work up loud, thick, gross mouthfuls of mucus and spit them out while you talk to them, but now the spit is dark brown and sometimes has chunks of the tobacco in it. Either way, it’s gross. And some people who may sit next to chewers in classrooms may not want to hear and see the process for fifty minutes or more. Sure, those people could always move, but why should they when the chewer is the one doing something wrong? Chewing tobacco is not allowed in classrooms. That’s the end of it. When professors see it, they should ask them to get rid of it. If someone on the library staff sees it, they should do the same. And so should workers at Rifkin Cafe; or the women behind the help-desk in the UCOM lobby. No one is going to follow the rules if they aren’t enforced. Oh, and when I say “get rid of it,” I don’t mean take the entire chunk out of your mouth with your pointer finger and shove it in your spit-bottle or cup. I mean get up, leave the classroom, and throw it away. This behavior has to be stopped dead in its tracks. The argument is already out there: if he can chew during class, then she should be able to smoke. Smoking isn’t allowed in most buildings on campus, either, and the majority of smokers don’t have a problem following that rule, so why is it so hard to monitor your chewing? The Angry Rant: The Theory of Chuck BY TIM SEIGFRIED Beacon Asst. Sports Editor In the course of history, all great men leave their mark. Newton had gravity. Einstein had relativity. And I have the Theory of Chuck. The Theory of Chuck states that any motion picture with the name “Chuck” in the title will inevitably be awful. No ifs, ands, or buts; it’s going to be terrible. For proof, I present to you two of the “comedies” that were released by major motion picture studios: I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry and Good Luck Chuck. Not only were they awful, but they weren’t even close to being mediocre. But I digress. Chuck and Larry had all the potential in the world to be a good comedy. It starred two comedians with a track record of success: Kevin James, fresh from “The King of Queens,” and Adam Sandler, whose comedy resume is a mile long. Here’s the thing: It was terrible. Despite the pedigree of comedians in the movie, it somehow managed to elicit fewer laughs than Schindler’s List. Here’s the plot: Chuck and Larry (Sandler and James, respectively) are two New York City firefighters who are best friends and polar opposites. Chuck is a ladies man, and Larry is a widower with two children. It turns out that Larry’s life insurance benefactor was his wife, and because he didn’t do the appropriate paperwork in a certain amount of time, he is unable to have his children be the new benefactors. So he and Chuck launch a scheme so his kids can be taken care of when he dies, and that scheme is to get married to each other…or something like that, but you get the point. In a nutshell: Two straight men pretend they are gay for some reason, in hopes that humor ensues. It’s an awful plot, but it’s a comedy, so it shouldn’t matter. Not only is the movie not funny, but it is offensively not-funny that it’s almost painful to watch at some points. The first problem lies within the main characters: Sandler is supposedly a modern-day Cassanova, which is not believable for two reasons: 1. It’s Adam Sandler. 2. It’s Adam Sandler Kevin James plays a firefighter. Really? You expect me to believe that you can carry that hose on your back for ten flights of stairs? That’s less believable than you being married to Leah Remini on “The King of Queens.” Not only that, but he is a dolt of a father at home who is unable to make spaghetti for his kids, but is somehow able to hatch an elaborate scheme in which he marries his friend to get his benefits. The supporting cast doesn’t fair much better, as Jessica Biel plays a lawyer - You know what, I’m going to stop there, at the part where I said “Jessica Biel plays a lawyer.” That should give you an idea of where I’m taking this. Dan Akroyd (remember when he was funny? You remember, the 80s?) plays their boss, and Ving Rhames is another firefighter who turns out to be gay. I feel bad for Ving, he starts off playing a steely, tough, firefighter who lapses into a caricature of homosexual stereotypes at the end. He hasn’t taken it that badly since Pulp Fiction. Rob Schneider even shows up playing the most offensive Asian character since Mickey Rooney’s take in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. That of course, brings up the following question: Rob Schneider is still making movies? Anyhow, some other stuff happens that’s supposed to be funny, like Larry’s son acting really effeminate by singing show tunes and dancing, or Chuck going on a “girl’s day out” with Jessica Biel, even though he secretly likes her, or Ving Rhames dropping the soap in the shower and then singing “I’m Every Woman,” or the filmmakers laughing to themselves because they just suckered $8 out of people. At the end, there is a big scene in a courtroom where Chuck and Larry tell the truth and that people shouldn’t make fun of homosexuals. So you’re telling me that you just spent the entire movie doing that very same thing, and now you’re telling us not to? Really? How about everyone else you made fun of? Like Asians, or Italians, or AfricanAmericans, or Irish people, or straight people, or lawyers, or firefighters…you get the point. In the end, this was nothing more than a poorly executed “comedy” that turned preachy at the end, even though no one got the point because most everybody had walked out of the theatre. In Good Luck Chuck, we are treated to a similarly bad plot, wherein Charlie Connor (Dane Cook) finds out that he is a good luck charm for women who want to meet their true love. In short: get with Charlie, find true love. This plan goes awry when he meets Cam Wexler (Jessica Alba), and must make a choice about whether or not he wants to sleep with her, in fear of her meeting her true love. I had prepared a whole review of this movie and why it is awful, but in the interest of space, I’ll leave you instead with a small piece of dialogue from a scene in the beginning of the movie, where Charlie and Cam first met at a wedding. Charlie: Seriously, what do you do? Cam: Seriously, I’m a serial killer. My passion is killing people I meet at weddings. What do you do? Charlie: F.B.I. You’re under arrest. Your run is over, Ms. Wexler, if that’s your real name. Yes, it’s that bad. That dialogue might have been decent in the hands of two capable actors, but in this case, you’re cringing at the screen, vainly hoping that it’s just an elaborate hoax and that the real movie will start any second. The real issue here is that Dane Cook is still somehow popular. Two years ago, he was a somewhat well known comic who had semi-funny jokes, but now it appears that he peaked in that time and is currently on the downside of his career after releasing a mediocre-at-best HBO special and starring into two awful movies with girls named Jessica. (Employee of the Month, Good Luck Chuck) Furthermore, he has somehow become the spokesperson for Major League Baseball and is doing all of those stupid commercials that you see every three minutes. To recap: The Theory of Chuck proves to be scientifically accurate, and The Theory of Dane is well on its way. I’ll be expecting for my Nobel Peace Prize nomination any day now. �OPINION OCTOBER 30, 2007 8 Stephen Colbert for President? It’s your vote. For a while there was a rumor going around that Stephen Colbert, of The Colbert Report, would run for president. Colbert danced around the question on Larry King Live and Good Morning America. On The Daily Show on October 16, Colbert said, “Tonight I, Steven Colbert, am officially announcing that I have decided to officially consider whether or not I will announce that I am running for President of the United States.” Fifteen minutes after refusing to announce it on The Daily Show, he announced his candidacy on his own show, The Colbert Report. He only decided to run in South Carolina, meaning his name will only be on the ballot there and he is running as a “Republocrat” or Democrat and Republican. Stephen Colbert running for president is a funny thought, but who will actually vote for him? According to a survey on Comedy Central’s Indecision2008.com asking “Would you consider voting Colbert into the Oval Office?” out of 27,362 votes, 81% of the voters said, “Yes! Finally a candidate who understands how ridiculous he is.” But, a Comedy Central website is kind of biased since Colbert’s show is on that station. Facebook is targeted towards college students and there are plenty of political groups to join on the site. Barak Obama supporters created a group called “1,000,000 Strong for Obama,” with 2,391 members in his group he doesn’t touch the support that Stephen Colbert is receiving from college students. As soon as Colbert’s announcement was made he dominated the world of Facebook. His group, “1,000,000 Strong for Stephen T. Colbert” has well over one million members and they all joined within ten days of the group’s formation. While Stephen Colbert’s presidency is absolutely ridiculous there has to be something positive to come out of it. I think that he will be the reason for an increase in registered voters. Already, over 1,350 people have registered to vote due to a rockthevote. com link on “1,000,000 Strong for Stephen T Colbert.” It’s not a bad thing that people are registering to vote because of a familiar face. Years ago, there was a huge movement started to get those of age to vote called Rock the Vote. It is still being used to date Rock the Vote gets so many young people to regis- ter, through familiar faces such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Samuel L. Jackson, Madonna, P. Diddy, Justin Timberlake and The Ramones to name a few. There is no difference between the way Rock the Vote gets people to register and the way that Stephen Colbert is getting people to register except that Colbert is running for president and Rock the Vote isn’t a person, therefore can’t. The process is difficult and if Colbert doesn’t get enough support in South Carolina and doesn’t choose one party to be associated with his name won’t be on the ballot. It’s important to exercise your right to vote, but it’s even more important to know what’s going on. This isn’t the Robin Williams movie Man of the Year. The funny guy probably won’t get voted into office but it’s your choice. If you think that Colbert is an idiot or you think that he should be president I urge you to go to beavoter.org or rockthevote.org and register to vote. YOUR VOICES Dear Editor: Allow me to begin by saying that I respect an appreciate satire aimed at American culture and public policy. It’s funny. Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart are funny. Part of me understands why many people get their news from Comedy Central. It’s light, it’s fast and it’s on the same channel as cartoon children making gay jokes. In general, I don’t think the news should be drawn-out and pointlessly complex to cloud the understanding of the average viewer. It should be, as they say, “just the facts.” Though the absolute hero worship aimed at Colbert and Stewart is quickly becoming utterly ridiculous. After Colbert announced his mock presidential run, an announcement that should have reached no further than the avid Colbert Report fans, I was shocked to read about it on MSN.com. Okay, I get that it’s all a huge joke that he is running for office, but should our entire electoral process be treated like a gag? Especially with an obvious endorsement from Jon Stewart, who eagerly interviewed the former “Daily Show” correspondent the same night he announced his candidacy. Forgive me, Mr. Stewart, I realize that you like to be funny and serious on your own terms, but please pick one and go with it, because otherwise you come off like a total hypocrite. On the now infamous episode of “Crossfire,” Stewart decided it was appropriate to turn off the funny and reveal his stone serious side, specifically to make Tucker Carlson look like an even bigger jerk than the bow tie already does. He scolded the debate show for not providing real, honest and bipartisan debate for American viewers. In the same breath, he deflected criticism of his own program by continuing to promote himself as a newscaster on Comedy Central. In other words, he feels he has no need for any form of journalistic integrity since his show is meant to be purely for laughs. However, he has decided to mock the entire presidential process, along with Colbert, instead of doing his part to help clean up the mess of partisan reporting. True, he may not be required to have credible reporting on the “Daily Show,” but how about a little personal integrity? Perhaps even the courage of one’s own convictions? Stewart chooses to deny his show’s need for honest reporting, saying that if people are getting their news from Comedy Central, then we do have a problem. The reality is that some people, at least of the younger generation, are getting their news from the “Daily Show,” though I have no idea why. If Stewart feels so strongly about how the current news media is hurting America, then he should stop mocking the system Courtesy of serendipit-e.com/blog and promote his own partisan thoughts. Then again, it’s easier to cast the burden of truth and well-researched reporting on other people while you get to say what you want and go to sleep at night content in thinking that you are not a complete fraud. Your show reaches people, Mr. Stewart. Wake up and stop pretending it doesn’t. Either you are in absolute denial or you are an idiot. You cannot hide behind the thought that people shouldn’t get their news from your show and it’s every other news caster’s problem. If partisan politics in the media is such an issue today, then quit your show and start doing your part for honest and responsible journalism. Sincerely, Kristyn Ostman Wilkes University, Class of 07 A Sight for Sore Eyes by Aleksander Lapinski �LIFESTYLES OCTOBER 30, 2007 Student of the Week Tattoos 9 ‘Sexy’ adult costumes now more popular than ever tain celebrities like Paris Hilton or Lindsay Lohan, even though they have been in some trouble, a lot of girls look up to them for Media in entertainment has sparked a what ever reason they might find appropri“sexy” trend in adult Halloween costumes, ate.” “I’ve worked for Party City for eight years which has become a booming business over and I would say we’ve probably doubled in that past few years. Villain themed costumes including sexy adult sales in that time, because of parties pirate costumes, sexy mobster costumes, and more bars are having parties,” Flannery and sexy police costumes seem to be this said. On an average store basis, last year’s adult season’s popular picks according to Forcostume sales grew about 42% since 2001, play, a leading designer of according to an arsexy costumes. ticle posted by the “We look at a lot of difUSA Today, which ferent movies and films to means that adults see what’s out there,” Houare celebrating man Salem, CEO of Forplay, Halloween more said. “Pirates of the Caribthan ever before. bean not only increased the “It goes back sale of our pirate outfits, but to Halloween beoverall the villain theme in ing the one night general.” of the year where Stockingstore.com, a you can step out of popular hosiery and lingeyour own skin and rie website, was also one be anything that of many retailers to release you want to be for a new “lingerie look” to its one night and it’s 2007 Halloween collection. okay,” Salem said. In an article released by the “People have fanPress Release Newswire, tasies, dreams, or “The costumes feature garwishes that maybe ters, stockings and petticoats in their everyday and range from traditional course of life they costume themes like, cops, can’t experience, pirates, nurses, and gangster but one night of girls to Fairytale costumes, the year where like the Queen of Hearts, it’s universally Mad Hatter, Rag Dolls, and accepted and toeven a Bumblebee.” tally cool for you ti “Anything that’s short or to drawing in sex appeal we are t< go out and be The Beacon/Cara Koster aa naughty nurse, having a difficult time keepaa sexy devil, or ing that in stock,” said Kelly Flannery, the manager of Party City in Wil- whatever the costume may be.” Forplay’s store in Hollywood opened in kes-Barre Township. “We haven’t had to reorder a regular pirate, but we’ve gotten 1986 and was one of the first companies to three or four shipments of the two sexy pi- invest in the sexy costume business. Before Forplay opened, Salem said that girls who rate costumes.” Party City has sold over 42 Jack Sparrow wanted to dress sexy were restricted to buycostumes this year as well as six costumes ing their costume from a small Mom and from the movie 300, which were wiped off Pop kind of specialty store, or they mixed and matched outfits from their own closets. the shelves immediately. “Sexy isn’t really size, height, breast “It’s mostly movies. Any big blockbuster movie is going to have people wanting to size, and waist size; sexy is really a state of mind,” Salem said. “So if you think you’re dress up like that,” Flannery said. “A lot of people when they have certain sexy, if you feel sexy, then whether you celebrities that they follow or like, they trust wear a sexy costume or not for Halloween, to a larger degree what these celebrities like just really go out there and enjoy yourself, and what they endorse,” Salem said. “Cer- because that’s what it’s all about.” BY LAUREN SALEM Beacon Staff Writer 10 11 �LIFESTYLES 10 Student of the Week: Raquel Wheby BY ALISON WOODY Beacon Lifestyles Editor Raquel Wheby, senior communication studies major, is currently spending her fall semester at American University in Washington, D.C. The Washington Semester program gives Wilkes students the chance to spend an entire semester in D.C. studying subjects such as journalism, American politics, and international business. Wheby has been spending her time studying journalism, as well as doing a full-time internship at America’s Promise Alliance which was founded by Colin Powell. Her success so far in Washington D.C. has influenced The Beacon in our decision to name Wheby Student of the Week. The Beacon: Why did you choose to attend the Washington Semester Program? Wheby: I came out here to improve my writing skills and spend some time with my sister, who lives in Washington, D.C. At Wilkes, my concentration is public relations, and I knew I needed to improve my writing, so I enrolled in the journalism program at American. The Beacon: What are some of your internship duties and responsibilities? OCTOBER 30, 2007 Wheby: I work at America’s Promise Alliance, which was founded by Colin Powell and is dedicated to the well-being of children and youth. More specifically, I have been working with the 100 Best Communities for Young People campaign. My duties include coordinating a national forum, taking photos and registering new community members. I also organize panel discussions and do a lot of mailing invitations. The Beacon: How has living in Washington, D.C. differed from your experiences at Wilkes thus far? Wheby: I definitely use a lot more public transportation. However, the best thing is that seeing every opportunity is more accessible out here. There are a ton of opportunities to see stuff such as art shows and plays. D.C. has a lot of people coming from everywhere in the United States and they are more conservative. It seems like everybody out here acts like they are running for President. They look flawless and act perfect all the time. The Beacon: Why do you think other students will benefit from the Washington Semester Program? Wheby: You get to meet so many different speakers and you get a lot of different views from various areas of communication. You also meet people who are interested in what you want to do and it is not in a competitive environment. It’s a good experience, especially if you are not from a big city. Courtesy Raquel Wheby l .·...· . .' lE . ER . dty t r ~ ) ( 5 - 70 823- · _9 C Ii O - . · A. " VI! �LIFESTYLES OCTOBER 30, 2007 11 Tattoos ink their way into mainstream society workplaces, Kossa says that placement is key for professionals choosing a tattoo. Many choose easily coverable locations, such as the upper arm or back. Lynsey Peters spent four years waiting “For people in a professional environfor the time she could finally get a tattoo in ment, especially if it’s their first time, they remembrance of her grandfather, who she usually get one they don’t want to show to called Papa Pineapple. Three months after everyone and one they have an option of her eighteenth birthday, she got a pineapple covering up,” Kossa said. tattooed on her right shoulder. Peters agrees that placing a tattoo in a “I have no regrets. I really like them, hidden place is important in the and I would recomjob world. She chose to place her mend getting them,” second tattoo, a large tiger symsaid Peters, a sophobolizing strength, on her back so it more psychology mawouldn’t affect her future career. jor. “Memorial pieces “There’s a social stigma,” she especially are a very said. “If you show a tattoo in a healing thing.” job interview, they’ll think you’ll Peters is one of the be rebellious and you won’t be increasing number of a good worker, that you’ll start college students joinfights.” ing the ranks of the Courtesy of Lynsey Peters When Kossa was younger, he tattooed. Many are said it was common for potential Lynsey Peters chose her tiger tattoo as choosing to permaemployees to be turned down for a symbol of strength. nently ink their boda job solely because they had taties in remembrance toos. While employers aren’t as ing them. Right now, she doesn’t plan on of a loved one, a lifeblunt now, Kossa still believes tat- getting any other tattoos, but she likes the changing event, or a toos can affect job placements. permanence of her two. symbol of importance Lisa Mulvey, a career consultant Kossa explains a shift in the line of to them. at Career Services, says that while thinking he has observed over the last five The Beacon/Jenna Stephens According to U.S. times are changing, tattoos are still years, one that puts more of a premium on News and World Report, the tattoo busi- A tattoo artist at Marc’s Tattooing inks up a customer. Tattoos are be- unacceptable at job interviews and permanence. in the workplace. College students “Since 9/11, it seems like people have ness was one of the coming more and more popular among a variety of age groups. interested in business, accounting, a lot less of the sitting-on-the-fence attisixth fastest growing People’s perceptions of tattoos have also teaching, or nursing should be especially tude,” he said. “Live your life today. Have retail ventures of the 1990s, coming in right behind the internet and cellular phone changed over the years. Fifteen years ago, careful to avoid noticeable tattoos and to something permanent because there’s not much in life that is.” service. The American Academy of Der- Kossa said people who didn’t have tattoos cover up the ones they have. “Certain recruiters who are older and matology found in a 2004 survey that 24 looked down on those who did, and failed to see the art involved in it. Tattooed wom- don’t see them as socially acceptable may en in particular garnered a lot of view the students as rebels,” she said. “It depends on the person interattention. “People would be saying, ‘look viewing you and the culture of at her, she’s so young, she’s so that organization.” Students who have tattoos pretty, what’s she going to do when she’s married?’” Kossa should cover them up on interInkin’ the Valley views, preferably with clothsaid. “It’s a lot different now.” In recent years, tattoos have ing, but, if they are on uncovWHAT : M ARC ’S TATTOOING 14 TH moved from beyond the stereotyp- ered skin, they can be toned ANNUAL TATTOO CONVENTION ical tough guys into mainstreamed down with special high-coverWHERE : T HE W OODLANDS society. With an increasing num- age makeup. For students with WHEN : N OVEMBER 2-4 ber of college students opting for noticeable tattoos, Mulvey r, FEATUR ING : TATTOO AR TISTS , BODY the ink, tattoos are finding their suggests using other aspects of appearance to present a more way into a corporate world. PIERCERS , TATTOO CONTESTS , ~JI ~/'- Show Sped.al: Kossa says that his shop tattoos mainstream image. CLOTHING VEN DORS , NOVELTIES “Dress ultra-conservatively, a large number of professionals Buy 4Beads or Clips & Get ENTER TAINMENT : CAR NIVAL AND each year. He counts a prominent and keep your hair and makeup aFree Sterlmg Silver Bracekt* CIRCUS SIDESHOW PER FOR MERS FROM local surgeon as one of the regu- to a minimum,” Mulvey said. ALL ACROSS THE COU NTR Y “Try to distract attention away lars. “We’re tattooing from A to Z, from it and present yourself COST : $13 FOR ENTIRE WEEKEND , all kinds of people,” said Kossa. very professionally.” INCLUDING SIDESHOW GATHER ING *Limitedto.first 1oorustomers Jewelers Although she has only had her “It’s from the granddaughter to AND TATTOO CONVENTION tattoos for a couple years, Pe141 SouihMainSt Wilkes-Barre the grandmother these days.” Because of restrictions in many ters has no regrets about choos570 823-7111 www.bartikowf.ky.com BY CHRISTA SGOBBA Beacon Asst.Lifestyles Editor percent of Americans between the ages of 18 and 50 have at least one tattoo. Franco Kossa, the manager of Marc’s Tattooing in Wilkes Barre, has seen an increase in the number of college students getting inked up. He estimates that around 30 percent of his clientele is college students. “When I started out, we were skewed to the male side,” Kossa said. “Now, just as many women are getting big tattoos.” uG If Yo 11.J ··~} llam-5:15pm .- "·BMtikows~ o �A&E OCTOBER 30, 2007 12 La Tolteca Common People Crossword/Website 12 13 13 14 14 15 15 Beacon Halloween Movie Special The Good, The Bad, and the Gory in 1959, it unleashes a worm like creature that leaps into it’s victims mouth, and turns them into blood thirsty zombies as it multiplies within their brain. Twenty seven years later, a victim of this creature is found cryogenically frozen in the basement of Corman University by a group of fraternity-pledging freshmen, who, as a prank, unfreeze the body and unleash the zombie plague on their community, bringing together a pair of geeky students, a sorority babe and a detective with a dark past to end the madness (with heavy fire power, of course). With great action and effects and just the right amount of horror and humor (not to mention what maybe the nerdiest hero in movie history), this is one of the best B-horror movies to come out of the 80’s. 4.) Blood Feast - In this 1963 splatter-fest, evil caterer (yes, evil caterer) Fuad Ramses murders and mutilates various dim-witted Miami women in order to resurrect a long-dead Egyptian goddess. This is not a film to watch for quality entertainment, unless you consider a horrible story and worse acting entertaining. When a potential victim asks Ramses “You’re not going to sacrifice me are you?” to which he replies, with a machete hiding behind his back, “Of course not. Now lay down and close your eyes.” However, if you like gore, and plenty of it, and you can appreciate just how funny acting this bad can be; you’ll love this one. 5.) Fright Night - When teenager Charlie Brewster notices that the big, creepy house next store has just been bought by a mysterious new caretaker, he can’t help but begin to snoop around. What was in that big, long, coffin shaped box? Why do people go in, but never come out? Why does his new neighbor only come out at night? Well, to anyone who’s ever seen a horror movie, the answer is obvious. Charlie’s new neighbor is a vampire. However, try getting anyone in Charlie’s hometown to believe that. So what’s a guy to do? In Charlie’s case, he gets some hired help in the form of Peter Vincent, a skeptical, washed up actor, posing as a vampire hunter. Will Vincent’s knowledge of vampires pay off enough to save Charlie and his friends, or will this be his final performance? 6.) Dead Alive - This gore-fest, directed by a pre-Lord Of The Rings Peter Jackson, is not one for fans of bloody horror to miss. When the legendary, evil Rat-monkey bites Lionel’s mom, she quickly becomes a blood thirsty ghoul, attacking anything and everything that crosses her path. Unfortunately, mama’s boy Lionel doesn’t have the heart to dispose of her properly. So, after his attempt to hide her away in the basement fails (duh!), an unholy plague of the living dead on his peaceful New Zealand hometown. What follows next is a symphony of splatter including a kung-fu priest, a monster baby and a man who, when faced with an army of the living dead, finds a new, grisly use for a lawn mower. 7.) Killer Klowns From Outer Space - What else can we say about this movie that the title doesn’t? Evil aliens, that just so happen to look like deranged clowns, come from outer space, land on earth ~ and begin to kill people in wacky ways. An absolute must for all t NOTHING ! 4PPAL fans of B-level horror. 1NTHE 8.) Night of the Living Dead \ ANNAL (1990) - Though most horror fans, I or fans of film in general, have .... seen the classic 1968 original, the remake is often overlooked. With f/x guru Tom Savini filing George Romero’s role as director, NOTLD ‘90 does much more than just pay homage to the classic original, as Savini cranks up the effects, the gore and the scares as he masterfully uses the viewers knowledge of the original to catch them off guard, again and again, as they watch the band of survivors once again hold up in an a old farm house, doing all they can to fend off the horde of zombies attempting to get inside and satisfy their hunger for human flesh. 9.) Silver Bullet - In the screen adaptation of Stephen King’s novella Cycle of the Werewolf, a string of brutal murders in a small New England town leads a young wheelchair bound boy to discover that the killer is a werewolf after he narrowly escapes becoming a victim himself. Naturally, no one believes him until it’s too late, and it’s up to the young boy, his sister and his alcoholic uncle to find the monster and destroy him before it’s too late. 10.) C.H.U.D. - When a bizarre series of ghastly murders begins to plague New York City and unfortunate homeless people begin to go missing from their local outreach shelters, a rag-tag group including a photo journalist, a cop whose wife has gone missing and an eccentric bum, set out to solve the mystery. What they find is a secret conspiracy, codenamed C.H.U.D. (Cannibalistic Humanoid Underground Dwellers), to dump radioactive waste into the NYC sewer system, exposing the hundreds of homeless living in the tunnels to the deadly chemicals. Those infected go through a horrific mutation, turning them into slimy, bug-eyed, razor clawed creatures with a taste for blood. Can our heroes find a way to stop the bloodthirsty mutants, or will the entire city fall victim to the C.H.U.Ds? .. ~ 1 Graphics courtesy www.users.globalnet.co.uk, www.impawards.com, and www.nzvideos.org BY MIKE WILLIAMS Beacon Staff Writer Okay, it’s that time of year again. You’ve got your costume. You’ve got your candy. You’ve got your trusty meat cleaver lookin’ shiny and new and your chainsaw is all gassed up and ready to roar. You’re only missing one key ingredient to kick your Halloween into high gear: a few flicks to add a few scares and a boost to your holiday spirit. Just as you have a choice about what candies to toss to the kiddies this All Hallow’s Eve (or which power tools to use on your latest victim), you have a practically limitless choice of fright flicks. Just take a stroll down the horror section of your local video or electronics store. It all comes down to a matter of taste. So, what are you looking for? A good scare? A good splatter? Or maybe you want to mix a few chuckles in with your chills. Well look no further, as The Beacon again offers a way to satisfy all of your morbid movie needs with a collection of lesser-known films so good it’s scary, so bad they’re funny or just so gruesome that you’ll wish you had extra hands to cover your eyes. So, for your holiday viewing pleasure, may we present….The Good, The Bad and The Gory? 1.) Dawn Of The Dead (1978 version) - One of the biggest debates amongst horror fanatics, pits those in favor of the original 1978 George A Romero classic and those partial to the updated, 2004 remake. Honestly, you can’t lose either way. However, it seems that film fans not well versed in their horror history have overlooked the original. How sad. In the second (and possibly the best) of Romero’s Dead quadrilogy, a group of four survivors steal a news helicopter to flea zombie plagued Philadelphia, winding up at the Monroeville mall, where, after dispatching the dead within, the survivors set up camp. However, their new home soon changes from a well stocked safe haven to a death trap, as cabin fever, the living dead and a band of marauding bikers force them into a brutal final showdown. 2.) Monster Squad - In what may be the most violent children’s movie ever made, a group of monster obsessed pre-teens notice some strange happenings in their quiet suburban neighborhood. After finding the diary of Dr. Van Helsing, they discover that Dracula, The Wolfman (played by a pre-Napoleon Dynamite Jon “Uncle Rico” Gries), Frankenstein, The Mummy and The Gillman are attempting to bring about the end of the world, right in their own backyard. Though the plot may seem a little juvenile, there’s nothing childish about the broken necks, crushed skulls and exploding bodies left in the wake of the rampaging creatures. It also answers a few very important questions, like how many ways are there to kill a werewolf? Does garlic really work on vampires? And most importantly, does the Wolfman have “nards?” (spoiler: He does.) 3.) Night Of The Creeps - When a terrible alien experiment escapes it’s space ship and crashes to earth �OCTOBER 30, 2007 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Restaurant Review: La Tolteca 13 BY ALISSA LINDNER Beacon Asst. A&E Editor College students on a tight budget are often in search of a restaurant with affordable prices but satisfying food. For tasty Mexican food, the cheap prices at Taco Bell come to mind for most; however, Wilkes-Barre Township offers an alternative to the fast food option: La Tolteca. La Tolteca is located on at 200 Mundy Street near the entrance to the Wyoming Valley Mall. Electric palm trees and a colorful building alerts any diner to the fiesta found inside. Once inside, the Mexican theme is obvious, offering colorful decorations and fiesta music playing throughout. A friendly host directed us to our table and almost immediately another brought homemade tortilla chips, a salsa dip and a spicy cream dip to the table. The homemade tortilla chips offer quick satisfaction to any diner’s hunger--they come warmed and salted in baskets. The salsa dip was a delicious, spicy hot alternative to the normal salsa of choice for college students, Tostitos. La Tolteca’s salsa is a smooth concoction with just the right balance of peppers and tomatoes. The flavors in the cream dip, although hard to place, offered a spicy and creamy addition to the homemade chips. For an additional option, a cheese dip can be ordered from your server. The menu offered a variety of traditional Mexican dishes. From enchiladas and fajitas to the traditional nachos and tacos, each can be found on La Tolteca’s menu. Almost every Mexican dish comes made with chicken, beef, shrimp or vegetarian style to satisfy everyone walking through the door. After browsing the menu, my guest and I decided on the Quesadilla Rellena and the Quesadilla Veracruzana. The Quesadilla Rellena is a chicken and cheese quesadilla served with beans or rice. Brought to the table on colorful plates, the presentation almost makes the food look too good to eat. The two large quesadillas are stuffed with chicken, cheese, tomatoes and onions on a platter with lettuce, sour cream, guacamole, and a large tomato slice. The beans are served on another plate, topped with melted cheese. The Quesadilla Veracruzana is a beef and cheese quesadilla also served with either beans or rice. The presentation of the Quesadilla Veracruzana is similar; however, the rice was served on the same platter as the quesadillas. The flavor of both the Quesadilla Rellena and the Quesadilla Veracruzana will satisfy anyone looking for a Mexican delight, offering just the right amount of spice. The amount of food served with each dish is enormous so when visiting La Tolteca bring your appetite. The service at La Tolteca was excellent. Although we visited on a weekday, our food arrived in approximately ten minutes and we never waited when something was needed. At approximately $9.00 each, the quesadillas offered a very affordable option to satisfy our hungry. With a couple non-alcoholic drinks, at La Tolteca two people can easily dine for under $30.00 and leave with extra food for later. Grade: A Bonus: Margarita Review BY WILFREDO MERCADO Beacon Correspondent For those 21 and older who wish to explore what the bar at La Tolteca has to offer, there is a wonderful assortment of flavored margaritas. Margarita lovers can choose from the traditional lime or get a little more inventive with strawberry, pina colada, peach, and raspberry to name a few. Margaritas are served either frozen or on the rocks, with a salted or sugared rim and garnished with a lime wedge to add a special tart twist. Any combination can be a great choice for a special sweet treat along with a savory meal. The margaritas are served in a hefty glass, offering an ample serving size for the fair price of $5.50. For a flavored margarita add $1.25. The attractive presentation of the drink is enough to smile about, until the first sip when the real celebration begins. The blended fruit, tequila and ice make for a delightful chilled refreshment that pairs wonderfully with the spicy and robust flavor of their homemade salsa dip. Overall, this Mexican beverage delight is one of the highlights of the dining experience at La Tolteca. Its wide variety of flavors will leave you intrigued and wanting to try them all, but they are not to be underestimated with their alcohol content. Just one of these cocktails can be enough to satisfy anyone’s craving for a margarita and a good time! The Beacon/Alissa Lindner Schedule of Events Tuesday, October 30 - Wilma Carroll, Tarot card reader in Roth Concourse from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. - Kappa Delta Pi interview workshop for all future teachers in the SUB at 5:30 p.m . Wednesday, October 31 - Whooz Playin’? performing at Bart and Urby’s - Boscoe and the Storm performing at the Woodlands at 10 p.m. Thursday, November 1 -Book Discussion: Skinny Bitch, sponsored by Wyoming Valley Vegetarians at the Tudor Bookshop at 6 p.m. - Dr. Chud’s X-Ward and Lugosi’s Morphine performing at Backstage at 6 p.m. Saturday, November 3 - Banjo Workshops at Arts YOUniverse at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. - Vegetarian cooking discussion from The Vegetarian Way at the Tudor Booksop at 1 p.m. - The Language of Comics opening reception and Matt Madden artist presenta tion from 4:30 p.m. - 7 p.m. in SLC 166 - Tokyo Rose, National Product, Before Their Eyes, Inferis and TBA performing at Backstage at 7 p.m. - The Led Zeppelin Experience performed by Hammer Of The Gods at the Kirby Center at 8 p.m. Sunday, November 4 - Strength For A Reason, Reign Supreme, Steel Nation and Hard Response per forming at Backstage at 6 p.m. Monday, November 5 - Vicente Fox, former President of Mexico, “Outstanding Leaders Forum” at the Kirby Center at 8 p.m. �ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 14 Common People brings the party to Plains From the time it starts, crowd energy and interaction at Common People party has a gradual but significant buildup. At 10 p.m., everyone is settling down with their drinks, by 11 p.m., people begin to saunter onto the dance floor, and by 12 p.m. the place becomes one large, unified dance floor. Common People is a free, 21+ dance party that takes place once a month at BAR, located at 279 S. River Street in Plains, running from about 10 p.m. until 2 a.m. Organized by DJs Robair and NFM (who prefer to be referred to by their professional names), it’s a fairly recent addition to the area, where each night they feature multiple DJs and a new out-of-town band. NFM explains that the parties were started up because “if you’re trying to go out and don’t want to sit in a corner bar and play darts and you’re not trying to go to some big, obnoxious club, there’s no middle ground, and that’s where we come in.” The aim of Common People is to offer people a different experience than what’s offered at other local dance clubs or bars, such as the Woodlands, or the former Mardi Gras. NFM explains that not only does he want to offer people a good time, but also a safe environment. “People shouldn’t feel like every dude in the room is eyeing them up or trying to get advantage or them, and guys don’t need to fear getting beat up,” he explained. In terms of differences, NFM explains that there’s no specific format that’s enforced for the parties and they’ll do “whatever we’re in the mood for that makes people have fun. If we want to place dance or hip hop or dance hall music on, we’ll do that. It’s really anything that encourages having a good time that isn’t cheesy top 40 or bad jersey shore spring break trance music.” First timers to the event should expect to “hear amazing music and they should expect to get wild and get real,” said NFM. After his first time attending, Kingston resident Donald Hosey explained, “I’m still not sure whether it’s a joke or not, but in the end it doesn’t matter...because if it’s a joke then it’s hilarious, and if it’s serious then there is nothing wrong with being serious about having fun.” Even since their first event, the event has attracted significant turnouts. “The first was incredible. We had people come in from New York and Philly. There were probably 150 at our first party. That was just with Robair and I and a local band,” says NFM. The most recent Common People party, on October 26, was vampire themed and guests came in undead costumes, while vampire bartenders served them as classic horror films set the scene in the background. This was the fourth party and they have them planned up through December. In November, they will be featuring the band Spanish Dancer and getting two New York DJs to the party. While Common People brings in a number of out-of-town acts, they are trying to promote community DJ Robair kept people dancing until the early involvement as well. They are cur- morning hours during the most recent Common rently talking to a local photographer People. There are multiple DJs at each event so and would like to set up a photog- there’s always a unique music variety. raphy show prior to a future event. They would like to work with a number of into the dance party afterwards. As NFM local artists and set up a place for them to explains, whether it’s on or off the dance display and sell their work and then segue floor, it’s all about “community building .” The Beacon/Marissa Phillips BY MARISSA PHILLIPS Beacon A&E Editor OCTOBER 30, 2007 Photo courtesy www.nnpromotions.co.uk .'I' AT YOUR . THIS'\ "Halloween Night" ¥.e dne$d.a1f October 311 MaryBaktt "&::lly $1: ory teller and muici.an" 7:30-8:30pm RoseStone '1'arot card rea&:r'' 5:30- 7:30 •c, e~• T- •H ! UIHlpIUH"f 'v7• Frtd_ay,, November 2nd i':30 10:30pm. Llve· Ar:. ·U-¥tic ~usk 25~ all cafe i.tam during it&e- , ow "1th dmlc11t ID -k . - ~pt for &:,ow ,i t Mus.k aiml.. ._ dey1• Monday, October 30th 7:00-8;30pm Hosted by fam 'Warn.er •.«sc:tabbl¢ ni!gh.1:"' I1J11:5il~ ncight fmm 7!(W-8:30.,pm , edd#'l 2 luge· Pizn.s The Beacon/Nick Zmijewski ·:DOLLARS anprhcl'e in Olli' sto!'~! Bucket JO Wi:ngs $15.99 $24 ..'99 J.y.e ~ & t · ery- "ind"Ydcd) - .sdd#2 rge Pizza .+ l Dozen Wi igs. S u1al#4 ] large Pizza + 16 W'mgs. . 14..95 2 Liter Soda (ibllll! ~~ 1£ ~ i~tdl) ~7.99 In-House Specials ~ °'Opm Don't forget to, pick up a "'Freqmrut Bl ye.r Card"' ·tooar, . ecial fl 2 Lug£ Pizzas Monday 35 cent Wmp t .a. pwd:l' se: of :soda 1'hesd if 50 ttnt :illus. wl a pmdlas fa :soda (in hoo:se,(ln.ly) Wednesday Any bw-_gerl -'h, ken s.and'Widt -$4.95 w/ a puurui,s· -of :31 :god:3J �BY CHRISTOPHER KUDRAK Beacon Staff Writer ACROSS 1 Microwaved, slangly 6 Merit badge holder 10 Attention-getter 14 Antipasto garnish 15 Mention 16 “You, Me, and Dupree” actor ______ Wilson 17 Tributary 18 Billy, of rock-and-roll 19 Uncluttered 20 Latin-American music 21 Unnatural structure 23 No antithesis 24 Half of VI 26 Elongated fish 27 “____ the season” 30 First half of the bible 33 Avoid deliberately 36 Corn unit 37 “___ Ana, CA” 38 Breathe heavily 39 Type of arrangement 42 Shore bird 43 Criminal’s cover 45 Quarter of four 46 Walked on 47 “World of war craft”, for ex ample 51 clairvoyance 52 Bilbo Baggins portrayer 53 Lanka lead-in 54 Corn holder 57 Beginner 60 Took the wheel 62 Grow faint 64 Type of ski lift 65 Cuts vegetables 66 Eating regimen 67 As well 68 Make amends 69 Put two and two together 70 Paper unit 71 Fermentation agent DOWN 1 Clamorous 2 Bone of the forearm 3 Executes 4 Holiday preceders 5 Military duty 6 Curved sword 7 Elton John play 8 Mick and band 9 Head protector 10 Frog’s milieu 11 Sugar 12 Baltic, for example 13 Alfred Nobel invention 22 Sigher’s word 25 Basis of an invention 28 MC’s lead-in 29 Rise to one’s feet 30 Draft Beer? 31 Blunder 32 Dull surface 33 Final frontier 34 Angel toppers 35 Without obstruction 40 41 44 48 49 50 54 55 56 58 59 61 62 63 Å Calendar cycle Clubs, for example Tooth film Permit Noon Hot drink made on a cold day Baker’s needs Attack from all sides Butterfly catchers Space-exploration org. Ceremonial practice Government health org. Provide support LastNightsParty.com BY ANDEE SCARANTINO Beacon Editor-in-Chief If you think about the concept of “Last Night’s Party,” it has the potential to be relatively inventive. Parties come in all shapes and sizes and can involve some pretty odd happenings. Birthday parties, wedding celebrations, even end-of-life parties can involve everything from oddly shaped cakes to bridal rages to really great toasts. They can involve drunken relatives, clumsy moments, and really bad fashion choices. Parties are great microcosms of human social behavior. So when I went to this page, and I only saw a bunch of people in bars, clubs, and various other hotspots, I was little disappointed. Granted, there were the sexy, not so sexy, and a man vomiting on the ground with the caption “Converse Ad (Outtakes).” But all in all, this site had more potential for fun than it actually realizes. The site: LastNightsParty.com. The Concept: People post pictures of themselves, partying. That’s pretty much it, really. Some of the photos are a bit abstract, and have some larger, unappar- 1 S 2 T ~ A 4 14 □ Answers: 10/23 Kudracross OCTOBER 30, 2007 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 15 . e~ I H T N A I M I A N H A T I C H R ••r ••H STSTRAVEL.COM Join America’s #1 Student Tour Operator ent meaning, such as the photos entitled “I love America.” I think there’s a meaning there. Maybe the woman in the photos really is exploring America for the first time, or maybe she just realizes that she is 30 pounds underweight and wants to show the world that. Who knows? I have absolutely nothing to say about this site, except they should come to Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania and witness those who party here. Could you imagine? A whole section would be dedicated to women who go out in jeans and Aero hoodies! It would be so cool! Saturday night fashion faux pas at their finest. I wonder if the site is looking for a humor section. Seriously, though, this site is just a collage of pictures of people having a good time in various cities throughout the country? World? I’m finished. I give this site a “B” for “Big Boring waste of time.” CANCUN ACAPULCO JAMAICA BAHAMAS FLORIDA Sell Trips, Earn Cash & Travel Free www.ststravel.com STUDENT TRAVEL SERVICES 1-800-648-4849 / www.ststravel.com �SPORTS 16 OCTOBER 30, 2007 Football captures fifth straight Mayor’s Cup Defense forces five interceptions in 35-0 rout BY GERARD HETMAN Beacon Staff Writer In what has proven to be a challenging season for the Wilkes football team, the Colonels certainly needed a shutout victory for the books. In a season that has been even more trying for King’s College, the need for a good showing against the Colonels was perhaps even greater. On a chilly, wet Saturday, Wilkes got what it needed, but King’s is still seeking that elusive thrill of victory. Quarterback Al Karaffa threw for 132 yards, tailback Alex Pearson rushed for two touchdowns, and the Colonels defense forced five interceptions in a 35-0 rout of rival King’s College on Saturday afternoon at Betzler Fields. The win improves the Colonels to 3-5 overall, and gives Wilkes possession of the Mayor’s Cup Trophy for the fifth straight season. From the opening series of the game, the Wilkes defense set a tone that would propel the Colonels to a dominating performance in the clash for bragging rights among the neighboring schools. With the Colonels holding a 3-0 lead late in the first quarter, cornerback Corey Gilroy would step in front of a Jeff Searfass pass and run it back 28 yards for a touchdown. David Grega would follow up with two picks, with Darius Harrison and Augusto Lombana hauling in one interception each. “I tried to get good position on the play, and just looked up and saw the ball coming to me,” Gilroy said of his interception. “Our defense wanted to get out of the gate on a tear, and we certainly did that today.” The Wilkes defensive effort was so effective that it limited the Monarchs to only 7 total yards of offense for the game. Junior defensive end Tim Yeagly was named the most valuable player for Wilkes after collecting eight tackles and two sacks on the day. Grega added five tackles, while Kyle Follweiler picked up eight stops to go over the 100-tackle mark on the season. Offensively, Karaffa completed 8 of 14 passes to lead the offense, including a 21yard touchdown to Rocky D’Aconti. Gennaro Zangradi and Kyle Regner hauled in two and three passes respectively, while Pearson piled up 72 yards rushing on the day. The Colonels will head to Doylestown this Saturday for a clash with the Aggies of Delaware Valley College. The Colonels will then wrap up their regular season with a home contest against Widener University on November 10. The Beacon/Jenna Stephens Wilkes sophomore defensiveback Corey Gilroy (10) celebrates with junior Ryan Holmes (26) and and senior Kyle Follweiler (42) after returning an interception for a touchdown in a 35-0 win over King’s College in the Mayor’s Cup. MAYOR’S CUP STATISTICS WILKES KING’S 133 PASSING YARDS -35 140 RUSHING YARDS 42 273 TOTAL YARDS 7 12 FIRST DOWNS 5 Wilkes University Key Players The Beacon/Jenna Stephens Wilkes sophomore Corey Gilroy takes a 28-yard interception return for a touchdown in the Mayor’s Cup on Saturday, September 28. (RB) Alex Pearson 23 carries, 72 yds, 2 TD (WR) Rocky D’Aconti 1 rec, 21 yards, 1 TD (QB) Al Karaffa 8-14, 132 yards, 1 TD (DB) Corey Gilroy 1 INT, 1 TD Mayor’s Cup MVP Junior Linebacker Tim Yeagley 8 tackles, 2 sacks �SPORTS OCTOBER 30, 2007 17 Change Yourrt· Life Cha ge Yo -e and an Your o Future F re with from ti aa Graduate Grad a _e Degree D from ESU ~•A Students earning a graduate degree at East Stroudsburg University are among the most qualified, best educated candidates for today’s job market. Learn more about ESU’s 21 master’s degree programs and 22 post-baccalaureate certification programs on our website, www.esu.edu GRADUATE PROGRAMS Master of Arts Degree Programs History Political Science Master of Science Degree Programs Athletic Training Biology Clinical Exercise Physiology Computer Science Exercise Science Health Education Management and Leadership „�Public Administration „�Hotel, Restaurant & Tourism Management „�Sport Management Speech-Language Pathology Sport Management Master of Education Degree Programs Biology Elementary Education Health & Physical Education History Instructional Technology Political Science Reading Secondary Education Special Education Master of Public Health Community Health Education PREPARE TO SERVE Over 150 paid graduate assistantships are available for students in graduate programs. Call ESU’s Graduate Studies Office at 570-422-3536 or 866-837-6130 or apply online at www.esu.edu. EAST STROUDSBURG UNIVERSITY FOUNDED 1893 EAST STROUDSBURG UNIVERSITY A member of the Pennsylvania Pe Higher Education State System of High www.esu.edu �SPORTS 18 OCTOBER 30, 2007 Commentary G AME OF THE WEEK New England Patriots v. Indianapolis Colts Good versus evil in the battle of the AFC Double Take BY TIM SEIGFRIED Beacon Asst. Sports Editor *Note: This article was written prior to the week eight games: Indianapolis at Carolina, Washington at New England. What happens when you pit the two remaining undefeated teams in the NFL against one another? These are the same two teams that are ranked number 1 and number 2 in points per game and yards per game. This is coupled with the fact that one of the teams is the squeaky-clean reigning SuperBowl champions, while the other has been one of the most dominant football teams in this century while simultaneously coming under attack under allegations of cheating. Why, you have week nine in the NFL, of course! This weekend, the football equivalent of the movie Heat takes place, as the New England Patriots (Robert DeNiro) bring their perfect record into Indianapolis to face Peyton Manning and the Colts (Al Pacino). I’ll give you all a moment to google that movie reference…ok, welcome back. Last season, Peyton Manning shook off all the critics who said he wasn’t a clutch performer when he led the Colts through the gauntlet of the AFC by defeating the Baltimore Ravens, the New England Patriots, and the NFC Champion Chicago Bears en route to their first Super Bowl since 1970, when they were still the Baltimore Colts. Manning has followed up his Super Bowl MVP season with much success, leading the Colts to victories in all of their games so far, despite the fact that he isn’t as dominant as he has been in the past. Through six games, Manning is ranked 7th in the NFL in touchdowns (11), passing yards (1,578), and completions (138), while only having 3 interceptions with a quarterback rating of 103.5(4th in the NFL). Despite the fact that his numbers aren’t as solid compared to his previous years, Manning has still been able to lead the Colts to the top of the AFC South standings, and well on their way to another playoff berth, which is also due in part to the success of their running game, which has been solid throughout the season. On the ground, the Colts are leading the NFL in rushing touchdowns with 10, and are led by Joseph Addai, whose 98.4 yards per game is 3rd in the NFL, while his five touchdowns are ranked 2nd behind San Diego’s LaDaininan Tomlinson. On the opposite side of the ball, the Colts have been decent, despite holding opponents to an average of 15.8 points per game. However, the statistics don’t always tell the story, as four of their six opponents (New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Jacksonville, and Denver) are ranked in the bottom ten in the NFL in points per game, averaging just 17.5 points per game. Whatever opinion you have of their defense, it will unquestionably put to the test against the New England Patriots, who are ranked number 1 in the NFL in total points (279), points per game (39.9), and passing yards per game (299.4). The juggernaut that is the Patriots’ offense is the result of the brilliant play of Tom Brady, whose 27 touchdowns, 303.6 yards per game, and rating of 137.9 are tops in the NFL, while also being ahead of the pace to break the single season touchdown record of 49, set by Peyton Manning in 2004. In other words, Tom Brady is having a good season. Brady, who is regarded as one of the best quarterbacks of the generation, has led the Patriots to three Super Bowl victories in 2001, 2003 and 2004, while picking up two SuperBowl MVPs, cementing him as one of the greatest clutch quarterbacks in recent memory. This year, however, Brady is on pace to have one of the most dominant seasons in NFL history. If he continues at this current pace, Brady will end the season with 386 completions in 523 attempts with 4,857 yards, 62 touchdowns and five interceptions, giving him a quarterback rating of 137.81. Despite the fact that they are just projected statistics and will more than likely not end up as an accurate depiction of Brady’s season, it serves as a tool to measure just how good he has been this year. One of the reasons for his success this season has been the addition of Randy Moss, which gives Brady a legitimate superstar receiver, something that the Patriots haven’t had in their recent years, in which they put together a solid receiving core without one dominant receiver. When the Patriots traded for Moss in the off-season, they added one more tool to their arsenal, and it has paid off big-time, as Moss is having one of the best years of his career, and is leading all wide-receivers in touchdowns (10) and receiving yards (732), despite having ten fewer receptions than Baltimore’s Derrick Mason, who leads the NFL with 56. With Moss getting most of the attention from opposing defenders, it leaves the door open for the role players of the team, such as wide receivers Wes Welker and Donte Stallworth, who have a combined 8 touchdowns on the season. On the ground, however, the Patriots have had less success, ranking 11th with five rushing touchdowns and 7th with 133.4 yards per game, while leading the NFL in rushing attempts with 224. Defensively, the Patriots are solid, having allowed only 17.1 points per game in seven games, against opponents who have averaged 26 points per game, including three teams that are in the top 10 in points per game (Dallas, Cleveland, Cincinnati), and two others (Miami, San Diego) that have averaged over 20 points per game, while holding the New York Jets (19.4 PPG) and the Buffalo Bills (14 PPG) to under their average points per game. Despite that, the Patriots have come under fire after their week one win over the New York Jets, in which they were caught videotaping signals on the sidelines, resulting in several fines and the loss of draft picks in the 2008 draft. The allegations of cheating haven’t stopped the Patriots, who would go on to win their next six games by a combined score of 241-205, which brings us back to week 9, in which the nefarious Patriots are set to take on the likeable Indianapolis Colts. And with that, the biggest game so far this season is almost at hand, as the unstoppable force takes on the immovable object, except, unlike in Heat, don’t expect Peyton Manning and Tom Brady to share a cup of coffee before game time. The Pick: New England Patriots: 35 Indianapolis Colts: 24 Steph examines the stats that truly matter... BY STEPHANIE GERCHMAN Beacon A&E Editor Picking a winner between the New England Patriots versus the Indianapolis Colts is a no brainer for me. Because I’m quick on the draw with this one, some might assume that I am a fan of one of those teams or maybe my dad is. Neither is true. But obviously, the Colts are going to win. The reasoning is simple and it all goes back to my childhood. One year at Christmas, my mom’s friend Lisa came over to exchange gifts. I was pretty excited because Lisa gave some really good gifts. But this year was different. Lisa got me an Indianapolis Colts sweatshirt. As a child I looked at that stupid blue sweatshirt with the silvery grey writing and wondered, “Why would she get me a Colts sweatshirt? I’m 7 years old, I don’t like football. I like Power Rangers!” On top of the ugly grey lettering, the sweatshirt was a men’s large. At the time, I was a children’s size medium. I think she was trying to get me to watch football or like the Colts or something, but eventually I gave in. I wore the massive sweatshirt that came down past my knees. It did keep me warm and I wore it every winter until it almost fit. That sweatshirt was stained and torn apart on the inside. The stitching around the letters was starting to pull and the ends of the sleeves were all tattered. I found out one winter that my mom had finally thrown it away. So, making a decision between the Patriots and the Colts was easy. I chose the Colts in loving memory of my ugly, stained, torn and tattered, too large, blue and grey sweatshirt that kept me warm for years. �SPORTS OCTOBER 30, 2007 19 Athlete of the Week Andy Curry BY CARLTON HOLMES Beacon Sports Editor An examination of the offensive chart that outlines, among other things, who’s scoring goals for the men’s soccer team, shows that that 12 different players have contributed in the points department. That’s because, this year, emphasis has been placed on team growth rather than focusing on a couple of key players to carry the load for the Colonels. After starting the season 0-3, all the Colonels had to rely on was each other as pesky doubters believed the Colonels were due for an unsuccessful season this year. Throughout the team’s early struggles, senior Andy Curry remained grounded and a solid leader for the Colonels. So much so that despite all the negative speculation about the team, this season the Colonels are making their 12th trip to the postseason out in the past 17 years. “I feel like the team chemistry this year is through the roof,” said Curry. “Everybody is best friends on and off the field and it’s just a great experience to be part of.” “Last year was supposed to be our year and this year has turned out to be one of the most exciting years we’ve had.” On Halloween of 2006, the Colonels were spooked out of the playoffs by a 4-0 firstround home loss to DeSales University finishing with a 12-6-1 record. This year the Colonels hold a similar record of 10-6-1 (prior to Sunday’s game against Arcadia University) and will start the playoffs tomorrow at home against FDU-Florham. The Colonels beat FDU on October 6, two goals to nothing at home. Curry has helped the Colonels to their recent four-game winning streak in an effort to build team’s intensity going into the playoffs. He leads the team in the goal department with six on the season on 37 attempts while topping the Colonels with 18 points. 7 Total number of offensive yards by King’s College. The Colonels posted 59 tackles on Saturday to hold their rivals to the lowest number of offensive yards in Mayor’s cup history Curry is also tied in leading the team in the assists with teammate Greg Miller. Sophomore Bret Osswald believes Curry epitomizes an effective yet humble leader who focuses on the well being of his teammates. “He is a strong leader on the field and he’s always giving spiritual talks before the game,” said Osswald. “Anytime there’s a play, he’s there to tell the player good job even if he does something wrong. He’s got the brains, the overall athleticism He’s a good player.” Photo courtesy of Marketing Comm. Members of the Wilkes University football team celebrate on Saturday after winning the annual Mayor’s Cup against King’s College. The win marks the fifth straight win over the Monarchs in the Mayor’s Cup. Pictured, from left to right: Jordan Purdy, Dave Grega, Rocky D’Aconti, Augusto Lombana, Kyle Regnar, Erik VanGilst and Chris Applegate RECAPS Volleyball The Wilkes University volleyball team concluded its 2007 campaign by posting a 16-30, 30-24, 30-9, 33-31 win over Kean University in a non-conference match on Saturday afternoon. The Lady Colonels cap their season with an overall record of 12-17, while the Cougars saw their overall record slip to 9-19. Men’s Soccer Greg Miller scored a goal and had two assists as the Wilkes University men’s soccer team earned a berth in the upcoming Freedom Conference playoffs with a 3-0 win at Manhattanville College on Thursday afternoon. Women’s Soccer Manhattanville College scored a goal early in the second half and made it stand up as the Valiants notched a 1-0 win over Wilkes University in a key Freedom Conference women’s soccer match on Wednesday, October 24. The Beacon/Gino Troiani Field Hockey Wilkes University took a major step towards claiming a Freedom Conference playoff berth by scoring a 4-2 win over DeSales University on Thursday afternoon at Artillery Park. MAYOR’S CUP NUMBERS -35 Number of rushing yards totaled by all five running backs for the Monarchs. The team gained 80 yards on the ground but lost 115 yards due to six sacks by the Colonels. 5 Number of interceptions by the Colonels. Senior David Grega picked off the Monarchs twice while Darius Harrison, Augusto Lombana and Corey Gilroy each had one apiece. 4 Total number of passing completions in 23 attempts by four King’s College quarterbacks. �Sports OCTOBER 30, 2007 20 No Time to Relax The Beacon/Allison Roth Lady Colonels kick their way to eighth consecutive playoff appearance. BY CARLTON HOLMES Beacon Sports Editor In the beginning of the season, the fate of the Lady Colonels shot at a playoff berth was up in the air like a frisbie and the team had no clue where it was headed. Players were quitting unexpectedly, the team cohesiveness was at stake and trying to stay above .500 was a true struggle for the team. After stumbling early on the field with a 3-6 record overall, the Lady Colonels will be playing the first round of the Freedom Conference playoffs today for the eight consecutive season. “More or less we played a really tough pre-conference schedule,” said senior Bethany Head. “By playing that schedule and losing those games, we have become closer as a team because we’ve had to get through those hard times. I think overall, as a team, it’s made us stronger.” The Lady Colonels clinched this year’s playoff berth on October 8 at home against King’s College. The team entered the game against the Lady Monarchs having won five straight and were flawless in the Freedom Conference with a 4-0 record. Sophomore Julissa Reed struck first for the Lady Colonels in the opening half on a goal from teammate Alison Weidman. Bethany Head scored the final goal of the game in the second half. The Lady Colonels held King’s to zero goals on three attempts all in the second half. That win would be the eighth by shutout for the Lady Colonels as they solidified a playoff berth with a win over cross-town rival. On Sunday, the Lady Colonels suffered a 2-1 double overtime home loss to Arcadia University. The game was initially scheduled for Saturday afternoon but was postponed due to heavy rain. By losing to Arcadia, the Colonels will be entering the playoffs as the third seed and will be on the road throughout the postseason. Had the Colonels won on Sunday, they would be representing the second seed in the playoffs that now belongs to Arcadia. Both the Lady Colonels and Arcadia will square off today in Philadelphia. First seeded Manhattanville University will host Delaware Valley for the first round. The winner of both contests will be scheduled to play on Saturday, November 3. If Manhattanville wins, the Lady Colonels will remain on the road throughout the playoffs pending a win today. If Manhattanville loses today, then the Lady Colonels will have home field advantage against Delaware Valley on Saturday. The Lady Colonels have played both teams. The Lady Colonels posted a 2-1 win over DelVal on October 13 while losing to Man- hattanville 11 days later. That would be the Lady Colonels first conference loss of the season. Head coach John Sumoski has led the Lady Colonels to a championship win over Drew in 2005 and has enough returning players to have “dejavu” two seasons later. “We have nine players that won the conference in 2005 that played in that game,” said Sumoski “We just need someone to make big plays just like any other sport. The team that comes out and makes big plays is going to win the game and that’s what we’re looking for.” � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon Newspaper Collection, 1947-present Description An account of the resource <p>This is Wilkes University's <em>Beacon</em> Newspaper collection, 1947-present. We also have digitized copies of the <em>Beacon's</em> predecessors, <em>The Bucknell Bison Stampede</em>, 1934-1935 and <em>The Bucknell Beacon</em>, 1936-1947 June. It should be noted that Wilkes University does not have a complete set of issues for the Bucknell Bison Stampede and Bucknell Beacon. For researchers who are interested in seeing the complete issues for these publications, please contact <a href="https://researchbysubject.bucknell.edu/scua">Bucknell University's Special Collections Department</a>.</p> <p></p> <p>Missing Issues:</p> <p>1947 August 8th<br />1947 September 5th<br />1947 October 3rd<br />1947 October 17th<br />1947 October 31st<br />1947 November 21st<br />1947 December 19th<br />1948 September 9th<br />1950 April 28th<br />1953 April 10th<br />1962 February 2nd</p> Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Beacon staff is comprised of Wilkes University students who are advised by a full-time faculty member of the Communication Studies Department. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1934-present Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright of the Wilkes Beacons is retained by Wilkes University. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Professor Emeritus Harold Cox digitized the collection from 1934-1970 and created a <a href="https://beaconarchives2.wilkes.edu/">legacy website</a>. Digital Archives student John Jenkins digitized the collection from 1970-present. Special thanks goes to Communication Studies Professor Dr. Kalen Churcher, Editor-in-Chief Kirsten Peters, Beacon staff member, Emily Cherkauskas, and other Beacon staff for their help in acquiring digitized copies of the Beacons from 2006 onward. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon 2007 October 30th Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2007 October 30 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Communication Studies Department Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Wilkes University https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/9082b44763a6883f12792c578d6a1255.pdf 96eb443796d3a80d54bd9d7beab12511 PDF Text Text Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA The THE NEWS OF TODAY REPORTED BY THE JOURNALISTS OF TOMORROW s AGGRAVATION Page 8 The Office Convention BY NICOLE FRAIL Beacon Asst. News Editor Last spring, Wilkes University’s Admissions and Financial Aid Committee began discussing the possibility of making SAT scores optional for student admission to the university. Even though the topic received little support from faculty last year, the admissions and financial aid offices have presented the idea to the committee again this fall. “The committee has been discussing a proposal to offer the opportunity for students who meet a certain minimum high school requirement to apply for admission without the SAT as a portion of their application,” said Melanie Mickelson, Director of Admissions. “This was a response basically to what’s going on at the national level.” When the College Board extended the time needed to take the SATs to 3 hours and 45 minutes and added the 25 minute essay in the March 2005, many colleges across the nation chose to no longer require SAT scores on their applications. In July of 2007, The New York Times reported that “More than 700 colleges will consider your application without a peek at that [three or] four-digit number.” While many of the colleges that have turned away from the SATs are religious, technical, or open-admission schools, twelve of the top fifty liberal arts colleges rated by U.S. News & World Report have chosen to go SAT-optional, as well. These include Bowdoin College (ranked 6), Middlebury (Vt.) College (8), and Hamilton College (15). “There are a lot of reasons behind it, one of which is that there’s been very clear evidence that the SAT is a test that’s coachable,” said Mickelson. “If you take a class in prepping for the SAT then you’re likely to do better on the SAT, which of course implies that the SAT is not truly a measure of your aptitude or intelligence.” Page 11 See SAT page 3 Arrest made in Ralston Field attack The Beacon / Jenna Stephens Wilkes assistant football coach stabbed October 10 Skate Park BY GERARD HETMAN Beacon Staff Writer Page 12 , Issue 6 Committee discusses SAT-optional proposal In This Issue... ~ Volume 60 www.wilkesbeacon.com OCTOBER 23, 2007 Inside News................................1-5 Opinion.............................6-8 Lifestyles.........................9-11 Arts & Entertainment....12-15 Sports...........................16-20 ... An arrest has recently been made in the ongoing investigation into an assault and stabbing of an assistant football coach at the Ralston Field Complex just before fall break. The incident occurred on the afternoon of Wednesday, October 10 at approximately 2:30 p.m., when assistant football coach Mike McCree exited the Munson Fieldhouse building through a side door. As he emerged into a parking lot, McCree said he noticed a man rummaging through the interior of his vehicle, approached him and asked the intruder what he was doing there. The intruder then turned around and lunged at McCree, stabbing the football coach in the stomach with an unknown object. McCree then collapsed to the ground in pain, while the attacker ran off in the direction of Kirby Park, located behind the Ralston Field Complex. Chris Bailey, Director of Campus Support Services, said that the university public safety department was notified of the incident at approximately 3PM. Officers then notified the Edwardsville police department, who responded to the scene along with an ambulance. Public Safety officers quickly arrived at the fieldhouse, along with members of the Wilkes University administration, to fully investigate the incident. McCree was promptly taken to a local hospital to be treated for his injuries. Local police departments immediately began a search of Kirby Park and the surrounding area, and a campus-wide alert was issued to the Wilkes University community soon thereafter via the cell phone/website emergency notification system. After being treated and released from the hospital, McCree was asked by police to examine a photo lineup, and subsequently identified a photo of 47-year old David Parrish as the man who attacked him. An arrest warrant was then issued for Parrish, who was apprehended the following day in Wilkes-Barre’s Public Square, Bailey said of the aftermath of the incident. According to a report in the Citizens’ Voice, the alleged assailant, Parrish, was arraigned before a local Magistrate District Judge, and was committed to the Luzerne County Correctional Facility in lieu of $10,000 bail. Bailey also added that Parrish has been arrested numerous times in recent years by local law enforcement, and that several police departments quickly recognized the physical description provided by McCree to investigating authorities as fitting Parrish’s physical appearance. Bailey noted that there has been an increased amount of police activity in recent months in the Kirby Park area. He added that area police departments have taken a more proactive stance in fighting crime in the area where Ralston Field is located, and that these measures have led to an increase in arrests as part of preventative measures taken by local police departments. While a suspect is in custody and awaiting trial, Bailey stressed the importance of students, faculty and staff remaining alert and tak- See ATTACK page 4 �NEWS OCTOBER 23, 2007 2 The Dean Declines SG Notes Nantucket Nectars News Briefs 3 4 4 5 Growth and safety highlight forum dialogue BY ANDREW SEAMAN Beacon News Editor A forum made up of 17 Wilkes University officials and local leaders answered and asked questions at the October 10 Student Government meeting. The forum was comprised of President Tim Gilmour, his cabinet members, support staff, the general manager of Barnes and Noble on Main Street and the Mayor of Wilkes-Barre, Thomas Leighton. The forum sat through SG’s executive board meeting and then the new business during the general board meeting before asking and being asked questions. SG President, Matt Brown, who had the idea for the forum opened the discussion by asking what members had questions for the panel. The topics ranged from safety and security to sports. This first question came from the sophomore class asking if there was any way to get a students meal plan balance, including dining dollars, on the portal. Chris Bailey, Director of Campus Support, said that the school is already looking into that specific idea and hoped that it would be up and running by the end of the semester. Another question dealt with the concern over the new sidewalks and that some students believe the walkways are slippery when it rains. Bailey said the school is aware of the problem and admitted that he has personally witnessed students having difficulty walking on the wet sidewalks. He said the school is taking action by putting down test strips of an epoxy resin with grit in it to allow better traction when the sidewalks get wet. Petra Carver, Vice President of Finance, said that they would keep the students posted on their progress. Jef Bauman, SG Vice President, asked if Wilkes has room to keep growing at the rate it currently is with residence halls and classrooms. Mike Frantz, Vice President for Enrollment and Marketing, explained, “Our goal for the last fall student enrollment was 572 freshmen and 130 transfer students. It came roughly in at 620 freshmen and about 110/112 transfer students… it is an inexact science. And frankly what happened last year was that we had fewer applications and fewer accepted students and a much, much higher percentage of students who ultimately chose to attend the institution.” He added that it is not the university’s goal to keep growing exponentially. “Our goal is to cap at 577 freshman, 123 transfer students.” He also outlined proactive measures the school will be doing to help predict class sizes and distribution. Dr. Paul Adams, Vice President for Student Affairs, talked about how residence halls can adapt to meet the institution’s needs. “We have a plan to grow our residence hall population to about 1,200… Right now we are at 1,047… When we get to that 1,200 it will most likely be a different configuration of buildings than what we currently have.” He also mentioned that as other residents leave University Towers, the school can put more and more students in that building and someday it can hold up to 400 students. In addition Adams talked about the creation of “residential clusters” around campus and moving out of the 300 block of South River Street. SG President Matt Brown asked if, overall, the university is moving too quickly. Gilmour responded, “The fact is that it is very fast, particularly for a higher education institution of this size and history. On the other hand, the whole higher education industry or business is changing substantially and very rapidly. These changes present significant opportunities and the fact that we have been an institution that is really focused on our students frankly makes us an institution that probably has the best capability to be an institution that has real strength in the future.” He also touched on the creation of a law school and the school’s plan to bring in someone to coordinate that effort. Other SG members raised ques- tions about safety and whether or not the area was seeing a crime epidemic. This question was punctuated by an incident that happened earlier in the day when assistant football coach, Mike McCree was stabbed at Ralston Field when he confronted a man allegedly stealing from McCree’s parked vehicle. Bailey sought to reassure students. “I don’t think this is any major crime wave… What you are seeing is some activity on the periphery now. They are going after the easy targets… you’ve got to be aware of where you are, who you are around, and take care of each other.” He also added that he does not believe there is a need to add any additional security officers, mentioning all of the security the school already has in place. Other members of SG brought up the problem of cars not stopping for pedestrians at crosswalks. Some members even mentioned police cars do not stop. Mayor Leighton said he would talk to the police chief and suggested that students take license plate numbers down and report them to Public Safety who will then pass the See GROWTH page 4 BEACON Serving the community through fair and accurate reporting while supporting the views and opinions of our readers. Editorial Staff Editor-in-Chief: Andee Scarantino Email: wilkesbeacon@gmail.com Managing Editor: Nick Podolak Email: wilkesbeacon@gmail.com News Editor: Andrew Seaman Email: news.beacon@gmail.com Op/Ed Editor: Mark Congdon Jr. Email: thebeacon.oped@gmail.com Lifestyles Editor: Alison Woody Email: beacon.lifestyles@gmail.com A&E Editor: Marissa Phillips Email: thebeaconae@gmail.com Sports Editor: Carlton Holmes Email: beaconsports@gmail.com Photo Editor: Cara Koster Advertising Managers: Stephanie Yachim Dana Zlotucha Email: thebeacon.ads@gmail.com Advisor: Dr. Andrea Breemer Frantz Established in 1936 PA Newspaper Association Member Printed on Tuesdays during the academic school year. The Beacon/ Andrew Seaman SG members asked and were asked questions at their weekly meeting by Wilkes and local officials. Topics brought up included safety, the new sidewalks, growth, and much more. SG President Matt Brown considered the forum a big success. 130 S. River St. First Floor, Conyngham Hall, Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 (570) 408-5903 wilkesbeacon@gmail.com www.wilkesbeacon.com �OCTOBER 23, 2007 SAT from FRONT PAGE Mickelson also added that between the cost of taking the test once or twice, enrollment in an SAT prep course, and the cost of books or audio CDs designed to help prepare students for the test with sample questions and vocabulary, taking the SATs may come with a steep price tag. “That puts students in a unique [situation], because if you can’t afford to take an SAT prep course, you’re kind of automatically at a disadvantage,” added Mickelson. The apparent inequity is born out in some of the numbers released by the College Board. According to College Board, high school students who have taken the SAT in 2006 and have a family income of $80,000-$100,000 have an average score of 523 Verbal, 534 Math, and 514 Writing, while students who have a family income of $10,000-$20,000 received average scores of 445, 465, and 440 respectively. NEWS “Secondly, there is also a clear bias racially. Students who are... Hispanic and African American students have an average SAT score 200 points lower than their Caucasian and Asian counterparts,” said Mickelson. The switch to SAT-optional will eliminate both socioeconomic and racial biases. Many people ranging from concerned parents to admission directors also worry that the SATs don’t realistically represent a student’s potential for success. Kevin Welles is a teacher of English and Language Arts at E.L. Meyers High School in WilkesBarre who also teaches an SAT-prep course designed to aid students in the verbal and writing areas. “I don’t think that you can accurately predict a student’s success in college or life from merely the SAT test,” said Welles. “As a teacher, I get to appreciate not just the depth of a student’s understanding or ability, but the breadth and width that that student has to offer as far as motivation, which isn’t tested on the SAT, creativity, which isn’t really tested on the SAT, the ability to work independently and collaborately, which isn’t tested on the SAT... There are so many elements that are important to being a successful student and a successful person that aren’t tested.” According to Mike Frantz, V i c e President of Enrollment and Marketing, Wilkes generally focuses on five main aspects when making its 3 decision about accepting a student into the university: high school transcripts, motivation, performance in the classroom, high school rank, and SAT scores. If Wilkes were to go SAT-optional, there is still uncertainty as to what would replace the test score. While Mickelson would like to see a mandatory interview, admission essay, and more “subjective measures,” Dr. Robert Tuttle, Chair of the Admissions and Financial Aid Committee, pointed out that that part of the proposal is still being researched and there is always the possibility that no change will occur at all. “If you’re going to use the SATs, all three parts will play a role,” said Tuttle. “The estimates would be that 20-25% of students would choose not to [submit their scores]. There’s a whole range of possibilities as to alternate policies and that’s what we’re discussing right now.” In order to opt out of submitting an SAT score, an applicant would have to rank in the top forty percent of their high school class. Anything below forty percent would require a score. Class rank will also weigh in for financial aid and scholarships if an applicant chooses to not submit their score due to a new either-or scholarship scale. “The National Association of College Admission Counselors has mandated to us that no scholarships be solely at the discretion of an SAT score… [For example], you have to have an 1800 or top five percent of the class,” explained Frantz. In order for Wilkes University to join the growing list of SAT-optional colleges, the Admissions and Financial Aid Committee has to first put together another proposal for the faculty. If the faculty does not reject the proposal, a pilot study will be preformed for a couple of years. If the university does switch its admission criteria, some programs may be excluded, such as some of the sciences, nursing, pre-med, and pharmacy. “We will still require SAT, because in our program we get so many applications, we have to have a methodology to be able to differentiate students. We find SAT to be a very good predictor of how well they’re going to be doing in the science courses as well as in the professional courses. We would find it very difficult to screen out hundreds of applications to get down to the 75 students we want to accept for the prepharmacy program,” said Dr. Bernard Graham, Dean of the Nesbitt College of Pharmacy and Nursing. While there is speculation as to which departments will not be in favor of the proposal and which will, John Carey, a sophomore electrical engineering student, recognizes the potential the switch could have. “I think some people will definitely benefit. If they do poorly on the SATs and they get to hand something else in that better demonstrates their ability, then that will definitely help them.” Frantz agreed. “I believe in student options to put the best foot forward in terms of a college application and would like certainly for us to go through a trial to see if this is beneficial to the institution and more importantly beneficial to student success in college.” There is no confirmed date as to when or even if the committee will make its second proposal to the faculty, but Mickelson is certain that if it is rejected, it won’t be the last attempt. She fears that as more colleges become SAT-optional, Wilkes will be at a disadvantage if the standards aren’t changed. “I think that we’re at a point where there is a lot of resistance and obviously I think that maybe more time [needs to be] spent educating people as to what the rationale is behind doing this. The perception of the faculty who are resisting it is that we’re trying to dumb down the standards, which is not the intent at all.” Search recommences BY ALISON WOODY Beacon Lifestyles Editor The Beacon/Andrew Seaman and Nicole Frail A fire burns early Sunday at the old Murray complex on the corner of Darling St. and Courtright Ave. At 11:00 a.m. the building was fully involved. For more pictures of the fire check online at www.wilkesbeacon.com Dr. Robert Shaddy, who was to assume the role of the Dean of Library Sciences beginning November 1, has unexpectedly chosen not to come to Wilkes University after being offerred the position. Shaddy currently serves as the Professor of Library and Chief Librarian at Queens College in New York. He was selected to serve as the Dean of Library Sciences from a search committee that had been reviewing candidates since February. Dr. Frederick Sullivan, associate professor of mathematics and computer science, was the chairperson of the search committee. In response to Shaddy’s sudden decision, Sullivan said, “I do not think that we were given very clear reasons as to why he is not coming.” Shaddy was not able to be reached for comment at Queens College. The new Dean was to present a plan to the Provost’s office after studying the Farley Library and also aid in developing funds for proposed changes. Provost Reynold Verret, who was not available for comment, described Shaddy in an October 9 article of The Beacon as “an excellent choice.” When asked for reaction to the departure of Shaddy, a member of the library staff chose not to comment. Shaddy’s decision has prompted the beginning of another search. Linda Chishlom of CEO Resources, who initially researched candidates who were prequalified for the Dean of Library Sciences position, is “already at work identifying new candidates,” said Sullivan. He added, “The next step is to reform the search committee and start again.” �NEWS OCTOBER 23, 2007 Nantucket Nectars, Plum TV founder emphasizes passion as key to success BY LINDSEY WHITE Beacon Correspondent TV Tom Sc lu m ot t, of P co O -f o CE u Wilkes University welcomed Tom Scott, Scott stated, “The notion of having fun is co-founder of Nantucket Nectars and CEO central to me. I focused on enjoying myof Plum TV, as guest speaker for the Allan P. self and trying to create a life around it.” Scott believes that it is not the profit that Kirby Center Lecture Series last Wednesday, should create the drive in people, but inOctober 17. Scott, an entrepreneur, offered his story of stead, the passion for the type of product the the rewards and challenges he faced as his company produces. “If you want to make a small business, Nantucket Nectars, became a ‘same as,’ why would anyone want to buy multi-million dollar franchise. Scott’s story, it? You have to make ‘a better than.’” The solution to make the product they “The Journey of the Entrepreneurial Spirit” tells of “two ordinary guys in an extraordinary created stand out among others was called, The Quality Juice Evolution Solution. situation.” “I think he has a compelling story to tell. He Their goal was to make their juice “as good fell into being an entrepreneur, was good at it, as the juice you drank from the fruit of the and loved it. He’s very vocal about being pas- tree you sat underneath.” The end result of sionate with the product he created, and I think this solution was over thirty types of juices, teas, and lemonades, all made with he will be able to capture the attention a ntuck et N ect a r high quality all-natural inof students by letting them know N f sa ro n e that a young person can be d gredients. The company nd quickly grew from a successful,” said Dr. Jefsmall business to a frey Alves, professor of multi-million dollar entrepreneurship and franchise. free enterprise. Nantucket NecTom Scott, and his tars was hailed by partner, Tom First, Inc. Magazine as entered the juice one of the top 20 world after they atfastest growing tempted to recreate a private companies juice with a peach necin America and now tar flavor. After mixing employs more than different combinations 100 people. Several of peach juice and water, awards were also granted the two men developed a deto Scott because of the enorlicious recipe. Within ten years, mous success he achieved as Scott and First developed their juice into a successful company with no business, co-founder of Nantucket Nectars. These marketing, or beverage industry experience. include the Mercury Award for AdvertisDespite the enormous success of the company, ing, Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year award, several leadership and design it was not always an easy journey. “Winning in business is like getting a 96, awards, and a feature in the documentary [but] if you get a 92, you lose,” Scott said. It film Lemonade Stories. However, Scott and his partner began to took several years before Nantucket Nectars even turned a profit. At first, the business was lose interest in the company. Instead of actually losing money because its primary waking up each day to the excitement and focus was to create a quality product for the challenge of something new, Scott realized consumer, not to make a profit margin. How- that he wasn’t having as much fun. “I fell ever, when the partners were in danger of los- out of love and the day came where it was ing their line of credit, and subsequently their time to stop.” The two partners sold Nanbusiness, something had to be done. Scott ex- tucket Nectars to Cadbury Schweppes for plained, “We knew we had to run the business an estimated $100 million. After the two men sold the juice company a new way. I said I wouldn’t shave my beard, the CFO said he would ride his bike to work, to Cadbury Schweppes, Tom Scott went on and a woman who worked for the company to launch Plum TV, a lifestyle television agreed to workout everyday until we turned a channel created in 2002 produced largely profit. In March of that year, we succeeded. It in vacation communities, marketed toward seemed like it happened when we gave it ev- residents and tourists of the area. Scott stated, “I don’t know where this is going to erything we had.” For ten years Tom Scott and his partner kept go. I could be out of business in a year or Nantucket Nectars prospering. However, it flying high in the air. Stay tuned.” wasn’t the profit that drove them to success. GROWTH 4 ATTACK from PAGE 2 from FRONT PAGE information on to the city. At the end of the question and answer session invited guests at the forum were invited to ask questions of SG. Frantz asked the students whether or not they felt that there was enough privacy at the desk in UCOM. Also, the GM of Barnes and Noble, John Chaump, asked how the store could get more people downtown. The meeting concluded with Brown telling the general board how happy he was with the turnout. He mentioned that he did not plan on that many officials showing up, and Bauman mentioned that students should feel free to go to the administration anytime they want, and that they do not have to wait for an SG meeting to do it. and taking simple precautions to minimize the chances of a break-in to vehicles in the future. Such steps include “locking all doors, rolling up the windows on parked vehicles, and not leaving valuables exposed.” He also noted the vital importance of notifying police or public safety of any suspicious activity, rather than having members of the university community taking matters into their own hands. “We would rather chase down 99 nothings, than miss that one incident where we could have prevented the crime from occurring.” McCree, a 1994 graduate of Wilkes, is in his eighth season coaching the linebackers for the Colonels’ football program. McCree, along with various members of the university administration and athletics staff, were unavailable for direct comment on the situation at press time. SG Notes October 17, 2007 Treasurer’s Report All College: $10,120.72 General: $2,188.30 Special Projects: $3,220 Spirit: $815.00 Leadership: $3,525.04 Conferences: $9,500 Start-Up: $600 Club Reports The following clubs presented reports to SG: Programming Board Fencing Club Psychology Club Bacchus Club New Business New Member - A new senior class representative, Kaitlin Taber-Miller, was appointed to replace a member currently on sabbatical, Joe Scala. Wilkes-Barre Christmas Parade - Members discussed their plans for the Wilkes-Barre Christmas Parade that included souvenir photographs with various characters. Two-Way Radios - SG decided to table an item that would allow them to purchase two-way radios to help during their events. The item was tabled to allow more research on products. SG members said that they borrowed public safety’s radios in the past but they often failed and lost their charge. Casino Night Budget - SG Treasurer, Greg Castelli, talked about prizes, drinks and the budget for Casino Night. He mentioned that they did not have to spend as much this year because of SG’s purchase of their own gaming tables last year. The budget was set at $10,157.30. Weekly Office Duties - SG Secretary, Kathy Dalton, talked about the importance of members completing their required office hours. Events Alcohol Awareness Week/Walk - October 23 at 11 a.m. Th eB e a co n / A ll is o n R ot h �OCTOBER 23, 2007 Beacon News Briefs NEWS Local, National, and Local (WILKES-BARRE) Area residents may soon have another Starbucks where they can grab a cup of coffee. That place however is right across the street from another Starbucks located inside the Barnes and Noble on Main Street. The new Starbucks will be located between the old Campus Billiards and Club Mardis Gras buildings. (WILKES-BARRE) Due to a lack of repairs and utilities after a deadly fire in July that ripped through the second floor of the building, the Osterhout Library’s satellite site on George Avenue closed its doors. The library is currently seeking a new location and is planning on reopening. (WILKES-BARRE) A woman was surprised when she came across a Vietnam War era mortar shell while inspecting a house on Hazle Avenue on Friday October 19. Streets surrounding the home were closed off as the shell was transported to Ashley where it was detonated in the Huber Bunker. Local officials claim that there is no way of 5 International onal Snippets knowing if the mortar was active or not. National (NEW YORK) After an appearance at Carnegie Hall in New York City, the author of the famed Harry Potter series, J.K. Rowling, announced that one of the central characters in the series is gay. The announcement came after a teenager in the audience asked if Professor Dumbledore ever finds “true love.” After a pause Rowling answered the young woman with, “I always saw Dumbledore as gay.” The author gave some more background information and then mentioned that while reading a script for an upcoming Harry Potter movie she notated in the margin that “Dumbledore is gay!” (NEW YORK) After and appearance on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, satirist Stephen Colbert announced he would run for the presidency of the United States on his own show, The Colbert Report. The host said he would seek nomination in South Carolina, his home state, on both the Republican and Democratic tickets. Colbert’s announcement comes shortly after the release of his book, I Am America (And So Can You!). (WASHINGTON) The FDA has announced that it does not recommend the use of cough and cold medicine for children younger than six. The announcement comes after experts concluded that the medicines simply do not work. International (TEHRAN, Iran) Iran’s top nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, resigned leaving Saeed Jalili in charge of talks. Many people consider this a victory for Iran’s president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The shift in power could bring a tougher stance in negotiations because Larijani is considered to be more diplomatic in his approach to a solution. (LONDON) In the past few weeks Great Britain’s national healthcare system has experienced some problems in a few places. The “Nurse of the Year” is leaving the universal healthcare system because according to her, the paperwork involved in the system takes them from their patients. It was also released that over 1,200 patients were stricken ill over a two-year period because of “super bugs” living in dirty hospitals, about 350 of those patients died. (YANGON, Myanmar) The junta that controls the country of Myanmar lifted a curfew and ban on assembly after recent pro-democracy protests by the country’s highly respected monks. The Bush administration considers the ease in regulations as “cosmetic” while President Bush announced new penalties against Myanmar’s current government. STUDENT: INTRNSHP 4 NXT SEMESTER? CO-OP OFFICE: GO 2 lNTRN FAIR ON.10/25! l 'N TERNSHIP FAlR OCTOBE'R 25, 2007 11AM 1PM BALLROOM, 2ND FLOOR SUB CONTACT; SflARON .CASTl\1'0®'.VTLKES-EDU:r 408 2.950 - GAIN ACADEMIC CREDITS - RECEIVE F.....M:PLOYMENT REFERENCES - NETWORK WITH POTENTIAL EMPI~OYERS - ENHANCE YOUR LEADERSHIP SKILLS - DECIDE \\lJ--IAT·CAREER PAT·H ]S RIGI1T FOR YOU - GAIN IIANDS ON EXPERIENCE BEFORE GRADUATIO - FIND OUT WHAT YOU :I IKE! �Opinion OCTOBER 23, 2007 6 Matthew Shepard Act The American Dream Faculty Mentoring Wilkes Portal Is lying in political campaigns acceptable? Washington State Supreme Court believes so law that “bars political candidates from deliberately making false statements about their opponents.” This law was brought to the forefront when in 2002, Marilou Rickert, a Green party candidate running for State Senator, distributed flyers that accused the Democrat said he could have done more to prevent the closing of the camp. As a result of Rickert’s assertions, Senator Sheldon filed a complaint with the state Public Disclosure Commission (PDC), which ultimately imposed the maximum fine of $1,000 on Rickert. At this wrote that, “The majority opinion advances the efforts of those who would turn political campaigns into contests of the best stratagems True or false: candidates runof lies and deceit, to the end that ning for political office in the state honest discourse and honest canof Washington have the right to didates are lost in the maelstrom.” deliberately make false statements The dissent went on to argue that (lie) about their opponents the “U.S. when campaigning? Answer Supreme True Court... According to the First has made it “U.S. Supreme Court...has made it absolutely clear that the deliberate lie in absolutely Amendment Center, the Washington State Supreme Court political debate has no protected place under the First Amendment because clear that ruled on October 4 that candithe delibsuch lies do not advance the free political process but rather subvert it.” dates running for public office erate lie in can lie about their opponents political dein political campaigns because bate has no it’s protected speech. The protected court argued that by the govpoint, Sheldon had effortlessly place under the First Amendment ernment controlling what they can State Senator Tim Sheldon of vot- won re-election as a state sena- because such lies do not advance and can’t say violates their First ing to shut down a state institution tor. When this issue was brought the free political process but rather Amendment right of freedom of in his district. He didn’t vote to to the Superior Court’s attention, subvert it.” speech. The court was narrowly close the institution, but did vote it agreed with the PDC’s actions, Thus, it is alarming to know that against a budget that included but that decision was overturned candidates running for public ofdivided with a close vote of 5-4. The issue all started in 1999 shutting down the “Mission Creek by the Court of Appeals. fice now appear to have a constituwhen the state legislature passed a youth camp.” However, critics The majority’s opinion written tional right to manipulate the pubby Justice James Johnson wrote lic by lying about their opponents, that, “The notion that the govern- all in the name of free speech. ment, rather than the people, may Many Americans have a hard time be the final arbiter of truth in po- trusting their political leaders as litical debate is fundamentally at it is; will allowing candidates to odds with the First Amendment.” openly lie help build politicians’ The majority added, “The best trust and credibility? Could this remedy for false or unpleasant ruling ultimately lead to much speech is more speech, not less more negative campaigning? speech. The importance of this If advertisers can’t lie and maconstitutional principle is illustrat- nipulate the public when advered by the very real threats to liber- tising for their products, political ty posed by allowing an unelected candidates shouldn’t be allowed government censor like the PDC to either. Considering our current to act as an arbiter of truth.” political situation and governHowever, Chief Justice Gerry ment leaders’ credibility, is alAlexander, who also joined the lowing public figures to lie when majority rule, but wrote a concur- campaigning going to help garner ring opinion, said that: “the major- public support and trust for politiity goes too far in concluding that cal candidates and politics in genany government censorship of po- eral? litical speech would run afoul of Is the Washington court’s ruling the United States and Washington taking the First Amendment guarconstitutions,” but still argued that antee of free speech to far? Are we the law was overbroad and there- truly comfortable with allowing fore unconstitutional. candidates running for an elected The dissenting opinion written office to lie? The Roberts court by Justice Barbara Madsen and needs to re-evalutate what sort of joined by Justices Tom Chambers, message its sending to the people. Mary Fairhurst and Bobbe Bridge, A Sight for Sore Eyes by: Aleksander Lapinski BY THE BEACON EDITORIAL BOARD 7 7 8 8 Beacon Poll Results Americans have a lot to worry about. The ongoing Iraq war, stock market and housing investThe following are results of a ment instability, drug busts, AIDS, poll that The Beacon conductand environmental concerns domed online this past week. The inate the nightly news reports. Is poll was unscientific, and does it any wonder that with such boldnot claim to reflect the overall face headlines other issues fail to attitudes of students on camcapture our attention? Seemingly pus. Results are based on 81 “less important” social problems responses. like homelessness, poverty, and the growing deficit tend to make inside pages, if that, because of The Beacon asked: the pressing nature of the other stories. Which the sidebar seven deadly One of of those issuessin that dooccasionally you commit the most? only squeaks onto the public radar is animal cruelty. Re• animal Pride-10% cently cruelty has become • mainstream Lust-23% issue with maa more • Envy-11% jor corporations, football players, and •evenSloth-3% local people stirring up • Gluttony-9% the issue. Animal cruelty involves • Wrath-6% anything from dog fighting, and • Anger-12% shooting whales, to killing aniI don’t any of mals•for fur and commit animal testing. the sins-7% The problem isn’t awareness; it • more I commit is that peoplemultiple appear to beallokay of thetodeadly lieve thatorit’s hurt animals sins-19% for personal benefit or enjoyment. Worse, there is a small contingent inNext the country believe that the Week’swho Question: practice of animal cruelty can be excused because of superhero age-old culIf you could be any tural for practices. Halloween, which one Just two would youweeks be? ago the Makah tribe made the wire over the issue of Years ago the Na• whaling. Wonderwoman tive •American tribe legally killed Superman whales something of a sport. • asBatman The •tribeSpiderman suspend its practice because• theHulk grey whale was placed on the • endangered Catwomanspecies list and federal government prohibited • Wolverine whaling. However, in 1994, the • Elektra grey•whale came America off of the endanCaptain gered• list.Storm The tribe obtained a permit in 1999 to www.wilkesbeacon.com kill a whale which outVisit raged animal to cast yourrights vote.groups. ResultsAfter will a court it became necessary be hearing published in next week’s for the issue tribeofto The receive a waiver Beacon. in order to hunt whales. Recently, members of the tribe shot a grey whale repeatedly with a rifle before they were due to receive their waiver. The five men involved are all facing fines of up to $20,000 �OCTOBER 23, 2007 OPINION 7 Matthew Shepard Act will expand definition of ‘hate crimes’ Recognizing sexual orientation as target of hate an important step forward as an addition to already existing hate crime The Act would merely use the words as BY STEPHANIE GERCHMAN Seriously!? laws if passed. The existing law is the Hate proof once the crime has been committed, Beacon Asst. Opinion Editor It has been almost ten years since the shocking incident and the ignorance that served as its catalyst still exists. Matthew Shepard was a student at the University of Wyoming. After midnight on October 7 1998, Shepard purportedly met two men in a bar and asked them for a ride home. Later, the men tied Shepard to a fence, robbed and pistol whipped him. He was found several hours later alive but unconscious. Five days later Matthew Shepard died in the hospital from the fracture from the back of his head to the front, brain stem damage, and several other lacerations. This senseless death occurred all because he was gay. Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson pretended to be gay in order to gain Shepard’s trust to rob him. The pair’s then girlfriends testified that the two men had planned to rob a gay man and Shepard happened to be the unlucky target. In March of 2007, the United States House of Representatives passed the Matthew Shepard Act, formerly known as the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007 and it would serve Crimes Statistics Act and it prosecutes criminals who committed crimes based on race, religion, sexual orientation, or ethnicity. The Human Rights campaign states that the new act’s purpose is to insure wider, more comprehensive punishment for crimes that affect a “whole community or category of people and their families.” The act would add crimes committed based on gender and gender identity. This Act could help change the way an ever growing group of people is treated, and it is widely supported. Why, then, would President Bush threaten to veto it? It is well known that President Bush will veto or ban anything relating to support of gays or lesbians and he is in very strong opposition of the group as a whole. The House had a strong vote in favor of the Matthew Shepard Act at 237 to 180, I think that says something for what the people want. But, just as with the stem cell veto, Bush thinks too much about his own beliefs and doesn’t care enough about what is good for the people. Those against the Matthew Shepard Act say that it could threaten our First Amendment rights. I find this to be untrue. not prosecute people for expressing their hate against a group of people, even if it is verbal abuse. If the Matthew Shepard Act is threatening to our First Amendment rights then so are the existing hate crime acts. The Hate Crimes Statistics Act punishes criminals based on what they have said about their victims based on sex, race and religion. Why not add gay and transgendered people as well? If hate driven crimes against people based on race, religion, and sex require specific legal punishment because they cause harm not just to the victim, but to a whole class of people or community, then so should hate driven crimes against gays and transgenders. If we already have laws prohibiting hate crimes, then what is the big deal about adding a few more groups of people? I urge you to go online and sign the Erase Hate Petition and help show some support for the Matthew Shepard Act and the many who have already been victims of such hate crimes. Go to: http://www.matthewshepard.org/ site/PageServer?pagename=Erase_Hate_ Crimes_Erase_Hate_Petition “Be the change you want to see...” The Beacon/Cara Koster A lonely beer nestled in a tree on the greenway. At least it was, ahem, Keystone Light. Classy. Have you seen anything around campus that has made you think Seriously!? The Beacon wants your strange pictures. Here is all you have to do. 1 Take a picture of something that makes you think Seriously!? (Please no contrived pictures.) 2 E-mail where and when you took the picture, your name, graduation year and major to thebeacon.oped@gmail.com. Apathy yields the decline of those chasing ‘The American Dream’ BY ANDEE SCARANTINO Beacon Editor-in-Chief I think a big part of living life is taking risks. I was asked recently about the difference between television in the US and the UK (where I lived last spring.) Besides the social aspects, I could only think of one distinct difference in the UK: the absence of The American Dream. I think it is not often enough that one gives credit to such a wonderful thing. The American Dream, essentially, is being able to rise up and do as you will with your life, with the ultimate goal of achieving premium happiness. For some, that is financial wealth. For others, it is fame. Regardless, we are born into a society that allows us to prosper from our own hard work, and not from being born into a high class in a rigid class structure. Take Alberto Gonzales, for example, who came from a family of migrant workers, and rose to become to Attorney General of the United States. The values his parents instilled in him made him want to succeed, to prosper. He is living proof that such things aren’t impossible. What got me thinking about this? Well, I think it started the other day on the Staten Island Ferry, heading into Manhattan. My best friend, with whom I’ve been through everything, had a job interview in the city, and I went with him. I sat thinking of the ride in; thinking about the traffic and remembering the Paul Simon lyric “Counting the cars on the New Jersey turnpike/ they’ve all come to look for America.” My best friend and I never had much money, but he and I have worked diligently, and both of us made a trip to New York City within that 8 day period because of prospective work. We, along with so many other vagabonds piling into that ferry that day, were chasing The Dream. I feel like my generation does not pay enough attention to The Dream. There is an overwhelming apathy among my generation, not just with the American Dream, but with every minute factor that ties into it. I see it in classrooms, when, instead of engaging, students let out subtle grunts at their professors with the hope that they can B.S. a 3.0. I see it on College Publisher, when students choose to read primarily about underage drinking, and sidewalk construction, and complain about the topics at hand, but never once write us letters. I see it with friends and loved ones dropping out of school, and people lacking any direction to move forward in the world. You don’t have to have a lot of money to chase The American Dream. You just have to have the will, and minimizing your life goals and accomplishments will lead further down a road of destruction than prosperity. Don’t settle. You’ve been very fortunate to have been born into a society much of the world sees as classless. It isn’t going to always be easy. Failure is easy. Don’t settle for being a TSS worker when you want to be a psychiatrist. Don’t settle for writing for a local newspaper when you want to write for a magazine. Don’t settle for being a teacher when you really want to be a publisher. Don’t allow a newspaper to write something you don’t agree with. Challenge it. So often, I see people, just moving about, finding activities to fill their lives and the time that they have to waste, because at my age, they did not actively chase the American Dream. Don’t have your life reduced to that. Live the life you’ve imagined, and when there are obstacles, jump over them. This is America, and while I do not believe it is an invincible country, or even a stable one, I believe our people, if they choose to be, can be nothing short of invincible… And, our government can’t stop us from succeeding. Please, cut out the apathy. Go out, vote, write us letters, apply for that dream job, question authority. I once had a class with a professor who said “Any time some expert or authority figure says something, interrogate it.” Immediately following, a student said “Why?” Be that student. We live in the land of opportunity, and it’s about time we start exercising ourselves to reach our goals; chase our dreams. I think it’s about time we stop letting the American Dream die. �OPINION OCTOBER 23, 2007 WILKES 8 portal: aggravation outweighs convenience BY NICOLE FRAIL Beacon Asst. News Editor email or get something off of the portal, but shouldn’t this ‘new and improved’ system be able to support that? It’s awesome that everything we need is in one place, but when that single site is down for a certain amount of time, I don’t just lose access to my courses. I also can’t get into my financial information, my email, my groups, and so on. To be thought of as convenient, the portal first needs to be functional. If I had been [g)[i) [g) President's Corner in a hurry or if it Error Report was before class Ch annel ID: u1111n446 and I had forgotMes sage: encountered problem wh ile trying to complete rendering ten to print out Error type: General error (code 0) the lecture notes Problem type: Error me ssage: General channe l rendering f ailu re, and had to wait alrn Im Iii l most fifteen minutes to get them, I Group Studio Activity Channel II)IZ][g)[il [g) would’ve been late Error Report for class, the proChannel ID: u1111n364 fessor would have Message: encountered problem wh ile trying to complete rendering been annoyed, the Error type: General erro r (code 0) class would have Problem type: been disrupted, Error message: General channel rendering failure, and by that time I rn Im Iii would have probably smeared the [g)[i) [g) Bookmarks ink on the recentError Report ly printed pages Cha nn el ID: ulllln63 before I was finally able to access the pages for my courses. What should have been a two minute process ended up taking almost fifteen and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t completely irritated when I was finally able to print my assignment out and leave the lobby. I understand that it was the start of club hours and probably half of the students at Wilkes ran to a computer to check their The Beacon/Nicole Frail For once in my life, I was ready to start my psychology homework the day it was assigned. Right after class ended at 10:45 last Tuesday, I headed to a computer in Stark and attempted to log on to the MyWilkes portal to get the assignment and print it to take home. In my first attempt, I couldn’t even log in. “HTTP Status 503 - There are too many simultaneous logins jg@ [g) Personal Announcements Problems Accesing Outlook Web and WebCT CE6 - please wait and try again.” I tried this three times (with a minute or so wait in-between) [g)[i)[g) Temporarily Links before I finally got to my home Error Report Channel ID: u11 11n4 71 page. Relieved, I clicked on Message: encountered problem while trying to My Courses and the name of complete rendering Erro r type: General error (code 0) my psychology course and Problem type: was greeted with this wonderError message: General channel rendering failure . ful gray and red box: rn Im Iii “External System Error. CPIP Notification: The sys[g)[i) [g) What's New in MyWilkes tem ‘webct’ is responding too Error Report slowly, please try again after a C hannel ID : u11 11 n3 69 short wait.” Message: encountered problem while trying to complete rendering Waited a minute, tried again. Error type: General error (code 0) Nothing. Waited three minutes, Problem type: Error message : General channel rendering failure . tried again, still nothing. I even m Im Iii signed out and signed back in (with no trouble, surprisingly) When logging into the portal before Fall break, an error page was shown. and had to try twice after that Mentoring outside the classroom: faculty key BY MARK CONGDON JR. Beacon Opinion Editor “Wilkes University, wants to become a great institution dedicated to academic excellence through a mentoring culture that engages, challenges, and supports our students in extraordinary, ways,” wrote President Tim Gilmour in the February 2006 issue of University Business. President Gilmour’s vision of Wilkes is partially born out by stories of faculty interactions with students outside of the classroom. More so than in past years, one can observe that many faculty have become increasingly involved with student activities. For instance, many faculty members turned out for the recent majors fair and casino night. This not only fosters the mentoring atmosphere that Wilkes is known for, but it also helps break down the barriers between professors and students and can make the classroom experience more enjoyable and less timid. Moreover, it shows that faculty care about their students outside of the classroom. However, it seems that the faculty members who help out with such events are the same faculty regularly help out every year. For example, those who helped out with the majors fair and casino night, and many of the science professors who help out with Adventures in Science, offered in the spring semester, are the same who do it every year with few new faculty members joining in. It’s great that many of the faculty continues to come back and help outside of the classroom, but it would be great to see new faces out there. This will create a better community atmosphere at Wilkes, and could help foster the mentoring atmosphere that Wilkes is creating. Additionally, professors will get a better perspective on what their students do outside of the classroom, which could ultimately create a more positive learning environment. The faculty who continue to go above and beyond to help out with student run events should be applauded, and more should be encouraged to do the same. Perhaps, to create an incentive to get new faculty involved outside of the classroom, the University could offer some sort of recognition like a certificate of appreciation or Faculty Member of the Month award. Though Student Government does recognize one faculty and staff member who go above and beyond at the end of the academic year, students need to offer more recognition across the board. In order to continue to foster a mentoring environment that distinguishes Wilkes, more faculty should get involved with their students outside of the classroom, not just the same third who regularly go above and beyond. This can happen in both formal and informal ways. Sit down and have a cup of coffee with students between classes, attend a recital or play in support of the students on stage, help plan a diversity event, or work with a team of students on a research project. By offering more recognition to faculty and staff for student involvement outside of the classroom, Gilmour’s vision could become even more of a reality. while I frantically raced across campus so I wouldn’t miss even more class time. And yes, I know a simple response to this situation would be “Well, you shouldn’t forget to print the notes in the first place,” but even if I wasn’t running late or hadn’t forgotten something, the point is still that I should be able to access what I need when I need it. This isn’t the only problem that I (and possibly many others on campus) have run into with the MyWilkes portal. Some students are listed as the wrong major or the wrong year. Some of them don’t see some of the classes they are taking on the My Courses page. Some can’t even access their email through the portal at 10:00 in the morning. Even some professors have had problems with submitted assignments completely disappearing after only being posted for 24 hours. As I said earlier, I understand that some of these problems may be encountered during high traffic hours like club hours or lunch time (or 11:55 when some of us are trying to post homework or papers before the midnight deadline). I also understand that it’s a brand new system and there are still bugs to be worked out, but the semester is already half over. When will these aggravating technicalities finally be done away with? What do you think? -- • The Beacon wants your voice to be heard. Your Voices is the opportunity for students to voice their concerns. If you want your voice to be heard, please contact The Beacon with the following information: 1 Contact information including your email address and a phone number where you can be reached 2 Your name, major, and year 3 Your opinion thebeacon.oped@ gmail.com The Beacon reserves the right to edit submitted pieces for space and content. �LIFESTYLES OCTOBER 23, 2007 Cheap tickets for students “The Office” comes home 10 11 9 Importance of international study grows amidst global changes Study abroad informational seminar offered this week perceived, but she be- University offers to students who want to lieves that for the most go abroad, Bianco says, “Wilkes really part Europe is very safe. doesn’t have much…” The main programs The Wilkes University Mission She also said, “Most of are in Spain and Latin America which pristates that the goal of the university them [students] never marily focus on Spanish language courses. is “To educate our students for lifeleft the area. They want However, the Study Abroad Office does long learning and success in a conto do their four years, help students who find their own programs stantly evolving and multicultural graduate, and get a job not affiliated with Wilkes to arrange their world…” in the area and work trips. One way the University works to here. So the idea of “The process wasn’t that hard, if you meet the objective of teaching stugoing away, I think it find a program, that’s the biggest struggle, dents about the “multicultural world” scares them.” finding a program and deciding where you is by bringing many international stuConcerns about want to go,” says Testa. dents to the University. However, as having too many reDespite apprehensions or difficulties that Dr. Paola Bianco, Associate Professor sponsibilities and not they may have had at first, Testa, Phillips, and Study Abroad Coordinator, notes enough financial re- and Trovato all feel that studying abroad holas Testa ic N “Diversity does not only come by havsources are why Dr. offered them an once-in-a-lifetime opy es rt ou C ing minorities at the university…diMaria Suarez, Special portunity to be immersed in another culum ay from the Colosse aw s versity also comes when we leave our Assistant to the President ture. “There is no other time in your life ile m e re th ed Nicholas Testa liv in Rome, Italy. e nc comfort-zone for once and go abroad for Diversity and Community that you can spend five months away from rie pe ex ad ro during his study ab and learn about ourselves…” Affairs, thinks that only a few students go your family, friends, everything, be in anCurrently, Bianco estimates that about overestimate the difficulty of the process abroad. However, Suarez believes that hav- other country…and it makes you grow up, 15-18 students from Wilkes take courses or be scared of traveling to another country ing “international experiences” like taking it makes you mature…it’s one of the most abroad every year, most of them partici- alone. courses in another country is more impor- incredible things I’ve ever done,” says Tropating in programs that take place over the However, Elisa Phillips has a different tant now than ever before. vato. summer. This number has increased from opinion. Phillips is a senior English and “In almost every field, you will be lookThose who are interested in studying between two and four students five years secondary education major, who studied ing at international con- abroad should attend the Study Abroad Inago. and traveled in New Zealand for six months versation…if formational Seminar,an open house “We should definitely have much more,” last February through August. She noted you want to be which will be said Bianco. that “the word needs to get out more” about c o m p e t i t i v e Those who are familiar with study abroad the study abroad program in order to en- in the work think there are several different reasons courage more students to take part. force, I think why only a few students take advantage of Paul Trovato, a senior business major who it’s really imthis experience. Nicholas Testa, a senior spent five months at a university in New p o r t a n t … ” psychology major who spent four months Castle, Australia, agrees with her. Suarez also last semester learning Italian in Rome, Italy, Testa mentioned, though, “There are dis- noted that believes that some students may plays and there some uniare signs. Wilkes v e r s i t i e s actually does a are even really good job. beginning Those things a movecaught my eye, ment toand I realized w a r d s that Wilkes does m a k i n g support this, it a rethat they will q u i r e - Paul Trova to spent Courtesy five mon help you do it ment for graduaPaul Tro ths study vato in g and trav and that made tion. eling in A ustralia. my decision a Phillips had a suggestion for how to en- held this Thurslot clearer.” courage more students to take advantage day, October 25 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Bianco feels of the study abroad experience, “…invest in Fenner Hall. The programs that Wilkes that with the in programs, so that it’s easier for kids who University offers will be discussed along current war are looking to do it, because you have to get with financial aid and credit transfer. Stuillips in Iraq, some special permission when you go through dents who have studied abroad will also be Courtesy Elisa Ph students are a program that’s not connected with our present. y of Otago in afraid of how school…” sit er iv Un e th at s ) took three course on Harbor. Americans are In terms of specific programs that the Elisa Philips (right d. This picture overlooks Wellingt an New Zeal BY CHRISTINE ZAVASKAS Beacon Asst. Lifestyles Editor �LIFESTYLES 10 OCTOBER 23, 2007 Students’ weekend plans bolstered by free or cheap tickets Wilkes University gives its student body the opportunity to get involved in social activities to have fun, gain cultural experience, develop leadership skills or to build on academic strengths. Most would assume that movies, the Wilkes-Barre Little Theater, major speakers, or even Broadway tickets would put a major strain on students’ wallets. However, thanks to careful management, planning and promotion most of these opportunities are offered to Wilkes students at a significantly reduced cost. “Discount tickets are something that we are giving back to the students from the activity fees they pay as part of their costs at Wilkes,” said Margy Sromovski, Office Coordinator for Student Development. Some of the activities students can participate in at a reduced cost range from movie tickets to trips to NY Yankees games, Hershey Park, bus tickets to New York City, Colonial Williamsburg, Busch Gardens, miniature golf, and horseback riding to name just a few. The University follows a process to be able to purchase these tickets, “A student committee of around 10 students gives us suggestions on what they think is an attraction to the students and at that point we explore the possibilities,” said Philip Ruthkosky, Director of Student Development. Later, they go to the places where they purchase the tickets at full price or group rates. Thanks to student activities fees, the university can provide some tickets for free and others at reduced rates. Cheap tickets are given publicity around the University through pamphlets, the dry erase board, and the scroll located at the Henry Student Center. James Crenshaw and Jarod Marino, who both work at the information desk on the first floor of the Henry Student Center, said that different people go there every day to ask or to take advantage of the affordable tickets. These tickets are offered to the students at a discount price or at no price at all. The most in demand tickets are to Movies 14. “After half a day there are no more tickets,” said Ruthkosky. The tickets that are perhaps second in popularity are for ice skating at The Ice Box, and bowling at Stanton Lanes, “To take advantage of these tickets students have to plan what they are going to do within the week,” explained Sromovski, because tickets are limited in quantity. These tickets are a great chance of having new experiences and a way of taking advantage of opportunities that many haven’t be able to take advantage of before. The tickets can be obtained at the Student Development Office on the first floor of the Henry Student Center. tl Tickets still available for events this semester are: •••••••••••••••••••• •••Movies 14 ticket- $3.00 (1 per week) •• •••Bowling at Stanton Lanes- Free •• • • •••Ice Skating at The Ice box- Free •• •••New York City Show “How the Grinch•• Christmas”, and dinner at Carmines •Stole Dec 2- $25.00 (Tickets avail-• ••Restaurant, •• able by lottery) •••Little Theater of Wilkes-Barre “The Diary•• Anne Frank” November 10,11,16,17,18• ••of- Free • •• •• Kirby Center “An evening with Colin• •••F.M Mochrie and Brad Sherwood from Whose• ••Line Is It Anyway” Oct. 26- $5.00 •• •••••••••••••••••••• The Beacon/Cara Koster BY YOHANNA DE LOS SANTOS MARIA Beacon Correspondent 165 North Wilkes-Barre Blvd Wilkes-Barre, PA (570) 825-8459 IN Sunday Home-style dinner specials $1.50 Miller Lite cans Monday Dozen clams/ wings for $4.99 $1.50 Miller Lite cans llclp ·. . ma · d y L! In. nt 665 .· k :a 1 (570 823- Tuesday (College Night) $1 Yuengling Lager Drafts $3.95 Bar Pizza Wednesday (Mexican Night) $1 off Coronas & Corona Lights ½ Off Mexican Apps 5 p.m. - 9p.m. Thursday Dozen clams for $4.99 Featured Beer Night Friday Martini specials "After Work" Happy Hour Monday - Friday 5 - 7 p.m . $ 1.00 off all Mixers & Import Drafts $1 .50 Domestic Drafts �LIFESTYLES OCTOBER 23, 2007 11 “The Office” and its stars come home to Scranton BY CHRISTA SGOBBA Beacon Asst. Lifestyles Editor Fans of NBC’s hit sitcom “The Office” may feel like they know the characters after watching them on the small screen each week. But this weekend, the show’s diehards will have the opportunity to actually meet the show’s stars face-to-face during a three-day extravaganza. The city of Scranton will host the first “Office” convention Friday, October 26 to Sunday, October 28. During the convention, fans will come together to celebrate all things “The Office,” through meet and greet events, question and answer sessions, and cocktail parties and receptions with the stars. “Having the cast of a hit TV show in its heyday come to the town where it’s filmed never happens,” said Gene Padden, the commission organizer and entertainment chairperson of the convention. “It’s unprecedented.” Now in its fourth season, “The Office” has earned critical acclaim, a wide fan base, and a spot in NBC’s must-see Thursday night lineup. The half-hour sitcom follows the exploits, hang-ups, and neuroses of various office workers at the fictional Dunder Mifflin paper supply company in Scranton, Pa. It stars Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson, Josh Krasinski, and Jenna Fischer. Tickets for the convention, which are available online at www.theofficeconvention.com, range from the $25 to $250. The $25 “Intern” tickets include week-long access to the convention activities as well as one limited-admission cast appearance. Many of the higher-priced tickets, including the $250 “Corporate” tickets, have already sold out. Despite the tickets’ popularity, Padden assures that there will still be tickets available in the lower price ranges the week before the convention. “We’ve been selling tickets literally world-wide,” said Padden. “The first hour we put tickets on sale, we made $55,000 in sales.” Fans have purchased tickets from as far away as Ireland, Australia, and England, where there is a popular British version of the sitcom. Padden noted that they have sold more tickets out of state than locally. The convention will kick off at 7.00 a.m. F r i d a y, October 26 with Al Roker broadcasting live from the University of Scranton for “The Today Show.” That night, the university will also host a student block party. Kayla Betacchini, a junior communications major at the University of Scranton, will be performing on “The Today Show” with a campus dance group called Urban Beats. “We just found out about it last week, and everyone’s really excited about it,” she said. “We’re not sure how much airtime we’ll get, but we know it’ll be fun.” A street festival will be held in downtown Scranton on October 27 and 28, with open admission. It will feature food, live music played on open-air stages, and vendors selling Scranton and Dunder Mifflin merchandise. “Estimates for parade day are about 100,000 people in Scranton,” said Padden. “For this convention, we estimate a similar number of people in the downtown. The police department is preparing for at least 50,000.” Limited-admission events include question and answers sessions with the cast, a character look-alike contest, a VIP cocktail reception, and a discussion with the writers of the hit comedy. Because of the great interest in many of these events by college-age students, Padden says that administrators changed some of the regulations to make them more agefriendly. Cocktail parties that were once limited to those 21 or older are now accessible to those of all ages. A wristband will be worn by those under 21. The convention has received attention throughout the country, thrusting Scranton into the national spotlight. Articles on it have appeared in The New York Times and The Washington Post, and Steve Carell has mentioned it in national interviews. “This convention should do nothing but better people’s perceptions of Scranton,” said Padden. “Scranton will be ready for it.” Betacchini, who is a fan of “The Office” believes that the crowds will get a more truthful view of Scranton by actually experiencing the city. “I think seeing it will change how people feel about the area,” she said. “I hope they see that people from Scranton aren’t neces- CONFIRMED CAST APPEARANCES •Leslie David Baker (Stanley) •Andy Buckley (David Wallace from Corporate) •Brian Baumgartner (Kevin) •Creed Bratton (Creed) •Kate Flannery (Meredith) •Melora Hardin (Jan) •Mindy Kaling (Kelly) •Angela Kinsey (Angela) •Paul Lieberstein (Toby) •Oscar Nunez (Oscar) •Craig Robinson (Darryl from the warehouse) •Bobby Ray Shafer (Bob Vance - Vance Refrigeration) •Phyllis Smith (Phyllis) sarily as crazy as they seem on show.” Padden also says that places mentioned in “The Office” are likely to be packed the whole weekend by fans wanting to rub shoulders with the stars. “Cast members are saying they can’t wait to go to Poor Richard’s or Cooper’s,” he said. “I don’t think you’ll be able to get a seat in Poor Richard’s all night.” Up-to-date information regarding tickets for the convention, a full list of confirmed stars who will be in attendance, and a listing of events and times are available at its official website, www.theofficeconvention. com. All photos The Beacon/Christa Sgobba ------------------------------------They were on “The Office,” but are they really in Scranton? YES 701 N. Washington Ave. NO The Hooter’s franchise hasn’t made it to Scranton YES McCarthy Flowered Cabs 132 Cedar Ave. NO There are no passenger trains in Scranton YES 300 Lackawanna Ave. �A&E OCTOBER 23, 2007 Lo ca I sk ate boa rd e rs d em o n st rate tenacity in fight for skate park BY MARISSA PHILLIPS Beacon A&E Editor In some areas, skateboarders stay off the streets and can hone their skills at a skate park, but in Wilkes-Barre and its surrounding areas, skaters are left crafting makeshift ramps in abandoned lots and dodging the cops as they make use of the area’s signs, walls, and rails. “We were kicked out and cops would tell us to quit skateboarding and do more productive things with our lives….The thing is in Wilkes-Barre, they kind of just do it for themselves. It’s a whole different scene. We made something out of absolutely nothing,” explained skater Jon Borthwick. The local skate scene is a unique one, because while it is seriously lacking in resources, there’s absolutely no stopping the determined. With the majority of the skaters there’s no focus on fame or money, and it’s all simply centered around a love for skateboarding. Borthwick explained, “Wilkes-Barre became this breeding ground for kids skating amazing. I lived in Philadelphia and Colorado, and I see that the kids in Wilkes-Barre are on some other level. Everyone out in Colorado, if there’s a kid really pushing himself, it’s because he wants to go pro. The thing is in Wilkes-Barre, they kind of just do it for themselves.” There are a lot of positive aspects to the NEPA skating scene, but conventional thinking among local residents presumes that the young people are “bad news” or “up to no good.” This is where the NESC (North East Skate Crew) comes in; to bridge the gap and show the public some of the more positive aspects of the skating community. The actual name of the group came about around 1996, brought on by a constant war between the football players and skateboarders in a Dallas middle school. One person came up with the idea to get a group of kids together to defend against the football players, and they thought of the North East Skate Crew. For a while it was just a title used among a few friends. Years later, local skater, Kevin Pizzano, was trying to come up with a name to unite all of the skaters in the area. The name NESC was known among a few people, mostly as a joke, but it just seemed to fit. As Borthwick put it, it was a name used mainly among “just a little group of kids that turned into like, the spirit of skateboarding in NEPA.” Since its inception, Pizzano has had a key role in the NESC. He got different groups of skaters to come together and together they were able to initiate certain projects. Along with the NESC he recently started the NEPA Free Skate park Association, who are working towards the goal of getting a free, public skate park in the area. He and Borthwick have also worked with members of the NESC to release numerous skate videos over the years. The videos demonstrated what each new skating generation had to offer. Each video featured separate sections for different local skaters showcasing their talents. A new video came out annually for a few years, with the exception of this past year. However, currently the NESC has a larger project in the works. Borthwick has relocated to Colorado, but he is still working with the NESC to create a new film, starting back at the group’s inception, and documenting their progression up to the current time. Although the video will offer a bit of the history of the group, there will be “not too much talking, mostly letting the skating talk for itself,” explained Borthwick. The video will obviously receive most appreciation from skateboarders, but it will continue to focus specifically on the local scene, and can be appreciated by those who grew up in the area, and who may have heard of the NESC. Although the movie will most likely remain in the works for about another year, a promo for it should be available by the end of November. The movie itself is slated to come out somewhere around the end of 2008, and besides sharing information and history about the NESC, the film will also be used to raise money for the skate park. While the documentary is one large project the NESC has in the works, the group is continuing to put forth every effort possible to improve the local skating community. Pizzano and other members of the NEPA Free Skatepark Association have been in a constant struggle to get the city to help them build their skate park. Members have been talking to commissioners, and media outlets, and attending city council meetings, all in the hopes of getting people to take notice. Pizzano explained that “We need them to want to go for this. They say they’re for it, but they aren’t doing anything to make the city to help us out to get a park. We’re not going to give up.” Lack of support and resources hasn’t discouraged the local skateboarders in the past, because as they’ve proven, they’ll find their own way to get things done. Before the release of the documentary Pizzano also has a music compilation, an art show, and a film festival in the works. He, Borthwick and the NESC are proving through their films, fundraising efforts, and general dedication that while they may currently lack city support and proper practice space, they’ll still find a way to progress. “If you grew up skating here you’d understand how hard it was to keep it going,” says Borthwick. But they did. Photos courtesy JDK 12 Haunted Houses CD Review: Siouxsie Crossword/Website ~~~~~ 12 13 13 14 14 15 15 �OCTOBER 23, 2007 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 13 Local haunted houses offer affordable scare BY ALISSA LINDNER Beacon Asst. A&E Editor With Halloween approaching, students might be looking to add a good scare to their weekend activities. Northeastern Pennsylvania offers several haunted house experiences designed to send even the most stoic off to the corner whimpering. But with many options, college students on a tight budget rarely have the option to ‘shop around’ for the right thrill. In addition, as the semester’s academic pressures mount, who has time to explore the area looking for the excitement of the area’s best haunted house? Two popular local haunted houses are Night Terrors in West Pittston and Horror Hall in Nanticoke. I visited both to compare how each meets the overall goal of a haunted house: to scare the people brave enough to enter. The Beacon/Alissa Lindner Night Terrors Night Terrors, like most local haunted houses, is open every Friday, and Saturday from 6:00-11:00 p.m. and Sunday from 6:00-10:00 p.m. throughout October. The Night Terrors website attracted me, claiming that “Thrills, chills, screams, and amazement are waiting within the dark halls of ‘Night Terrors’ thanks to three full-time professionally-credited designers on staff, and just the right blend of computer control and live action.” I visited Night Terrors on a Sunday evening with a few friends. Tickets for Night Terrors were $10.00, which makes this haunted The scare starts immediately at Horhouse an affordable option for college students in search of some fun. ror Hall with haunted figurines in the When first entering the building, thrill seekers are greeted by a skeleton figure pointing upstairs to where tickets can be purchased. The staircase that follows is actually quite creative. A black light illuminates the staircase which is painted to create a “spooky” effect. lobby. The lobby featured various haunted figurines including a headless horseman and another skeleton. My friends and I were led to an auditorium, where we were seated to wait for the haunted experience to begin. The room was dark, but everyone inside was talking about the impending adventure. One girl even apologized in advance to those around her because she shrieks loudly and is scared easily. After waiting about fifteen minutes, a movie began to play on the big screen in front of us. We were greeted by a Madame-like lady. She explained the rules: no lights, no cell phones and no smoking. The Madame also gives us the most important advice: follow the moon on our self-guided tour. Each group consisted of about seven or eight people. As we first entered, we were greeted by another Tuesday, October 23 woman, who informed us of the dangers of continuing on. Not everyone comes out alive, she warned, but - “The Language of Comics” exhibition begins in the Sordoni Art we all decided to continue on and take our chances anyway. Gallery Walking through Night Terrors offered equal amounts of mechanical scares as well as live action. The - Will’s Power: Conquering Mountains, Reaching Poles and Managlive action was definitely the source of several screams within my group. The people were not afraid to get ing Diabetes at the F.M. Kirby Center at 6 p.m. in your face to make sure you were the one scared. Without spoiling the experience, the middle offered a - Dr. J. Michael Lennon book signing at Barnes and Noble at 6 clever surprise which will definitely give thrill seekers the fright they are in search of. p.m. For the best scare, I recommend being in either the front of the group or the back. In the front, people - McGlynn Halloween Party in the SUB ballroom at 6 p.m. jump at you first offering the best scare. In the back, you never know if you are being followed... and you Wednesday, October 24 will be followed. - Billy Rogan performing at Barnes and Noble at 6:30 p.m. Although a slightly disappointing ending, Night Terrors lived up to its website description. This hauntThursday, October 25 ed experience gave me chills and left me checking my back for someone following me. - Mindy Davis Sterling Silver Jewelry in the Roth Concourse from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Horror Hall - 2nd Annual Internship Fair in the Henry Student Center Ballroom Similar to Night Terrors, Horror Hall is open every Friday and Saturday and every Sunday. Located in from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Nanticoke, Horror Hall is a little more of a drive but their website drew me in claiming, “Horror Hall is - Open Mic Night at Tudor Bookshop at 7 p.m. Northeast Pennsylvania’s biggest and best all indoor haunted attraction with approximately a ¼ mile walkFriday, October 26 through that will take you 20 hair raising minutes to complete.” - Senior Theater Capstone (Jared Roberts): “Fading Joy...A Night of On the Friday evening when I visited Horror Hall with my friend, the place was surprisingly busy. After Absurdist Theatre” in the DDD blackbox at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. buying my ticket for $12.00, everyone waited in a line in a lobby much less scary than Night Terrors. With - Punk show with bands TBA at Backstage at 6 p.m. the exception of a hunchback walking around, the only scary items were spiders and skeletons hanging - “Power of Truth”, lecture and book signing in SLC 101 at 7:30 from the ceiling. Like Night Terrors, Horror Hall also offered a small concession stand to satisfy pre-scare p.m. cravings. - Held at Gunpoint, The Naked Faces and TBA performing at After waiting about fifteen minutes, we were guided into an auditorium where Michael Jackson’s “ThrillCaf&eacute; Metropolis at 8 p.m. er” video was playing extremely loudly. Upon the completion of the video, we were greeted with a bang of - “An Evening with Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood” at the F.M. light and a vampire appeared, ready to inform us of our impeding journey. Like the Madame from Night Kriby Center at 8 p.m. Terrors, the vampire informed us of the rules and to follow our tour guide throughout the attraction. - Picture Perfect performing at the Woodlands at 10 p.m. Small groups of seven or eight were brought in to begin the haunted experience. Each group was enSaturday, October 27 couraged to get their picture taken, which could be purchased at the end of haunted house for $10.00. - Mystical Night (Tarot readings, hypnosis, reiki) at Arts Youniverse Our tour guide was not particularly enthusiastic about the journey, often barking orders at us to “Watch at 7 p.m. your step!” or “Don’t jump!” as we crossed a makeshift bridge. - Disco Biscuits performing at the F.M. Kirby Center at 8 p.m. Horror Hall offered mostly mechanical scares, with the live action not beginning until the end of the - Halloween Show featuring Tgier’s Jaw (as Blink 182), Dinosores tour. For me this was a downside because the in your face action is what scares me the most. (as Led Zeppelin), and Dirt Vultures (as CCR) at Caf&eacute; MeThe end of Horror Hall did outshine the end of Night Terrors. Although I was not checking my back tropolis at 8 p.m. when I left, I definitely got the good scare I came in search of. Night Terrors did not live up to the “20 hair - Picture Perfect performing at the Woodlands at 10 p.m. raising minutes” the website claimed, possibly five minutes would have been more accurate. Sunday, October 28 Overall, both haunted houses offered a thrilling experience. I also learned a few things while traveling - 1st Annual Black Tie Affair featuring Captain We’re Sinking, Last through the dark hallways: always go with a friend you can hold onto when someone gets in your face, and Words, Dinosores and BTA at Backstage at 6 p.m. second, I am deathly afraid of chainsaws. - Ghost Chasers event in the SUB Ballroom at 7 p.m. Winner: Night Terrors Monday, October 29 Schedule of Events �14 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT OCTOBER 23, 2007 CD Review: Siouxsie’s MantaRay BY MATT GOGAS Beacon Staff Writer After a formidable career as the voice and face of Siouxsie and the Banshees, Siouxsie released a solo effort, MantaRay, this October in the United States. She is better known for her success in the mid 70’s with Siouxsie and the Banshees and her side project in the 80’s called Creatures. At the age of 50, Siouxsie Sioux shows that she has not lost a step with MantaRay. The album shows amazing solo potential and some relevance to a current generation that may not be inclined to listen to the punk rock ramblings of a more than middle aged woman. The positive aspect of such an artist releasing a solo album like this in the twilight of her career is that surely she has by now perfected her musical craft. This holds true with MantaRay. The album opens with the beating heart single “Into a Swan.” The periodically off-key distorted guitar is reminiscent of her earlier work, but lyrically the song shows a sense of maturity. She illustrates that she has finally come into her own as a solo artist with lyrics like “I feel a force I’ve never felt before.” The second song, “About to Happen,” picks up the pace somewhat from “Into a Swan.” This song catches the listener’s attention with a catchy beat, a sexy attitude, and a steady even flow from start to finish. The music itself smacks of her punk rock roots, but it also quite pop-like, which is a change from her earlier days. The combination of the two blends flawlessly. The same holds true with the third song on the album, “Here Comes That Day.” The song is sexy, catchy, and relevant. With all the pros of this work, there are of course, the cons. MantaRay starts to lose steam towards the middle. Songs like “One Mile Below” and “Drone Zone” carry on for what seem to be an eternity with very little progression, even though both are just over three minutes. It seems as though they were put on the album to fill empty space. These few songs in the middle hold almost no significance to the continuity of the album. They lack the pop-like guitar riffs that are so prevalent towards the beginning of the album. This clustering in the middle makes the album flow a little less evenly. It does, however, begin to pick up again towards the end with “They Follow You” and ends on a solid note with “Heaven and Alchemy.” All in all, Siouxsie has done well with MantaRay. It has everything someone who enjoys rock and roll could want: a chick singer, good beats, and a few droning, emotionally heavy songs to show musical range. I would recommend giving it a listen. Grade: BPhoto courtesy www.nnpromotions.co.uk ''Live Aooustk Music" Wednesday Night October 24th BillyRogan "Topping Guitarist'' Bring your student ID that night & get 25% off your c.afe order. ST FOR THE 1rst CENTURY JRII.MittllBrl» ..... utlwl' S ~ arul hetry hading'-' Tows.day Night Ocrobu 25th Jim.Wumrr 100 Bad it's Poetry"' • LiR Aoou..a~ Mm (: Frida:, Ni~ Ocita~c,r 26th. 7:30'-9.30 Ch'llllff Baim-a •l!s.gner $cmprritecr"' ~aahhle . ·fi Th.e;su 1y night. :&om 7il0•-lt30pm •4 CAl!.L: Bl LL ti ENR\f at 2.1 S-761-4619 OR CHE(jK iliHE WEB Slil'IE FOR IN FORMA.'FIONI The Beacon/Nick Zmijewski .Dmri't forget to pidc up a °'F.-cq11e11it Bu~.- C:mi tod:i}'1 FLEX DOLIARS an; . heff :in ()ur, st:o .e! I -· 1 �15 Kudracross OCTOBER 23, 2007 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 18 22 24 25 27 28 29 30 32 33 36 37 38 40 41 44 45 46 48 BY ANDEE SCARANTINO Beacon Editor-in-Chief Does size matter? No, seriously, does it? It seems that as Americans, we have this preoccupation with size. We like big houses, big cars, big credit card limits, big breasts... How far would you go for a new set of breasts? You know, the kind that don’t droop, but rather just sit, firm and upright? Would you post pictures of yourself on the internet? Would you solicit men to give you money toward breast implants? Would you post naughty pictures that men would have to pay to see? Would you flirt shamelessly? Well, I’ve got some spectacular news for you. You can do all of these things and get free breast implants in return at MyFreeImplants.com. Here’s how it works. These women sign up for the site, and post pictures, blurbs, etc. about themselves. Then, gents who sign up can buy credit to speak with any particular woman. Basically, it’s like having head-sex with these women; men paying to get their rocks off while women get money toward free fake breasts. The site works with various cosmetic surgeons that per- form breast augmentation for “free,” pending the client acquiring the necessary funds from interested males. What the heck is this? Honestly. I looked at the site, and apparently it has some rave reviews from various media outlets and personalities. But, it’s crap. This site does nothing more than give women a false sense of what is beautiful. We’re shifting more and more toward a culture where we have to look and act like cookie-cutter people. That’s simply not right. Needless to say, there are so many human beings in this country who are homeless, starving, or both. Heck, taking it to a smaller level, I have three dollars in my bank account. Nobody is going to donate to a site to help me pay that 5 figure debt I have in student loans, but if I wanted saline shoved into my chest, all I’d have to do is hit on randy men and solicit for donations. You know, I don’t know where I fit when it comes to selflessness, but I think this site is just disgraceful. Just the idea that strange men are so passionate about getting women a free set of boobs says something to me about this culture I live in. I give this site a “D” cup for “Disgraceful!” 49 50 52 54 55 57 58 59 62 63 64 Large Nebraska city Got up Narrow street Poplar, for example Electric swimmers Hints Roger Rabbit, for one France currency Undergrad degrees Travelers abbreviation Tailor Mail Room THE CITIZENS’ VOICE PART TIME Inserting Flyers Into Newspaper Day and Night Shifts Available NIGHT SHIFT 12am to Approx 3:30am FRIDAYS - 11:30am Start SATURDAYS - 12 Noon Start Must be 18 years or older Applications may be filled out at front desk of THE CITIZENS’ VOICE 75 N. Washington St. Wilkes-Barre, PA, 18711 Courtesy Lackawanna County Library System MyFreeImplants.com Make very happy Skin opening John McClane nemesis Composition TV interference DOWN Soak up That’s alternative English teacher’s no-no Lion’s sound Flotation devices “____ Souls’ Day” Sony competitor Make changes Historical periods Proclamation Behavior principle Make into law Trails Poker necessity Cooking abbr. Rats, for example New Mexico Native Americans Brandenburg Concerti composer Fishing tackle Fe Doze off Become less severe Beethoven’s “_____ to joy” Jean type Useful metals Camping abode IRS abbr. Mel Gibson role Dignified Church offerings Canada neighbor Baby premiere Answers 10/07 BY CHRISTOPHER KUDRAK Beacon Staff Writer ACROSS 1 Constellation part 5 British politician “Isaac _____” 10 Profound 14 Columbus is its capital 15 Stomach ailment 16 Italian volcano 17 Island spirit? 19 AIM activity 20 Go off course 21 Emu kin 23 Inviting letters 26 Religious bodies 27 Birdwatcher shelter 31 Old world 34 Emanations 35 Mouthpiece of wind instrument 36 Wife changed into a pillar of salt 39 “Cream of the _____” 40 Stroll 41 Barely adequate 42 Chick’s mom 43 Mound 44 Poe’s bird 45 Flip a switch? 47 Have being 48 Bullwinkle foe 51 Bachelor 53 Ape 56 Starbucks offering 60 Skin ailment 61 Insubordinate 65 “My country ‘tis of _______” 66 67 68 69 70 �SPORTS 16 OCTOBER 23, 2007 Field hockey team shooting to score in post-season BY CARLTON HOLMES Beacon Sports Editor At the end of every field hockey season, she’s always cleaning out her locker early because another conference team stole her postseason dreams. Facing a similar scenario this season as she did in her previous three as a Lady Colonel, senior Lindsay Thomas refuses to miss another bus ride headed to the Freedom Conference playoffs. “What’s running through my mind is these are the last games of my career,” said Thomas as she gracefully pedaled on one of the bicycle machines after watching game film with the team on Friday. She plans to make them count. After the Lady Colonels posted a 4-2 victory over Arcadia University on Saturday, Thomas is a few steps closer to punching in her first ticket to the Freedom conference playoffs. All fans could hear in the first half were a bunch of players in maroon and black jackets screaming on Arcadia’s sideline. The Lady Knights entered the game 5-11 overall, 0-4 in the conference and were excited to be winning two goals to one on the road. For the Lady Colonels, it was all silence. A loss to Arcadia would have put the Lady Colonels on a four-game losing streak. Head coach Sara Myers stressed the team’s inability to capitalize on golden opportuni- ties in practice last week. “We need to put the ball in the cage,” said Myers. “We have been really stressing scoring in the past few practices. We are dominating games but not getting the outcomes we want.” If anyone listened in practice, it was certainly junior Diana Wright. With less than 30 seconds left in the first half against Arcadia, junior Diana Wright scored her second goal for the Lady Colonels to tie the game at two off an assist from sophomore Amanda Tilley. The Lady Colonels came out firing in the second half by attempting 15 shots on goals. That would be the team’s secondhighest number of attempts in a half all season. The Lady Colonels scored on two of those attempted goals while holding Arcadia scoreless in the second half. Sophomore goalkeeper Julia Smith had four saves of the day as the Lady Colonels moved to 2-2 in the conference, 7-9 overall. Wright fired in three of the Lady Colonels four goals leaving her with a total of seven goals on the season. On Saturday, all of Wright’s three points were off assists from Tilley who entered the game with only one assist on the season. Junior Alyssa Koncelik accounted for the Lady Colonels final goal of the game off a pass from Wright The Lady Colonels are currently in fourth in the conference with two games remaining against third-place DeSales and fifthplace Delaware Valley. The Lady Colonels face both teams this week. King’s College leads the conference, while FDU sits in the second spot. Since the top four teams are selected to compete in the Freedom conference playoffs, the Lady Colonels are in position to make it. If the team wins out this week, the highest they can potentially be seeded is third. Next week will determine what teams will be dancing into the postseason and the Lady Colonels believe they have all the moves to get there. “After playing King’s (two weeks ago), we are definitely the team to beat,” said Thomas. “It would be an amazing feeling especially my senior year to go into the playoffs. We have the potential, we just have to execute on it.” The Beacon/Todd Weibel Lindsay Thomas, seen here in a picture from the 2005 season, has started every game this season, and has contributed to the team with 1 goal and 3 assists. The Lady Colonels are 2-2-0 in conference play and 7-9-0 overall. Preview of the Week: Football readies for Mayor’s cupclash BY GERARD HETMAN Beacon Staff Writer While the Wilkes University football team has fallen from the top of the Middle Atlantic Conference standings, their 2-5 overall record has done little to dampen the enthusiasm surrounding the upcoming Mayor’s Cup clash between the Colonels and the Monarchs of nearby King’s College. The two MAC teams have met each season since King’s reinstated varsity football in 1993, with Wilkes holding an 11-3 lead in the series during that time span. The teams battle for the right to host the Mayor’s Cup-a silver trophy presented to the winning squad by the mayor of Wilkes-Barre. Both teams traditionally gather at midfield as a sign of respect for each other’s programs, while the victors take possession of the cup for another season. “It’s a great rivalry game, enhanced a great deal by the closeness of the schools” Wilkes head coach Frank Sheptock said recently regarding the upcoming clash. “I think the respect that the coaching staffs have for both programs has spread to the point where the players on each side have a great deal of respect for the opposing team.” While King’s comes in with an 0-7 record and having suffered several key injuries, it may have found some young leaders in freshmen quarterbacks John Cuiffo and Blaine Fox. Both signal-callers have seen action in recent games with senior starter Jeff Searfass out with an injury. The Monarchs have also gotten a boost with the return of a big, fast target to their lineup in junior receiver Bob Cirko. The offense will be tested against a Colonels defense that is led by linebacker Kyle Follweiler, who brings 98 total tackles into the contest. When the Colonels have the ball, they will need to be keenly aware of King’s standout linebacker Tore Alaimo. The 6’0”, 240-pound senior has been a force for the Monarchs after missing all of last season with an injury. Alaimo is a veteran leader for a King’s defensive unit that has adjusted to seeing young players and new faces in many spots on the field this year. His presence and abilities will present a major test for the young and developing running backs and offensive line of the Wilkes offense. While other games in the series have had more suspense and greater conference implications, the 2007 Mayor’s Cup clash promises to be another memorable chapter in this heated rivalry. Kickoff is set for 1:30 this Saturday at Betzler Fields in Wilkes-Barre. STSTRAVEL.COM Join America’s #1 Student Tour Operator CANCUN, ACAPULCO, JAMAICA, BAHAMAS PUERTO VALLARTA, SOUTH PADRE FLORIDA, CRUISES Previous Mayor’s Cup 2006: Wilkes - 28 Kings - 7 2005: Wilkes - 36 Kings - 13 Sell Trips, Earn Cash & Travel Free www.ststravel.com STUDENT TRAVEL SERVICES 1-800-648-4849 / www.ststravel.com �SPORTS OCTOBER 23, 2007 17 Football stumbles in MAC chase with loss BY GERARD HETMAN Beacon Staff Writer After getting out to a hot start with a 2-0 record in MAC play this season, the Wilkes University Colonels football team has seen their quest for second straight conference title cool off in the past two weeks. Albright quarterback Tanner Kelly threw for 352 yards and four touchdowns--including three to receiver Steven Asay--as the Lions posted a 35-25 win over Wilkes at Ralston Field on Saturday. With the loss, Wilkes sees its league record fall to 2-2. That puts the Colonels two games behind the conference leaders in the MAC, with just three games remaining. “We know these tough times will pass, because we’ve got a great group of kids here,” Wilkes head football coach Frank Sheptock said following the Albright loss. “But right now, we’re in a bit of a learning curve. We always have great expectations here at Wilkes, and we will certainly rebound from this situation.” The Colonels entered the game minus a number of key players, as 26 players on the roster were suspended for the contest as a result of an unspecified violation of team rules. The list of players included starting quarterback Al Karaffa, many of the team’s top defensive backs and several of the Colonels’ most productive return men on special teams. While neither team scored in the first quarter, the two teams exploded for five touchdowns in a productive and exciting second stanza. Kelly would throw for three Albright touchdowns, while Wilkes would get rushing scores from tailback Alex Pearson and Quarterback Johnathan Stroup to stay in the fight. The game would swing early in the third quarter, as Albright scored two touchdowns just minutes apart. Following a Wilkes fumble, Kelly threw a 29-yard touchdown strike to Asay on the Lions first play from scrimmage. On the Colonels’ next possession, Matt Christ would pick off a third down pass from Stroup and take the ball back untouched for a touchdown. The ensuing PAT pushed the Albright lead to 35-13, and despite fourth-quarter touchdowns from Sean Madden and Rocky D’Aconti, Wilkes was unable to recover. Sophomore Rob Johnson took over at quarterback on the next possession, and completed 11 of 18 passes for 103 yards with a touchdown and interception over the remainder of the game. Pearson was the leading rusher for Wilkes with 155 yards on 33 carries, with Jason Prushinski catching four passes for 90 yards. Kyle Follweiler led the defensive effort for the Colonels with 11 total tackles. Todd Weibel/Beacon Archives Wilkes Senior Linebacker Kyle Follweiler is leading the defense in tackles with 67 solo tackles in 7 games played. BmaadPin . ri11d ll:.a:i;illl1.ii (~} M~ S tki! {S) l2:"'Mi;Qii,m1 'Fi=_ ~ ,6.. l..iuga pi.rz:l!I 12" l'aiii. l'w:.!1 Taoo {12) Mini 'P.Dil'l:0 ~ C E OT.I b.Lnp-mg f.gpllCI! 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Mi Ld,, a 11d1C' n Mus'llil'd &: !lilHO By tlit h i.: {ii B~ · I) B ~ SO Ill] e'f Jlllt:ill.ll Tuim & C~i! Ham. Clcc ·. t...b .ub. ~ R.0 - Ohccsc. 11!1 ccf Chci:se Cblcke;n,Cn.Mar H01 Orilhd c.ltlelli'!tti ensw Clhk:h"fi '.FMI Pr;li Mr;I Cl!r:e ~ Su!nk Meatball 'fll-1 dloo!l.!!I fl11.38gc: ¼air; T . r:.'f Ciu'b ctiee ~ CiIUfhn:i.Ia Ohc .. s CaC acoo · (1]c1:csc ·i : m ~ B.uif11l.i1l Chide~ Cbr:.e Cliid?e.111 alwt.c!llil 5 · I. 'Su!nk �SPORTS 18 OCTOBER 23, 2007 COMMENTARY 2007: A Year in baseball A season of no-hitters, comebacks, and broken records BY TIM SEIGFRIED Beacon Asst. Sports Editor For complete World Series coverage, visit us online at: http://www.wilkesbeacon.com voters wanting the ball to be sent to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown branded with an asterisk, 34% voted for it to be sent to the Hall of Fame without an asterisk, and 19% voted to have the ball shot into space. It seems to be a fitting end for the chase that captivated baseball fans for the better part of two seasons, as the asterisk will forever be a reminder of one of the most notorious baseball players of all-time. Despite the circus that surrounded Bonds and his quest for the record books, baseball writers and fans alike were honored to be present at the Hall of Fame inductions for two of the greatest: Cal Ripken and Tony Gwynn, who are going to forever be remembered among the greatest players in history. Ripken, the longtime shortstop and third baseman of the Baltimore Orioles, is best known for being baseball’s “Iron-man,” after he broke Lou Gehrig’s 56-year-old record of consecutive games played on September 6, 1995, when Ripken played in his 2,131 consecutive game, a record which will not likely be broken again. Ripken also finished his career with over 3,000 hits, 431 homeruns, and 1695 RBIs. Gwynn, the lifetime San Diego Padre, is going to be remembered as one of the greatest pure hitters of his generation, collecting eight batting titles over his 20-year career, while ending up with a career batting average of .338. Gwynn never once hit under In the grand scheme of things, 2007 might go down as one of the better seasons in baseball history, but it might also go down as the last season of the steroid era. On the eve of the revelations from the George Mitchell investigation, in which the former Senator spent nearly two years investigating the on-going problems concerning the use of banned performance enhancing substances in the game of baseball, we are all left wondering which big-name players are going to be listed as abusers. Last week, it was announced that Mitchell was planning to reveal the list of players that had been involved with steroids, along with the rest of the findings of the investigation, so that Major League Baseball can have a better idea of how to handle the problem going forward. It should come as no surprise then, that on the same year that the steroid era might have significant closure, that Barry Bonds, the most controversial character in this play, would have broken the all-time homerun record of 755 that was previously held by Hank Aaron. It was a big story, to be sure, one that Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig refused to give any credence to by stating early on in the season that he was unsure of whether or not he would be in attendance when Bonds broke the record. Selig would eventually commit to following Bonds on his journey, and was present when Bonds tied the record, however he was not present on August 7th, when Bonds would hit number 756 at home in San Francisco, dethroning Hank Aaron as the new homerun leader. Aaron, who has remained quiet about the chase, appeared on a pre-recorded video just moments after Bonds thanked the fans, congratulating him on his new record. The homerun ball, which was purchased for over $700,000 by fashion designer Mark Ecko, had its fate decided on by fans via Photo courtesy google.com an online vote. Over ten million Barry Bonds captivated the fans this season on votes were tallied, with 47% of the way to hitting homerun number 756. .300 in a full season, and hit over .350 in seven seasons, with a career high batting average of .394. Their inductions weren’t all that happened, as there were plenty of memorable moments in the 2007 baseball season. HEAVY HITTERS Alex Rodriguez, who has been known for not being a clutch player by the fans of New York, had two game-winning homeruns in April, on his way to one of the best months in history, hitting .355 with 14 homeruns and 34 RBIs. A-Rod would finish the season with a .314 batting average, 54 homeruns, and 156 RBIs, on his way to his third career MVP award. Magglio Ordonez, the right-fielder for the Detroit Tigers, would lead the American League in batting average, finishing the season with a career high .363 batting average. In the National League, Matt Holliday of the Colorado Rockies took home the batting title with an average of .340. YOUNG HURLERS Justin Verlander, the hard-throwing pitcher for the Detroit Tigers, threw his first career no-hitter against the Milwaukee Brewers on June 12, walking 4 and striking out 12. Boston Red Sox rookie pitcher Clay Buchholz followed suit, throwing a not hitter against the Baltimore Orioles in only his second career start on September 1. Jake Peavy, the ace of the San Deigo Padres, is likely the Cy Young winner for the National League, finishing the season with 19 wins, 240 strikeouts, and an ERA of 2.54, all of which are tops in the National League. ROOKIE DOMINACE Troy Tulowitski, the shortstop for the Colorado Rockies, is leading the race of NL rookies, by having a spectacular year defensively, while hitting .291 with 24 homeruns and 99 RBIs. Milwaukee Brewers third baseman, Ryan Braun, was by far the best offensive rookie of the year, hitting .324 with 34 homeruns and 97 RBIs, however his lackluster defense at third base, committing a leagueleading 26 errors in 112 games. Dustin Pedroia, the second baseman of the Boston Red Sox, is likely to win the American League Rookie of the Year award by leading AL rookies with a .317 batting average and stellar defense, despite starting the year off with a .182 batting average in April. COMEBACKS GALORE The Colorado Rockies, looking to miss the playoffs yet again, won 14 of their last 15 games, including a one-game playoff against the San Diego Padres that led to them clinching the Wild Card for their first playoff berth since 1995. They would go on to sweep Philadelphia and Arizona in the first two rounds of the playoffs, extending their streak to 21 out of 22 games. The New York Yankees, the perennial winner of the American League East, found themselves 12.5 games back of first place to the Boston Red Sox and six games behind the Detroit Tigers in the Wild Card race on June 1. Thanks to timely hitting and clutch pitching, they found themselves the winner of the American League Wild Card at season’s end. The Philadelphia Phillies, after a 4-11 start to the season, would mount a comeback at the hands of the New York Mets, by sweeping them twice down the stretch, including a memorable 9th inning win off of Mets’ closer Billy Wagner. The Phillies would win the division on the last day of the season with a win over the Washington Nationals after the Mets lost to the Florida Marlins, completing one of the the biggest collapses in baseball history by blowing a 7 game lead with 17 games remaining. 2007 League Leaders PITCHING Wins AL: Josh Beckett (20) NL: Jake Peavy (19) ERA AL: John Lackey (3.01) NL: Jake Peavy (2.54) Strikeouts AL: Scott Kazmir (239) NL: Jake Peavy (240) HITTING Average AL: Magglio Ordonez (.363) NL: Matt Holliday (.340) Homeruns AL: Alex Rodriguez (54) NL: Prince Fielder (50) RBIs AL: Alex Rodriguez (156) NL: Matt Holliday (137) �SPORTS OCTOBER 23, 2007 19 Athlete of the Week Xiaoqiao Zhang BY ALISSA LINDNER Beacon Asst. A&E Editor For Xiaoqiao Zhang, tennis has become a stress release for the everyday pressures of college classes and work. She also happens to be 12-1 on the season, most recently coming off a win over East Stroudsburg University’s Katie Dambrosia on Tuesday October 16. Zhang’s only loss of the season was against Torie Cunningham of Division 2 Bloomsburg University. The Bloomsburg match was also the third match of the season, and both Zhang and head women’s tennis coach Chris Leicht feel her performance has improved. “She [Zhang] has definitely improved from day one. Everything I think, her footwork, movement, she is just a little more patient with her play,” Leicht explained. Zhang added, “In the beginning I was hurt. These days I feel good and more confident.” Zhang finished the season with a 12-1 record. She swept all of her opponents two games to nothing and none her contest were forced into a third game. Out of 26 total games played, Zhang shut-out 13 of them 6-0. Last year Zhang was named Freedom Conference Player of the Year and was selected to first team all conference. Although she wasn’t named conference player of the year, this season Zhang she joined the rest of the players on the first-team conference list for a second straight season. In her first two seasons as a Lady Colonel, Zhang has a 31-3 record. As the end of the fall season approaches, Zhang has placed an importance on improving her training. “She [Zhang] is very serious about tennis. She is very competitive. She has a strong desire to win and keep improving,” Leicht explained. For Zhang, the motivation is her own desire to win and her love of the sport. Despite her own success this season, 14 Zhang places a strong importance on the team as a whole doing well. She explained the team is always cheering each other on and everyone cares about the team’s results over their own. Zhang said, “The team is like a family. We win as a group, as a whole instead of winning individually.” Leicht agreed, “She [Zhang] is a big team player. On top of her individual results she is always cheering and cares more about the team results.” With the MASCAC Tournament this past weekend, Zhang plans to approach it just as she would any regular season match. “I treat every match equal but I still want to play best because it’s at the end,” Zhang explained, “I want a beautiful ending.” The Beacon/Gino Troiani Wilkes freshman Victoria Bybel, seen here during practice last week, has a 4-1 conference record, helping the tennis team to a 12-1 overall record this season. RECAPS Women’s Soccer The Lady Colonels will be heading to the postseason for an eight consecutive time after last Thursday’s 2-0 win over King’s College. That win would be the eighth shutout in nine wins for the Lady Colonels. The team is currently 4-0 in the conference and tied for first place along with Manhattanville College (NY). Both teams square off Wednesday in NY to determine who will have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Lady Colonels will wrap up their season at home Saturday against Arcadia University. Volleyball The Wilkes University volleyball team split a pair of matches at a tri-match hosted by Albright College on Saturday. The Lady Colonels posted a 30-14, 30-27, 30-15 win over Marywood University in their first match of the day, before suffering a 30-26, 29-31, 3020, 30-20 loss to host Albright in the nightcap. The split moves the Lady Colonels overall record to 11-15. The Beacon/Gino Troiani Men’s Soccer Greg Miller and Kyle Dukmen tallied goals to lead Wilkes University to a 2-1 Freedom Conference men’s soccer victory over rival King’s College last Tuesday afternoon at Ralston Field. NUMBERS OF THE WEEK 26 Total number of kills by junior Total number of football playKatherine Harrington in the ers that missed Saturday’s home Lady Colonels volleyball win game against Albright due to over Marywood. Harrington violation of team policy. Albright also posted eight digs and three won the game 35-25. blocks. 3 154 Total number of conference Number of rushing yards by wins by the men’s soccer team. running back Alex Pearson on The Colonels are currently 3-1 Saturday. The team totaled 194 in conference play and rushing yards on the day. are 8-6-1 overall. �Sports OCTOBER 23, 2007 20 The Beacon/Gino Troiani Lady Colonels Snatch Four Titles at MASCAC Tourney Tennis team brings home the gold in singles and doubles competition BY CARLTON HOLMES Beacon Sports Editor For the past five years under head coach John Leicht’s leadership, the Lady Colonels have slowly morphed into the team to beat around the league. In 2005, Leicht led the team to a record breaking season with 12 victories and has been on a roll ever since. In 2006 at the MASCAC Tournament, Leicht led four Lady Colonels to semi-final contest. Of all the matches, freshman Xiaoqiao Zhang was the lone winner to walk away with a champion. This season, Leicht was named Freedom Conference coach of the Year for the third consecutive season. This year, the Lady Colonels finished with 12-1 overall with their only loss coming to D-II Bloomsburg University. The Lady Colonels were 5-0 in the conference. The team’s conference performance during the fall semester solidified homefield advantage for the Lady Colonels for the Freedom Conference playoffs held in the spring semester. But first the Lady Colonels had a scheduled date with the 2007 MASCAC Tournament on Saturday and Sunday and the team certainly scored in this one. “The good thing about this weekend was that everyone did well,” said Leicht. “It’s fun to get four champions out of nine especially with 11 teams (in the competition). That’s really exciting for the program.” Former Freedom Conference Player of the Year from a season ago, Xiaoqiao Zhang took home the number-two singles champi- onship in three sets over Elizabethtown College’s Emma Smith. Zhang opened the finals with a 6-4 win over Smith. For the first time this year, Zhang was forced into a third set after Smith stole the second set 6-3. The game was forced into a super-tie breaker that would go in favor of Zhang 10-2. “I think I played very well (during the tournament),” said Zhang. “In the second set I was a little shaky but in the third (set) I felt more confident and I was motivated.” “I did it (won), so I’m happy” Last year Zhang won the championship at the number-one position. Zhang teamed up with senior Alison McDonald to win the doubles championship 8-1 over Sara Guza and Kristen Hunter from crosstwon rival King’s College. McDonald advanced to the finals after beating Hunter 6-1. 6-3 in the semi-finals. Freedom Conference Player of the Year from DeSales University, Courtney McClurkin put an end McDonald’s run with a 6-2, 6-0 win. McDonald ends the fall half of the season 11-2 and first team All-Conference. Sophomore Katie Buckley finished the day withs a championship trophy at the number-six position. Buckley took on Kristin Paula from Arcadia University and posted a 6-1, 7-5 in the semi-finals before taking on Lebanon Valley’s Sara Wagner. Buckley struggled against Wagner losing the first set 6-1. Buckley would go on to win the second set 6-3 and capped off the day with a 10-7 tie-breaker to win the title. The Lady Colonels number-two duo, Kristin Wilt and Victoria Bybel, won their championship game over DeSales Liz Guidon and Jess Smith. Last Saturday the Lady Colonels breezed through all six singles matches and scored wins in two of the three doubles competitions. McDonald was named first team All-Conference for a third consecutive season. Zhang also received first team All-Conference honors after posting a 12-1 record in singles competition. Wilt, a junior, earned a All-Conference berth for her third straight time as a Lady Colonel. Victoria Bybel was selected second team All-conference along with Freedom Conference Rookie of the Year. The Lady Colonels return to the court Mar. 30th for the second half of their season. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon Newspaper Collection, 1947-present Description An account of the resource <p>This is Wilkes University's <em>Beacon</em> Newspaper collection, 1947-present. We also have digitized copies of the <em>Beacon's</em> predecessors, <em>The Bucknell Bison Stampede</em>, 1934-1935 and <em>The Bucknell Beacon</em>, 1936-1947 June. It should be noted that Wilkes University does not have a complete set of issues for the Bucknell Bison Stampede and Bucknell Beacon. For researchers who are interested in seeing the complete issues for these publications, please contact <a href="https://researchbysubject.bucknell.edu/scua">Bucknell University's Special Collections Department</a>.</p> <p></p> <p>Missing Issues:</p> <p>1947 August 8th<br />1947 September 5th<br />1947 October 3rd<br />1947 October 17th<br />1947 October 31st<br />1947 November 21st<br />1947 December 19th<br />1948 September 9th<br />1950 April 28th<br />1953 April 10th<br />1962 February 2nd</p> Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Beacon staff is comprised of Wilkes University students who are advised by a full-time faculty member of the Communication Studies Department. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1934-present Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright of the Wilkes Beacons is retained by Wilkes University. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Professor Emeritus Harold Cox digitized the collection from 1934-1970 and created a <a href="https://beaconarchives2.wilkes.edu/">legacy website</a>. Digital Archives student John Jenkins digitized the collection from 1970-present. Special thanks goes to Communication Studies Professor Dr. Kalen Churcher, Editor-in-Chief Kirsten Peters, Beacon staff member, Emily Cherkauskas, and other Beacon staff for their help in acquiring digitized copies of the Beacons from 2006 onward. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon 2007 October 23rd Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2007 October 23 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Communication Studies Department Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Wilkes University https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/5c784f7b77a454e2faf91cdc435005a6.pdf 67f55571e569bff96b7961e3e8b3a725 PDF Text Text Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA The THE NEWS OF TODAY REPORTED BY THE JOURNALISTS OF TOMORROW OCTOBER 9, 2007 In This Issue... Going Green? Page 6 ~ Pages 10-11 www.wilkesbeacon.com S.P.A.N. organizers change course Volume 60 Issue 5 After three week struggle with SG, students gain club status BY ANDREW SEAMAN Beacon News Editor After a three-week battle and a push online to get students to come to a Student Government meeting in support of their cause, the group of students who were seeking to create a Wilkes’ chapter of the Student Peace Action Network (S.P.A.N.) decided instead to seek club status as an independent body, free from any national organization, under the title of Wilkes in the World. The club recognition comes after three weeks of discussion, a split vote in the general board and a presidential veto that set SG members to the task of trying to overturn the veto. The division in SG centered on the question of whether S.P.A.N. would be any different from the current Student Political Action Forum (S.P.A.F.). The group of students, who insisted their main concern was raising money for humanitarian aid across The Beacon/James Rosato About 10 people representing the group of students wanting to create a Wilkes chapter of the globe decided to change their affiliation. the Student Peace Action Network spoke in front of SG on Wednesday. The group later decided to disassociate themselves from the national organization and create a new club, See SPAN page 4 Wilkes in the World. The Beacon/Cara Koster New interim Interfaith Coordinator named Diocese of Scranton sends temporary replacement BY AMY FUSCO Beacon Correspondent The Beacon / Cara Koster Page 12 , Courtesy of Valerie Martinez Inside News................................1-5 Opinion.............................6-8 Lifestyles.........................9-11 Arts & Entertainment....12-15 Sports...........................16-20 The Beacon/James Rosato Cheryl Cavalari, the new interim Interfaith Coordinator, was introduced to the university at Wednesday’s SG meeting. The Wilkes Interfaith office is currently in need of a permanent coordinator, and the Diocese of Scranton, the local governing body for the Catholic church, is leading that search. In fact, the Wilkes position is funded by the Diocese, despite the fact that the university is technically independent of specific religious affiliation. The position is designed to lead students of all faiths. Angela Hermes, vacated the Interfaith Coordinator position last academic year. The process of hiring someone involves the Diocese selecting a few finalists out of the applicants. After this selection process, the finalists are interviewed by Wilkes University to decide which one best fits the position. Temporarily, Wilkes has hired Cheryl Cavalari, the Director of Northeast Campus Ministries, to fill in the position. According to Philip Ruthkosky, Director of Student Development, Cavalari will “meet and discuss matters of faith,” such as morals and values, with anyone who would like to participate. Every Tuesday at 5:30 PM, Cavalari will offer a session called the “Feast of Faith” where students, faculty, or staff, are invited to come and converse about faiths and enjoy a meal cooked by volunteer students. See FAITH page 3 �NEWS OCTOBER 9, 2007 New Dean of Library Sciences announced BY YOHANNA DE LOS SANTOS MARIA Beacon Correspondent Shaddy is a professional in this After a long search, the Far- area. He possesses a Master of ley Library will finally welcome Arts in Library Sciences from the a new Dean of Library Sciences University of Missouri-Columbia, later this semester. May 1986; Doctor of Philosophy, Dr. Robert A. Shaddy was se- History from the University of lected by the library search com- Missouri-Columbia, December mittee to occupy this new position. 1990; and also completed gradu“It was a highly selective process ate study in English from the Unithat lasted from February to July versity of Toledo, 1996-1998. of 2007,” said Dr. Frederick SulIn addition, Shaddy also has livan, who was the chairperson of plenty of experience in library the search committee. leadership. Some of his previous Linda Chishlom from CEO Re- jobs include Associate Professor sources worked with a committee of library administration and Diof Wilkes University members to rector of The Ward M. Canaday research candidates who were pre- Center for Special Collections at qualified for the position. Inter- the Library of the University of views were then conducted among Toledo, Associate Professor and more than five candidates to deter- Chair, Interdisciplinary and Spemine who was “the best leader,” cial Programs at University Colaccording to Sullivan. This job lege of University of Toledo, and requires great leadership skills University Librarian and Chair because it will take the library to at the Department of Special and new heights. Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries of the University of Florida. He is currently Professor of Library and Chief Librarian at Queens College Libraries. The Dean’s role at the Farley Library will include ensuring that the library is up to date in every aspect. “We want a new direction for the library. We want to modernize and keep on with technology so that we can teach students to become more involved,” said Dr. Reynold C. Verret, Provost. Shaddy will present a plan to the Provost’s office after studying the library and later will work to develop proper funding for changes. Some of the changes expected are: new ways of accessing information and more print sources becoming online sources. Sullivan said that the importance of the new Dean of the Library is clear, “The library has been neglected and we want to revitalize 2 Capital Campaign SPAN changes course News Briefs 3 4 5 it; that is the purpose [of this role].” Verret described Shaddy as an “Excellent choice, we believe he has the qualification for this job.” Shaddy will assume his role at the Farley Library in November. (RIGHT) Dr. Robert A. Shaddy will fill the role of Wilkes’ Dean of Library Sciences. Courtesy Dr. Robert Shaddy BEACON Serving the community through fair and accurate reporting while supporting the views and opinions of our readers. Editorial Staff Editor-in-Chief: Andee Scarantino Email: wilkesbeacon@gmail.com Managing Editor: Nick Podolak Email: wilkesbeacon@gmail.com News Editor: Andrew Seaman Email: news.beacon@gmail.com Op/Ed Editor: Mark Congdon Jr. Email: thebeacon.oped@gmail.com Lifestyles Editor: Alison Woody Email: beacon.lifestyles@gmail.com A&E Editor: Marissa Phillips Email: thebeaconae@gmail.com Sports Editor: Carlton Holmes Email: beaconsports@gmail.com Photo Editor: Cara Koster Advertising Managers: Stephanie Yachim Dana Zlotucha Email: thebeacon.ads@gmail.com Advisor: Dr. Andrea Breemer Frantz The Beacon/Andrew Seaman For the past few weeks, the basement of Stark has been plagued by numerous leaks that are capable of filling garbage cans to the brim with water in a day. Some of these leaks come from the hot water and have caused the ceiling tiles to disintagrate. At one point during the week, there were at least three receptacle being used to collect the water. Chris Bailey, Director of Campus Support Services, was unavailable for comment. For a video of the leaks in Stark, please visit www.wilkesbeacon.com Established in 1936 PA Newspaper Association Member Printed on Tuesdays during the academic school year. 130 S. River St. First Floor, Conyngham Hall, Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 (570) 408-5903 wilkesbeacon@gmail.com www.wilkesbeacon.com �NEWS OCTOBER 9, 2007 3 Capital campaign moving ahead despite absence of Williams BY ANDREW SEAMAN Beacon News Editor Despite the absence of the Vice President of Development, Marty Williams, Wilkes University is moving forward with its planned capital campaign. Williams suffered a stroke on Easter Sunday last spring, and there is no comment as to if, when, or in what capacity he may return. Dr. Tim Gilmour, Wilkes University’s president said, “Although Mr. Williams’ leadership is very much missed, the development and alumni offices are doing as well as can be expected under the able leadership of Sandra Carroll, [Director of Alumni Relations], who also serves as the interim VP, and Mike Wood, the Executive Director of Development.” Williams has been recovering since the stroke and Dr. Paul Adams, VP of Student Affairs, said, “Whenever I see Marty, he seems to be improving. He’s come so far.” Gilmour agreed, “[His] recovery to date from his stroke is nothing short of remarkable and a true blessing.” Sandra Carroll explained how her position has transitioned. “Mr. Williams hired me in 2005. As staff transitions took place in the division, my position transitioned from strictly Alumni Relations to include Annual Giving Programs. Through this transition, Marty and I worked very closely to find new ways to meet the challenge to raise more funds to grow [the] endowment, fund scholarships and other institutional priorities. “Our team began the planning for the campaign, Leading to Greatness. As our leader, Marty shared his thought process and strategic vision, which probably prepared us better to continue the work before us than anything else might have. Our collective experience, pockets of institutional memory and excitement for what is Wilkes keeps us moving forward,” Carroll added. Adams echoed Carroll and suggested that the smooth transition can be attributed to Williams, “I think because of Marty’s leadership, they’ve been able to really carry on without missing a beat. Marty created a staff of people who were professional, capable, and have the will to carry on.” Also, both Carroll and Adams said that the Development staff would be expanding to meet the needs of the new campaign. “When you do a capitol campaign, you always ramp up your staff because it’s such an intensive effort… Certainly the leadership, Sandra Carroll and Mike Wood were here prior to Marty’s absence, but since that time it was always planned that new folks would be coming on board and would be added to the staff to do all of the work that needs to be done in a campaign. There’s so much that has to be done,” said Adams. “The addition of two new staff members, soon a third, assures that we will continue to meet the challenges of doing a good job for Wilkes,” said Carroll. See CAPITAL page 4 Courtesy Marketing Communication Wilkes’ VP for Development, Marty Williams is still recovering from the stroke he suffered on Easter Sunday. The Wilkes community is moving on with a new capital campaign. Live - lit: Wednaday Nlghi,Od. :Huh PauJMa.i:tio "Si.gnel' Sonrgwriter Bnng youc stndc.nt JD th.c- night of th.tpe:rfumi:m« mdl ge:t 25% off your ~fe ffi'der. ecialt3 2 Large Pizzas + Bucket 30 Wings 2 Lairge·P 'zzas $1.5.99 1 $24,.99 -_ .eddl2 1 rge Pizza + l Dozen Wings, 1 . 14. 95 _ , · Iii.! ~ t . ! (blil.e ~ & t · S ulal#4 ] L~ Piz.7.a + 16 Wmgs 2 Liter Soda ],7.99 &r ttlety i ~ t d} Monday 35 eent W:mg.s wt .a pwd1 !lie of :sod-ai ~ ttirt try m1;:h:d~ :ilias. w/ a. pm-dia!'le: of a :sod (in. house·,on.1.y) \-Ve.alne.sd Aff.y bw-gcrldu~ ~dwim -$4. ( 5 w/ a pur~e of :ai soc:h tio ttit: · ...•illsc,nbhl-e ru_gh.t" eve,ry Tuesday m,ght from 7::®0~8:JOpm •'"AubJr ~ r ' Diya Du Satunfay, Oc:tob r 131h 1:00-3:00pm Autiho.r o:I "'In M:ind" .and] •th_c .Bvolu.tio.n. of .m Idt:nti.ty' .A Se.Di~ i.t ¥fY(nn.if11 Semmaq Ptq,~tciit.}• ScliJJol Come ,c.cldbratc our tt:1 · cu Annive Tucsdq, OCW\b~ 16th! .D o ~fuirgct to pic'k UJ a >RF~q,u..c;ri:t Buyer Curl. ' t odi'.}4 Hl'l•Jl...-v.u't forgd to,nse yo 'iFLF..X DOLLARS Bil:' . ,t i!!l!I . r.al - ■ l llill Ii- ■ I 1 • 1 ■■■ UI . �OCTOBER 9, 2007 SPAN from FRONT PAGE The Beacon/James Rosato Andy Julian, junior class representative, talks about how the Wilkes based group’s goals and the national organization’s contradict each other. NEWS SG members confronted them with the fact that the national organization’s website took a strong political stance with comments like, “…Peace Action has been dedicated to the principles that every human being has the right to live without the threat of nuclear weapons; that war is not a suitable response to conflict; and that because America has the resources to both provide for and protect its citizens, our economy must focus on priorities like education and health care rather than excessive Pentagon budgets.” Throughout the meeting, SG members tried to convey that they felt that the goals of S.P.A.N. did not coincide with the goals of the students seeking to form the club. Ellie Galiatsatos, SG Corresponding Secretary, told the students, “I love your idea, and I love what you guys stand for, and I love what you guys are going after, but personally I don’t see the correlation with the national organization that you guys are trying to become affiliated with.” Andy Julian, junior class representative, echoed Galiatsatos’s comments, “Everyone respects the fact that you want to do humanitarian [aid] and bring it all in. But what we got from the website was a lot different... I got on, read what they want to do and then we got on, me and another member, got on to the events. Every single one of them was political protest, every one,” Julian added. Galiatsatos read a mission statement from S.P.A.N.’s website and then noted, “I don’t know about anybody else, but from what I got from that, S.P.A.N., the national organization, just seems very United States based… It is very political.” Elizabeth Clark, a junior english/ education major, was one of the main spokespeople for the students speaking to form the group. She explained to SG, “We discussed the idea of Wilkes in the World, making it into a different group… and it wouldn’t be national… but it would be that central idea of humanitarianism.” Galiatsatos immediately replied with a smile, “I don’t know whether to clap or not.” After, a short discussion, SG decided to grant Wilkes in the World club status, with a vote of 29 in favor, 9 opposed and 2 abstaining from the vote. The club status was granted under the condition that the club comes before SG before they join any national organization. For SG NOTES, check online at www.wilkesbeacon.com. CAPITAL 4 from PAGE 3 President Gilmour told The Beacon that the campaign is on schedule and added, “We began work on the capital campaign this summer. Because we are in the early stages, however, we cannot provide information on funds raised to date. Early indications are that the campaign will go well.” As for when or if Williams will be returning to his position, Carroll, Adams and Gilmour couldn’t say. “Everybody would love to have Marty here and engaged in the work that he had been doing,” said Adams. Gilmour also declined comment saying, “These are questions that, because they are personnel matters, I really can’t speak specifically to.” Carroll also couldn’t comment on when or if Williams would return, but added that they will continue to work towards the vision of the university. “As for when Mr. Williams returns-that is something I really can’t answer. I don’t know-all I know is that each day, we set out to make a difference for Wilkes, try to honor the high standards Marty set for us as he hired us onto the team and set our sights on the vision for the University and how we will travel from where we are now, to where we plan to be in 2010,” said Carroll. ST·UDENT: IN·TRNSHP 4 NXT SEMEST·ER? CO-OP OFFICE: GO 2 INTRN FAIR ON 10/25! INTERNSHIP FAIR OCTOBE'R 25, 2007 11AM--1PM BALLROOM, 2ND FLOOR SUB CONTACT; SHARON .CASTA,NO@.\VJLKR5-EDUJ' 4.08 -2950 - GAIN ACADEMIC CREDITS - RECEIVE t-::J\.fPI OVMENT REFERENCES - NETWORK WITH POTENTIAL EMPLOYERS - ENI-L\NCEYOUR LEADERSHIP SKILLS - DECIDE WI IAT CAREER PAT·J I IS RIGI IT FOR YOU - GAIN HANDS ON EXPERIENCE BEFORE GRADUATION �OCTOBER 9, 2007 Beacon News Briefs NEWS 5 Local, National, and International Snippets Local (Wilkes University) The winner of the James Jones First Novel Fellowship will be awarded in early November to Robin Oliveira, who beat out over 600 other entrants with her novel, The Last Beautiful Day. Oliveira will be award $10,000 at the 2007 James Jones Literary Society (JJLS) Symposium. The winning novel introduces readers to Mary Sutter, a midwife at the time of the Civil War, who, thanks to a variety of social and personal issues, is prevented from becoming a physician. The award is co-sponsored by the Graduate Creative Writing Department at Wilkes University and the JJLS. (Wilkes-Barre) As of late Friday, October 5, Melvin Stuart, the suspect in a stabbing at 375 South Franklin Street was still at large. The victim, Albert DeHaven, 43, was stabbed multiple times and was robbed of $32. There is no word on DeHaven’s condition. (Wyoming Valley) U.S. Rep. Paul E. Kanjorski, D-Nanticoke, announced that $20 million will find its way to the Wyoming Valley to help cleanup the polluted Susquehanna River. Most pollutants enter the water during heavy rains and snow falls when these pollutants overflow and find their way to the river. National (Richmond, Va.) U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Da- vis died Saturday morning, October 6, after long battle with breast cancer. Davis, who was a Republican, was diagnosed with ise Ogborn $6.1 million in punitive and compensatory damages and expenses on Friday, October 5. Ogborn, was forced to gravated assault, robbery and firearms offenses. The victims, William Widmaier and Joseph Alullo, were retired police officers and friends. International (Islamabad, Pakistan) State run television in Pakistan reported on Saturday, October 6, that President Pervez Musharraf was elected for a third term. However, there are currently challenges against the election in Pakistan’s Supreme Court, and the court can still overturn the decision plunging the country into a political quagmire. (London) After many brushes with death crossing the globe, Jason Lewis, a British adventurer, crossed the Meridian Line completing his expedition that began in 1994. Along the way the 40 year-old was hit by a car, attacked by a crocodile, captured, and capsized in the Atlantic Ocean. The Beacon/Andrew Seaman U.S. Rep. Paul E. Kanjorski, D-Nanticoke, announced that $20 million will find its way to the Wyoming Valley to help cleanup the polluted Susquehanna River. breast cancer in 2005. Her cancer then reappeared again this year, and she was receiving treatment at Duke University. Despite positive and encouraging reports, this week Davis’ health became worse and the 57 year-old congresswoman died at her home in Gloucester. (Bullitt County, Ky.) A jury awarded Lou- strip and was then sexually assaulted in the back office of a McDonald’s restaurant in 2004. (Philadelphia, Pa.) On Saturday, police in Philadelphia arrested and charged Mustafa Ali with the execution style killings of two armored car security guards on Thursday. Ali, who lives in Philadelphia, has been charged with two counts of murder, ag- (Yangon, Myanmar) Houses and temples in Myanmar are being searched for monks suspected of leading the largest anti-government protest since 1988. So far, “truckloads” of people have been detained and monks have fled to the Thai border. There are also reports of monasteries being abandoned and monks being forcibly disrobed. STSTRAVEL.COM Join America’s #1 Student Tour Operator CANCUN, ACAPULCO, JAMAICA, BAHAMAS PUERTO VALLARTA, SOUTH PADRE FLORIDA, CRUISES The Beacon/Jenna Stephens Career Services offered an informational session on graduate schools during club hours on Thursday. They will also be offering a practice GMAT, GRE or LSAT to those interested on October 20th. Those interested should register with Career Services by Oct. 14, careers@wilkes.edu. Sell Trips, Earn Cash & Travel Free www.ststravel.com STUDENT TRAVEL SERVICES 1-800-648-4849 / www.ststravel.com llam-5:15pm .- · B~tikows]sy Jewelers 141 South,MainSt Wilkes-Barre 570 823-7111 www.bartikowfi<J;.com *Limitedtofirst1oo curtomers �Opinion YouTube could give you fame 7 Angry Rant: Bad Parents 7 R-E-S-P-E-C-T 8 OCTOBER 9, 2007 6 Go Green campaign admirable, but needs consistency BY THE BEACON EDITORIAL BOARD Wilkes University has made a commitment to further improve its environmental friendliness, and for the most part, many parts of the campus are making significant gains in the right direction. Despite the positive strides Wilkes is taking to ensure a greener campus, there are a few black and blue splotches. For example, in the newly developed green areas, hiding among the flowers are “bug bags.” At a first glance, the bags look like they’re filled with chemicals, or possibly water. In reality, the bags are filled with hundreds of dead wasps and bees. Understandably, this is eliminating a number of pests, but there are also hundreds of dead blackeyed susans and other flowers around the bags. Several studies reported recently by National Public Radio and National Geographic acknowledge that honeybee populations are dwindling due to mites and parasites. While we do not know if the dead bugs in the bags include honeybees, even the chance that we are contributing to the problem is worrisome. We also wonder whether there is a chemical that draws the bugs that is simultaneously bad for the plants around it. We’re just not sure what the bug bags are really supposed to do. Another problem with the landscape is the new sidewalks. Yes, they are quite interesting to look at, but they’re sprayed with a form of lacquer. Not only does the lac- quer seem to not fit the mold of “environmentally friendly,” but the sidewalks are constantly slippery because of it. Taking careful notice, many students walk around the outside of the serpentine sidewalks for traction. As a result, the grass runs the risk of being trampled and damaged. Moving inside to the Rifkin Café, staff is still giving students the options of “for here” or “to go.” That wouldn’t be a problem, except that the “to go” option yields receiving lunch in a biodegradable container. The “for here” option gives you a styrofoam plate. If we’re going to commit, really commit, to using environmentally friendly materials that can be recycled, we really need to do so 100% We encourage getting rid of all styrofoam on campus and especially at Rifkin. Many of the residence halls still lack recycling bins. This can prove to be quite a problem, as most beverages in plastic bottles or aluminum cans are consumed there. Each building needs the recycling bins placed in prominent places and we need to be vigilant about making sure that the recycling goes to recycling centers. We support the university’s efforts to make this a greener campus, but it is important to notice the minute details that undermine the course of action. Wilkes students, faculty, and staff need to pay attention to things like bug bags, sidewalks, and consistent application of new greener practices. The responsibility lies with everyone to pay attention and ask questions when things don’t add up. Slippery sidewalks make walking hazardous to ask most administrators at this university what their primary concerns are, I am sure they will say their students. That is why these sidewalks should be done away with. There is a good possibility that students could be injured while walking on these sidewalks after a rain or the sprinklers have just gone off, because walking on the sidewalks after a drizzle is like walking a sheet of ice. The danger of the wet walkways is only magnified after someone looks at the design of the sidewalks. The design clearly has small depressions in the concrete that inadvertently trap water and BY ANDREW SEAMAN Beacon News Editor Walking to The Beacon office has now become the most dangerous part of my day. This is in no way due to the countless people that may want to put a hit out on me, because of the articles I write. Instead, it’s because of the new sidewalks that have been installed around the newly renovated part of the greenway. A quick show of hands in any classroom around this university can attest to what a safety hazard these sidewalks are. I personally can’t say how many times I have fallen on these new, KMvJ, 'j<llJ. ~,,.J('f sko~\,t:t shiny, troublesome walkv,.b.\~ On 1'h,e, s -~e,wc,.U¼ he.re. ways. I admit that part of the problem rests with the students. If they fall and choose not to report it, administrators do not know that there’s a problem. But there are many reasons as to why these new sidewalks should be done away with. First, safety. I say this is first, because if you were '!ou. ~) . cause slippery little pockets on the concrete. Adding to that, the water trapped in these small depressions easily freezes and traps the ice to create small ponds of ice all over the new sidewalks. This trapped ice, may also be the cause for the cracks we are seeing in the new sidewalks by Conygnham Hall and elsewhere. How do we remedy this situation? The first step is admitting there’s a problem. The second step in the process is to replace the troublesome sidewalks with new ones, which allow students to get traction and will not end in broken bones and torn ligaments. The only problem will be the cost of these replacement sidewalks. Where will the money come from? Personally, I think that the university should be able to find a few donors that would gladly help the them pay for these much needed replacements. I know I would greatly appreciate it. In the end, it is up to administrators as to whether the sidewalks are replaced, but I strongly encourage action. Winter is right around the corner and by being proactive, it is the smart, ethical, and responsible choice. q_( A1-J. wk 'f'6 \ lcA ~ ~ ( A Sight for Sore Eyes by: Aleksander Lapinski Beacon Poll Results Americans have a lot to worry about. The ongoing Iraq war, stock market and housing investThe following are results of a ment instability, drug busts, AIDS, poll that The Beacon conductand environmental concerns domed online this past week. The inate the nightly news reports. Is poll was unscientific, and does it any wonder that with such boldnot claim to reflect the overall face headlines other issues fail to attitudes of students on camcapture our attention? Seemingly pus. Results are based on 50 “less important” social problems responses. like homelessness, poverty, and the growing deficit tend to make inside pages, if that, because of The Beacon asked: the pressing nature of the other stories. Whoofis those your favorite One sidebar celebrity issues that criminal? only occasionally squeaks onto the public radar is animal cruelty. Re• animal Paris cruelty Hilton-16% cently has become • mainstream Robert Downey Jr.-8% a more issue with ma• Lindsay football Lohan-3% jor corporations, players, and •even50cent-8% local people stirring up • Hugh Grant-4% the issue. Animal cruelty involves • Paul (Pee-Wee anything fromReubens dog fighting, and shooting Herman)-16% whales, to killing aniLil and Kim-0% mals•for fur animal testing. Johnnyisn’t Cash-32% The• problem awareness; it • more Nicole Richie-0% is that people appear to beTyson-3% lieve• thatMike it’s okay to hurt animals for personal benefit or enjoyment. Worse, is aQuestion: small contingent Next there Week’s in the country who believe that the practice animal Which of the sevencruelty deadlycan sin be excused becausethe of most? age-old culdo you commit tural practices. Just• two weeks ago the Makah Pride tribe• made Lustthe wire over the issue of • whaling. Envy Years ago the Native •American Sloth tribe legally killed whales something of a sport. • asGluttony The •tribeWrath suspend its practice because• theAnger grey whale was placed on the species listofand • endangered I don’t commit any federal the government prohibited sins whaling. However, in 1994, the • I commit multiple grey whale came off deadly of the endanor all of the sins gered list. The obtained a permit in Visittribe www.wilkesbeacon.com 1999 to your kill avote. whale whichwill outto cast Results raged rights groups. After a be animal published in next week’s court hearing became necessary issue ofit The Beacon. for the tribe to receive a waiver in order to hunt whales. Recently, members of the tribe shot a grey whale repeatedly with a rifle before they were due to receive their waiver. The five men involved are all facing fines of up to $20,000 �OCTOBER 9, 2007 OPINION 7 YouTube: From Romania to Wilkes Internet celebs redefining the mainstream BY STEPHANIE GERCHMAN Beacon Asst. Opinion Editor Over the years the internet has become a huge part of the lives of Americans and people all over the world. I, for one, could absolutely not live without it. We use it for research, banking, e-mailing, blogging, and endless other tasks. My personal favorite is for the videos. Amateur directors, actors, singers, dancers etc. are making a name for themselves by posting their videos on the World Wide Web. Honestly, what could be an easier way to get your talents seen or heard than just posting on a website such as YouTube? People everywhere have access to such websites, people from all different networks and industries. If they see something they like, they can message the user who posted it and from there anything could happen. The band OK Go started by shooting a video for their song “Here it Goes Again” and posting it on YouTube. Their video showed the band members doing a choreographed dance on treadmills to their song. They soon got recognition and had a hit single and a live performance of their treadmill act on the MTV Video Music Awards. They also won a Grammy for Best Short-form Music Video. With over 59,903,928 views on just one copy of the video The Evolution of Dance is the most viewed video on YouTube. I am a contributor to that huge number and I have to say that it is impressive. Judson Laipply, the dancer in the video, danced for six minutes going through over 30 styles of dance with a different song to accompany each style ranging from Elvis Presley’s “Hound Dog” to *NSync’s “Bye Bye Bye.” Since the video surfaced on the web, Laipply has appeared on CNN, MSN, E!, USA Today, Good Morning America, The Today Show, and AOL and has spoken at schools performing his Evolution of Dance. There are also the not-so-talented, but still entertaining internet celebrities. One of the first online videos I ever saw was “The Numa Numa Dance” starring Gary Brolsma dancing to “Dragostea din tei” by O-Zone. It’s a love song in the Romanian language and I personally don’t find it amusing, I think it’s irritating, but too many people like it and talk about it for me to not mention it. Video bloggers are also becoming a huge phenomenon. Anyone with a webcam can do it and so many people do. I’m sure everyone remembers seeing or hearing about Britney Spears’ atrocious performance on the MTV VMAs. Soon after the performance, a video was posted depicting a boy with long blonde hair and wearing make-up hysterically crying and ranting about how Britney is going through so much and “ALL YOU PEOPLE WANT IS MORE MORE MORE MORE MORE!” I was in shock to find out that the young man, Crocker, has since signed a deal for his own reality show. Last year I came across a video series on YouTube that follows the lives and adventures of “The Dormies.” The videos star Joe Castiglia, Kyle Cortright, Todd Culbertson, Zack Depew, Lori Kratz, Nick The Angry Rant: Irresponsible Parents BY TIM SEIGFRIED Beacon Asst. Sports Editor Note to parents: This is directed at you. Specifically, those of you who aren’t good ones. If you’re like me, you tend to notice when a parent isn’t using common sense when dealing with a child. I’m not trying to be holier than thou, but nothing bothers me more than when I’m out somewhere and I witness a parent doing something that just makes me wonder if the government shouldn’t impose some sort of screening process for people interested in taking on the job. Some of my favorite poor parenting moments: The Midnight Shopper: You know the type: the parent who takes his or her children to Wal-Mart at two in the morning (I’ve had someone try to defend that, but guess what: It’s 2a.m., and your kid should be sleeping…at home). The Ignorer: This is the parent who ignores the children when they are screaming and crying in a public place. I understand that sometimes you need to let them cry, but when you’re in a crowded restaurant or a movie theatre, you need to take them outside. The Yeller: We’ve all seen them: the parents who constantly yell at their kids (again in public places), regardless of whether or not it’s warranted (“Hurry up! Stop chewing so loud! Eat your bananas!”) Someone should let them know that yelling is annoying to everyone else and that their children will eventually ignore them. But then there are some parents who seem to transcend all of the others in terms of sheer common-sense-less-ness. Case in point: I observed a young mother (mid 20s) with her young child (an infant) in downtown Wilkes-Barre. She was pushing him (or her) around in a stroller that looked like it was meant to be a toy that a child would use to push around their dolls. It was literally shaking as she was pushing it across the street, much like a rickety car would shake moments before it broke into a thousand pieces. Aside from the fact that the stroller was terribly unsafe, the infant wasn’t wearing socks or shoes, not to mention that he wasn’t wearing a hat for protection from the sun, which is kind of a big deal, considering it was a sunny, 80 degree day. So let’s recap: Infant child in a poorly made, ten dollar stroller, with no socks, shoes or a hat. Did I mention it was a hot day? But wait, there’s more! After crossing the street in what may as well have been a rickshaw made of balsa wood, the genius of a mother thought it was wise to light up a cigarette, and began to puff away, right next to her infant child. I’ll pause so you can think about that for a moment. Endangering her child in her poorly made stroller wasn’t enough, so she was going for broke with the cigarette, I guess. I’m not here to stump against smoking, but I think that a common sense approach needs to be applied to the issue of smoking laws. Say what you want about smoking in public places; those are certainly murky waters, but we can all agree that the issue of smoking around children, especially infants, needs to be addressed. Wouldn’t it make sense to enact some sort of law that could protect infants and young children from the dangers of second hand smoke? For instance, you can’t smoke in a residence, restaurant, or in any public place within 10 feet of a child, 12 years or younger, or in the presence of pregnant women. Naturally, it should be illegal for pregnant women to smoke or drink, too. Think about it, an adult can make the conscious decision to smoke a tobacco product, just like they can ask someone to Metrus, and Kacy Muir who are all Wilkes University students. The videos take place on campus and cover issues ranging from trying to learn chemistry to a “cure for the itch.” You can find the videos online at www.youtube. com/user/Dormies. With the number of talented people who become famous through the internet as well as the number of untalented but amusing people who become famous online, it’s safe to say that anyone could do it. The internet has not only become a social, educational tool but it’s become a center of all types of entertainment and its overnight, everyday sorts of ‘celebrities’ are redefining the mainstream. stop smoking if it’s bothering them, or if they so choose, they can leave the room. A six-month-old child doesn’t know about tobacco, nor does it have the reasoning abilities to recognize that their health is in danger when someone is smoking around them. Just like they can’t say: “Excuse me, but can you please stop smoking around me? I have a feeling that the chemicals that you’re exhaling aren’t good for my stilldeveloping lungs.” Yes, that sounds ridiculous. An infant couldn’t possibly form complex sentences. But is that any more ridiculous than having a law that protects children from the dangers of secondhand smoke? There are lots of ways in which irresponsibility rears its ugly head in the area of parenting, and I’m sure at some point or another almost any new parent screws up. Children don’t come with a manual, after all. But there’s something to be said for applying some common sense and general courtesy to the child and everyone else. Consider that the decisions parents make today--whether it’s attending a child’s baseball game, teaching them to be kind to others, berating them for not having legs as long as the parents so they can keep up in the grocery store, or lighting a cigarette and giving the gift of second-hand smoke--have repurcussions tomorrow. �OCTOBER 9, 2007 OPINION 8 Tobacco companies may need to think of new audience BY LAUREN SALEM Beacon Correspondent The feud between tobacco companies and the law continues to prosper as the House and the Senate passed a bill that will raise the federal tax on cigarettes to over 100 percent directly targeting low-income people, which are currently tobacco companies’ largest group of consumers. By targeting low-income people, tobacco companies may need to find a new demographic of consumers. According to government statistics, nearly one-third of all U.S. adults living in poverty are smokers and 35 percent of people with less than 11 years of schooling are also smokers, which creates a problem for tobacco companies unless President Bush vetoes the bill. In the past, tobacco companies have managed to respond successfully to the challenges presented by the government by marketing to a new demographic of consumers and by creating a new product. Since it is illegal to smoke before 18 years of age, tobacco companies came out with candy and toys that were shaped to resemble tobacco products to market to kids, because kids who play with candy cigarettes are more likely to become smokers when they get older. Products such as candy cigarettes, chocolate cigars, and bubble gum shredded to resemble chewing tobacco was banned by North Dakota in 1953, but the ban was lifted in 1967, and reconsidered again in 1990. Recently many states including: California, Delaware, New York, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Vermont, South Carolina, and Washington, have banned smoking in restaurants, bars, and in some cases workplaces. Business owners like Anne-Marie Adams, executive director of the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce and Hilton Head Area Hospitality Association, predicted a loss in business, but said in an article posted by the Associated Press, that months after workplace smoking bans were passed, little has changed. The Beacon/Cara Koster In southern BeauWoodbridge, a central New fort County, the Island Jersey township, barred vendors it licenses Packet newspaper surveyed 13 bars and for public events from selling candy and toy restaurants and reported that nine of them tobacco products for the first time in Sep- said that business was good or even better tember 2007. Even though these products than before the smoking bans went into efdo not contain any tobacco, an article post- fect. In addition, this ban made workers’ ed by the Associated Press indicates that the jobs slightly easier, because they no longer township might ban all shops from selling had to scrub the walls to get rid of the yelthem just to make it harder for children to low tobacco stains. On the other hand, resobtain them. taurants that could not provide an outdoor “R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Find out what it means…” Judgements you make on others could have consequences catching, should be applauded. Considering our university isn’t in a huge metropolitan city, it potentially could be harder and take much strength and courage to comfortably Since we were small, most have been express yourself, especially if it’s obvious taught to treat others as you want to be treatthat you will stand out. ed. Be respectful. Try not to judge others Though I should have said something based on their physito those students cal appearance. Don’t about their childish stare because it is rude and ill-mannered. The fact that someone wasn’t afraid to be themselves and not conform behavior, I thought the more appropriRecently, though, I to traditional styles of clothing, in a way that was different, unique, and ate response was was surprised to witeye-catching, should be applauded. to write an article. ness this impolite beImagine for a havior by three Wilkes moment if we upperclassmen. thought about the The other day when I was eating in the cafeteria with my friends, rude and disrespectful the upperclassmen, potential consequences of our thoughts and I noticed three upperclassmen who were who are supposedly “role-models and men- actions we have on others before we put them into motion. Imagine if we changed gawking at a freshman because this indi- tors” to the new students, were being. Personally, I thought the freshman’s choice our attitudes about those who are differvidual was wearing unconventional clothing and had a hair style that is different than of attire was nicely done. The fact that ent, and truly realize that we are not all the someone wasn’t afraid to be themselves and same. Imagine if we just limited or made an most. Even more astonishing was that when I not conform to traditional styles of clothing, effort to stop judging others based on their sat down, which incidentally was behind in a way that was different, unique, and eye- physical characteristics. BY MARK CONGDON JR. Beacon Opinion Editor them, they were smirking and snickering about this individual. One said, “Oh my God, look at that kid! Can you believe what they’re wearing? Gross!” The freshman could have been making some type of statement for whatever reason. Fortunately, this person didn’t notice how space to accommodate smokers suffered a 30 percent drop in business. In response, tobacco companies created a new smokeless tobacco product called snus to give smokers an alternative to cigarettes, so they can still smoke where smoking is banned. Snus is nearly undetectable, because it is a refrigerated packet of tobacco that is stuck inside the mouth and requires no spitting. By passing a bill to increase federal tax on cigarettes, tobacco companies’ current largest group of consumers will no longer be able to afford to smoke, so it is likely that tobacco companies will loose money, because people will smoke less than they did before due to the cost of cigarettes. So how will tobacco companies respond to this new bill? It is possible that they will come out with a new tobacco product that is more appealing to people with high-incomes. The increase in tax on cigarettes will not have as much of an effect on people with high-incomes like it would on people with low-incomes, which is why this may be a possible group of consumers that tobacco companies might want to market to next. What do you think? ■ The Beacon wants your voice to be heard. Your Voices is the opportunity for students to voice their concerns. If you want your voice to be heard, please contact The Beacon with the following information: 1 Contact information including your email address and a phone number where you can be reached 2 Your name, major, and year 3 Your opinion thebeacon.oped@ gmail.com The Beacon reserves the right to edit submitted pieces for space and content. �LIFESTYLES OCTOBER 9, 2007 Homecoming montage 10-11 9 Student of the Week: Ellie Galiatsatos BY ALISON WOODY Beacon Lifestyles Editor Ellie Galiatsatos, junior pharmacy major, recently completed planning and executing Wilkes’ annual Homecoming events. However, this year Galiatsatos wanted to make it more meaningful and exciting. Therefore she turned Homecoming into a week-long event for the first time. There was a Pumpkin Carving contest, Trivia Night that focused on facts only about Wilkes, a carnivallike pep rally with a lot of entertainment, and lastly the initiation of a Spirit Squad that attended all sports events this past Saturday. Galiatsatos is very involved in extracurricular activities and is passionate about giving back to Wilkes. She is an active member of Student Government, serves as a biology and chemistry teaching assistant, and is the Resident Assistant at Chesapeake and Delaware. Galiatsatos has been named this week’s Beacon Student of the Week. The Beacon: How did you get to plan Homecoming? Galiatsatos: I was given the opportunity to plan Homecoming because I was chosen as Corresponding Secretary of Student Government. My responsibilities include planning Homecoming and, also, Spring Fling which will happen next semester. The Beacon: What has planning Homecoming meant for you? Galiatsatos: When I first found out that I was going to be Corresponding Secretary, I was really excited because I knew that planning Homecoming was very important and that they were going to be my responsibility. The best thing that I have gotten out of this is that my goal was to make it a full week of events and that was completed. The Beacon: What was your biggest obstacle in planning Homecoming? Galiatsatos: I think the biggest obstacle for planning any large event is having thirty minds come together and put in their input. Also, to be able to weed out the successful ideas from those that maybe won’t go over as well... sometimes it’s counterproductive. By having a Homecoming committee for just this reason, I was able to cover the challenge. The Beacon: How did you get to enjoy Homecoming with all of the stress? Galiasatos: My favorite part of Homecoming was actually getting to see the fruits of my labor. Although it was very stressful and there was a lot going on, I think that my final relaxation point was at the game when I realized that everything was over. The Beacon: Why do you think current students should want to connect with alumni? Galiatsatos: Obviously there is a big benefit because our alumni are very successful and I don’t think our students know this. I think that students don’t realize that there are alumni now that are heads of large corporations or working in the pharmaceutical industry... they are in every single career path that our students want to embark upon. They don’t realize that a lot of times it’s who you know that will get you that in or that opportunity that you may have missed otherwise. Our alumni are very willing to support Wilkes students. They would do anything for us... “My favorite part of Homecoming was actually getting to see the fruits of my labor. Although it was very stressful and there was a lot going on, I think that my final relaxation point was at the game when I realized that everything was over.” If you would like to nominate someone for Student of the Week, send an email to beacon.lifestyles@gmail.com The Beacon/ Gino Troiani �LIFESTYLES 10 . -----------------_ LIFESTYLES OCTOBER 9, 2007 OCTOBER 9, 2007 ion Photos Courtesy of Gino Troiani, Cara Koster, Mark Congdon n eu R ys 11 Tailgate Tent o B Fly HOMECOMING 2007 2007 Homecoming C ourt Harvest Ball rcent e The Five P Trivia Night arving Pumpkin C �A&E OCTOBER 9, 2007 12 Renaissance Club Book Review Crossword/Website 12 13 13 14 14 15 15 BY MARISSA PHILLIPS Beacon A&E Editor out brawl on skates. The basic mechanics of the game are simple. There are three positions: jamThe names of their events say it all: “Red, mers, pivots and blockers. The pivots set White, and Bruised,” “Give ‘Em Hell,” the skate pace and the blockers prevent the “Shock and Scream Fright Fight.” jammers from scoring. Then there is one Simply put, roller derby can be a brutal jammer whose goal is to skate around the event, for both the participants and the track and keep passing as many members crowd. of the opposite team as possible during the “I’ve seen girls get thrown off the track “jam session.” Every member of the opcompletely when trying to get blocked. And posite team passed is worth a point, and the people get their fingers run over. Roller team with the most points after the set time derby competitions are a lot like watching wins. a UFC fight or a wrestling match, except The blocker is in charge of preventing you’re dealing with people on skates,” said jammers to score, and they use their bodroller derby fan and former King’s student, ies as their weapon, but their methods of Alisha Turull. defense do have restrictions. They can use A lot of people have heard about roller derby, but really have no idea what the their shoulders or push off with their whole sport entails. There are national leagues, bodies, but no fists are allowed. Also, they and countless male and female teams. In aren’t allowed to hit about the shoulders. this area alone there are at least three active However, even with these restrictions, teams. There are the Coal City Rollers, Di- there’s room for injury. amond City Scream Queens, both of which Tia Adams, a former Wilkes student, who are entirely female, and the Death Kings, used to skate for the Diamond City Scream which is entirely male. If anything, the sport has become notorious for its brutality. Queens under the name “xMoshensteinx” And while there is a high level of physical- explained that she’s witnessed bruising, ity involved in the game, it’s far from an all broken legs, and a broken nose, among other injuries. In fact, she had to stop competing Tuesday, October 9 recently after she - Annual Flea Market and Rummage Sale at St. Luke’s United Church of fractured her foot Christ due to a bad fall. from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. - Masters and Me art exhibition at Marquis Art and Frame from 10 a.m.-5 Despite the physp.m. icality involved, - King’s College presents “The Comedy of Errors” on the King’s College once a competiTheater at 7:30 p.m. - David Crosby and Graham Nash performing at the Kirby Center at 7:30 tion is complete, p.m. the in-game battle Wednesday, October 10 rarely carries over. - Scott Erickson and DJ Venom X at Old Tyme Charley’s at 6 p.m. - Korn, HELLYEAH, Five Finger Death Punch and Droid performing at Adams explained the Wachovia Arena at 7:30 p.m. that everyone Thursday, October 11 knows the na- Batik art reception at the Tudor Bookshop at 4 p.m.. - “Queen: It’s a Kinda Magic” tribute event at the Scranton Cultural Cen ture of the sport, ter at8 p.m. and so everyone Friday, October 12 is understanding - Spancerd, Reptilian Dream, Krunk Chocula and Arsenal Mayhem per forming at Backstage at 6 p.m. of what goes on, - Mad Agnes performing at St. Stephens Episcopal Church at 8 p.m. and puts it behind - Fighting Zero performing at the Woodlands at 11 p.m. them afterwards. Saturday, October 13 - Pumpkin painting at Arts YOUniverse (BYOP) If anything, peo- New Atlantic, Between the Trees, Liam and Me, Holiday Parade and ple might get mad My Ticket Home performing at Backstage at 6 p.m. about referee calls, - Young Livers, Blackjaw, Stay Six and Curtis Irie performing at Café Metropolis at 8 p.m. but afterwards evSunday, October 14 erything is fine. - Middle Eastern Food Fest at St. Anthony’s Maronite Church from 11 In order to keep a.m. - 7 p.m. - “Remebering Keith Haring” event at the Wyoming Valley Red Cross competitions more center at 3 p.m. orderly, and pre- Eleven/11 performing at the Woodlands at 10 p.m. vent the possibility Monday, October 15 - DJ Godfather performing at the Woodlands at 10 p.m. of any fight escaTuesday October 16 lation, certain as- Academic Majors Fair in the Old Bookstore from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. pects of the game Schedule of Events The Beacon/Jenna Stephens The Diamond City Scream Queens are one the all-girl roller derby teams in the area. The practice with the Death Kings at Skateaway every Mondy and Wednesday and invite anyone over 18 to become a part of the team. are discussed and pre-planned. Although, by no means is it one big farce. Adams explained, “It’s actually not staged, but we know what’s going to happen because we don’t want a full-on fist fight during it. Basically, the overall outcome of the game is unknown, but sometimes there’s discussion as to who will be pitted against who, just so that they all have a heads up. It makes things a little less chaotic for the players and generates more crowd interest. Even though the sport can prove dangerous, Adams explained how much fun she had when she was involved. When she first joined the team she said she “couldn’t stay on skates for five minutes,” but through the weekly practices she improved. Aside from the drills and mock bouts that take place during the weekly practices, members of her roller derby team would work at Skateaway on weekends, which is also where they compete. Adams said that some of her best practice came from skating among the little kids and learning how to dodge. Adams explained the other enjoyable aspects that came with being involved n the sport. Teams compete once a month and every competition has a specific team. Roller derby organizers and teams put a lot of time planning and promoting each event; locating venues and campuses around the area. Also, each skater comes up with their own nickname. Take a look at the Coal City Rollers’ lineup and you’ll find members Lickety Whip, Kill Joy, Zombettie, and Corie Cutthroat, just to name a few. Though there is a men’s roller derby team in the area, the Death Kings, often the sport is perceived to be exclusively female. When Turull explained why she enjoys roller derby she said, “Because it’s chicks coming together to throw down, and it’s awesome,” leaving out a whole other area of the sport. She said she aways thought of it as a female sport. Adams has actually practiced with the Death Kings, and knows about the men’s side of the sport. She described it as “more brutal. There are less rules for the guys.” Maybe the sport isn’t for everyone, but it goes a step beyond mainstream athletics. While onlookers always seem to be itching for a good hockey fight, at a roller derby game it’s basically guaranteed. Many people would be content just staying entertained from the sidelines, but teams in the area are open to new members. However, if you consider getting involved, make sure to equip yourself with some good health insurance… �OCTOBER 9, 2007 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Renaissance Club aims to educate on historic period Graphic courtesy of gutenburg.org BY ALISSA LINDNER Beacon Correspondent Student Government recently granted club status to the Wilkes University Medieval Renaissance Club. Although still in the building stages, the club hopes to eventually hold a Renaissance fair and dinner on campus. According to its constitution, the Renaissance Club’s purpose is to “foster an understanding and appreciation of the historical significance of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance and to further the education of its members, the University and the public at large in these periods of history.” Heather Chulick, a junior communication studies major and the president of club, explained the purpose of the club is achieved through its meetings where various Renaissance ideas are brought up by members and a Renaissance Fair and Renaissance dinner which will be eventually held on campus. “The Renaissance Club is basically training in a way to have our own fair on campus,” explained Chulick. Matt Gogas, a junior communication studies major and the herald of Renaissance Club added many members are not necessarily historically accurate or informed about the Renaissance time period but the club encourages learning. “What we plan to do is have “university weekends” where we have classes on building a Renaissance persona, making your own clothes, and making your own weap- ons,” Gogas said. The Renaissance Club does not feel like work for its members, because everyone is passionate and loves the Renaissance time period itself, according to Gogas. Chulick explained, “The things that really set it apart from, well, any other time period is it is the period of Enlightenment... This club can encompass anything from art to music to dancing.” The Renaissance Club, currently in the early stages of development, is approximately fifteen students strong. At the weekly meetings, all the members bounce ideas off each other for the eventual Renaissance Fair. According to Gogas, some of the ideas for the Renaissance Fair include a log fight, tarot card readings, a rope ladder and a human chess game. Chulick explained Renaissance Fairs are very much about interacting with the audience versus a performance from the stage. The interaction occurs while dressed in historically accurate Renaissance “garb” 13 through speeches and direct talking with audience members. To make the public better aware of the Medieval Renaissance period, the Renaissance Club hopes to perform mini Renaissance Fairs in public schools, Gogas said. For the Wilkes students who know little or nothing about the Medieval Renaissance, both Chulick and Gogas encourage checking the group out. “I think they [Wilkes students] should take an interest in it [the Renaissance] because it can encompass anything you enjoy, anything in the humanities or the arts,” Chulick said. The Renaissance Club is planning a field trip to the Pennsylvania Medieval Renaissance Fair on October 27. The club meets Wednesdays in Kirby 108 at 5:00p.m. Everyone is encouraged to come and bring new ideas. “If one day you want to build a catapult, we would gladly welcome it,” Chulick said. Movie Review: Resident Evil: Extinction BY MIKE WILLIAMS Beacon Staff Writer Five years ago, horror fans and video gamers alike rushed to the theater to see Resident Evil, expecting the classic survival horror video game to burst onto the big screen in a magnificent explosion of gore, guts and ghouls. Unfortunately, what they found was a sci-fi movie that shared little more than the title with the beloved game and had more action coming from laser beams and guys in white bio-hazard suites than from the living dead. Two years later, Resident Evil returned to the theater with Resident Evil: Apocalypse, and thankfully, someone remembered to bring along the zombies. Chock full of blood and bullets, the second installment of the series was a major step up from the original, packed with over the top action and several characters and plot lines stemming from the game series; and even though it is far from Oscar worthy, Apocalypse was everything that the first should have been, leaving disillusioned fans with a spark of hope for the franchise. So now here we are, two years later and the spark has gone out… The film begins roughly five years after the conclusion of Apocalypse, which ended with Alice, the main character of the series who has no tie to the game, escaping a high security building owned by the evil Umbrella Corporation, creators of the horrible T Virus, capable of reanimating dead tissue and causing grotesque mutations in the living, apparently infected with the virus and gifted with strange new psychic powers. The sequel was immanent. Now, after the virus has apparently destroyed the world (this is explained in two sentences), and we find Alice (Milla Jovovich, The Fifth Element) traveling by motorcycle through the Nevada desert, slowly discovering her newly found powers, which are, unfortunately, never explained in any way. After a few minutes of random, senseless violence she eventually comes across a convoy of vehicles led by video game alumni Claire Redfield (Ali Larter, Final Desination), and wouldn’t you know it, her pals Carlos (Oded Fehr, The Mummy) and L.J. (Mike Epps, Next Friday) are along for the ride. So, as Alice attempts to help the wayward travelers concoct a plan for survival in a world crawling with the living dead. The Umbrella Corporation, remaining active even after the zombie apocalypse, is watching her from a series of highly sophisticated series of underground facilities. Apparently, they are aware of her new powers and have plans to use her blood in a diabolical plot to blah, blah, blah…Who cares!!! Now, we here at The Beacon typically try to be fair and balanced when reviewing motion pictures, especially ones dealing with the living dead; however, there are exceptions to every rule. Resident Evil: Extinction is that exception. First off, this film serves up dozens of questions essential to understanding the plot, and offers almost no answers, leaving the viewers scratching their heads through most of the film’s 94 minute run time. One example of this is the Umbrella Corporation, which is obviously up to something to do with the zombie plague; unfortunately everyone spends so much time trying to seem sneaky and devious that they forget to clue the viewer in on what exactly their evil scheme is. Another major problem with this film is that there is absolutely no character development. With both returning and new characters to the series, back story and dialogue is kept the absolute minimum. Even the most intriguing and interesting characters are limited to basically a simple introduction before falling victim to the living dead. Even the action, which is always a highpoint in this series, is a let down in this film. The universally accepted method of dispatching a zombie, a bullet to the brain, has been toned down, replaced in part by broken necks and slit throats (since when does that work on walking corpses?). The gore is also horribly lacking when it comes to attacks from the living dead, leaving splatter fans with little more than a quick spray of blood in situations that could have desperately benefited from a nice dismemberment or evisceration. Rated R for violence, gore and language, Resident Evil: Extinction is technically a horror movie; although some parts come off more like a sci-fi flick crossed with a half-hearted rip off of a real zombie movie. It is disappointing when a film like this comes out, full of promise and good ideas, that goes absolutely nowhere, taking unsuspecting fans along for the ride. Had they spent as much time on the plot as they do on the special effects, Resident Evil: Extinction could have been an above average action/horror film. Regrettably for the movie going public, this is little more than another in a long line of special effects driven snooze fests, designed to do little more than set up for another sequel. Unless those in charge of this series shape up their act, let’s hope that the franchise takes a tip from its latest installments subtitle, and goes they way of the dinosaur. Grade: A very generous D Photo courtesy of cinemagazine.ch �ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 14 OCTOBER 9, 2007 Book Review: Nicholas Sparks’ The Choice How far should you go to keep the hope of love alive? BY NICOLE FRAIL Beacon Staff Writer Warning: some spoilers in this review I believe that New York Times best selling author Nicholas Sparks is one of the only men in the world who could make cheating in a relationship sound like a romantically fantastic idea. Unless, of course, the act of infidelity inevitably resulted in a nine month long coma. From the very beginning, Sparks’ latest novel, The Choice, seemed vaguely familiar and a couple of chapters in, I immediately felt as if I’d read it all before. The new book follows a young man and woman living next door to each other in the only state Sparks’ novels ever take place: North Carolina. Main character Travis Parker (not Barker) is similar to all other Sparks’ protagonists simply by being perfect in every way. He’s attractive and quick-witted, strong and great with kids, and is even wealthy enough at the age of thirty-two to have traveled the world, own two boats, his own house on the water, and a small-town veterinary business. He’s dat- ed many women in the past, but now he’s realized that he wants what all of his other friends have: a wife. That very night, his new neighbor, Gabby Holland, happens to burst through the bushes, ranting about his dog getting her dog pregnant and from that moment on, Travis’s sights are set. I had some hope for the character of Gabby when he described her eyes as being “a little too wide set” and her nose as “just a bit too big,” but as with all of Sparks’ stories, the next hundred pages or so were spent with the thoughts of how beautiful or attractive each person realized the other was every time they merely glanced in their direction. Despite being in a four year relationship that’s about to turn into an engagement, Gabby spends ample time with Travis over the course of one weekend and true to Sparks’ form, they’re in love within seventy two hours. Predictable? I would say so, especially since that’s the way his previous efforts Message in the Bottle and Nights in Rodanthe turned out, too. Even though I am not a fan of affairs, I . · Rs HE I . . . - · .. Ir P .. v- . rv _. ma ,: d Y+ ·~ · TI- t u ·- In 11 6 5 1 .,1 . .· a 1 k - The Beacon/Nick Zmijewski (570 8 3- . 9• found myself cheering for Travis and Gabby’s relationship. He’s (almost too) sweet and understanding, and she’s suddenly realizing that she’s not as happy as she thought she was with her boyfriend. So why shouldn’t the two of them be together? Eleven years later, Gabby’s choice to stay with Travis, get married, and have kids comes back to haunt her when he crashes their car during a thunderstorm. He wakes up after the accident, but she doesn’t stir for a couple of months. The days go by and Travis is now faced with his choice: does he honor the promise he made to her so many years ago and order the feeding tube to be removed or does he disregard their written agreement and keep the hope of love alive? There is some slight suspense and a sarcastic undertone to The Choice, but aside from that, the book didn’t grab or hold my attention for too long. It’s not one of those books that you don’t want to put down. Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t horrible or boring. It was simply unoriginal. I understand that it’s difficult to write something totally original today, but The Choice wasn’t original in that someone else had already written it. Sparks, himself, has already conjred these same characters and plot lines. Too many times, I picked up on things that happened almost the same way in his other books. The pigeon on the window sill in the hospital reminded me of the swan in The Wedding. Gabby ending up as more a damsel in distress than anything else (her life and her happiness was in his hands) made me flashback to A Walk to Remember and possibly even The Rescue. And leaving Travis alone to care for their children, heartbroken and afraid, was At First Sight-ish. The ending, though, was exactly what the rest of the story needed. If you haven’t read anything else by Sparks, all of this won’t bother you and I believe that you’ll definitely enjoy it. If you have, you may just want to keep your reading shallow and not dive as deep as I did. Grade: C+ �15 Kudracross OCTOBER 9, 2007 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 21 23 27 28 29 30 32 33 34 35 36 38 39 43 45 46 48 53 54 55 56 Cookie type Daily Planet reporter Suspicious College big shot Advantage DOWN Rowdy bunch Border on Child building block “Iron Mike” Largest city in Scotland “____ are my sunshine” Babble on and on Not fooled by Star trek distance Be in the red Bring home the bacon Factual Conveyed Not now Skirmish Dehydrate Proprietor Reporter’s query Filled with anger Mexican food items I as well Dissuade Idolize French painter Claude “_____” Adolescence Sin, Cos, _____ Barbecuer’s need Archipelago member Doctor type Done without much effort Arthur’s was round Performs “If the _____ fits wear it” Franklin flier 58 59 61 62 64 66 68 XXXChurch.com BY ANDEE SCARANTINO Beacon Editor-in-Chief Noelle is a “pastor’s kid.” She grew up in a good Christian family. She went to a good Christian school. She remembers the first time she saw porn. Actually, she remembers it in great detail, and repeatedly said she will “never forget it” in her confession on XXXChurch.com. Naturally, Noelle did not describe the image she saw on the porn site. That disappointed me. I was looking for something other than Jesus on a Saturday night. I don’t know what to make of the site XXXChurch.com. Clearly, its creators fundamentalist Christians who dislike porn. The entire site is about sex and porn, but then again, every website I review includes sex in some way. I think you’re all beginning to expect it. This site is not trying to teach you how to kick it with Jesus. No, they’re just telling you not to watch porn or masturbate. They do it in odd ways, though. They sell T-shirts that say “Jesus Loves Porn Stars,” but contrarily, really condemn masturbation. The site also offers blogs, places to give and receive advice, and various other venues to help people stop watching porn. They don’t teach Christian doctrine. They just want visuals of fornicating people to disappear completely. The contributors also go around the country, doing various features and making videos to place on the site. One feature was called “porn and pancakes,” in which people would go, eat pancakes, and hear issues about pornography. There was even a little FAQ about “porn and pancakes.” *** Is Porn and Pancakes R rated? No. Should I bring my son? Yes. Should my son be 11 years or older? Yes. Can I bring my dad? Yes. Should my dad be ready to talk afterwards? Yes. Why just men? That’s how we started. Will there be nudity? Ahhh, no. Will we have to wear name tags? No. Do you use Grade A or Grade B syrup? Whatever is cheapest. Will you talk about masturbation? Yes. Clump of dirt Weight of a vehicle without cargo Abbey ___, Beatles album Daddy ___ Legs Young man Crumpet’s accompaniment Ball rest Answers 10/2 Courtesy Lackawanna County Library System BY CHRISTOPHER KUDRAK Beacon Staff Writer ACROSS 1 Brewer’s need 5 Sandwich type 9 Frost and Poe 14 Listen to 15 Bank offering 16 Sentient 17 Looney Tunes character 18 Em, to Dorothy 19 Monotonous TV 20 Awl and hammer 22 Fling 24 Common fishing tool 25 Henpeck 26 Liveliness 28 Night bird 31 Toddler 33 Black top 37 Rapids 40 Make changes 41 Definite no 42 Felix, for example 43 Why Shakespeare needed a stage? 44 Buffalo’s waterfront 45 Uppermost part of the atmosphere 47 Flush 49 Yours and mine 50 No longer working, for short 51 Cape Verde island 52 Spoil 54 Inquire 57 Religious denomination 60 Wood knot 63 Cowboy dinner 65 Behind schedule 67 Footwear type 69 Entire 70 71 72 73 74 Can I bring my men’s group, youth pastors, lead pas tors? Yes. Will we learn about personal accountability? Yes. Is porn a $57 billion a year business worldwide? Yes. *** May I remind everyone that, according to Murphy’s Law, celibacy is not hereditary? Porn is just images of people having sex. That’s how we all got here. I’d feel so inappropriate talking about porn with my dad and a religious leader. And, I really don’t like pancakes. What’s wrong with porn? If you are really Christian and hate it, just ignore it. I personally have no problem with porn. If you can’t avoid it, use it as a guide for what to do when you want to reproduce the good old fashioned Christian way. As for porn being a $57 billion a year business, more power to the film makers. Clearly they’re doing something right. I give this site an “A” for “Agnostic Andee is Annoyed!” �16 SPORTS OCTOBER 9, 2007 Colonels move to 2-0 with homecoming pounding BY GERARD HETMAN Beacon Staff Writer Since the start of the 2007 season, Wilkes head coach Frank Sheptock was looking for a game in which his team would come together as one cohesive unit and prove to fans and opponents that they could defend their 2006 MAC championship with pride and enthusiasm. This weekend, after three non-conference losses and an overtime win last week, Sheptock and his Colonels have apparently found their missing swagger. Kyle Follweiler collected 10 total tackles, Jason Prushinski and Gil Flores each hauled in touchdown passes and the Wilkes offense racked up a season-high 468 yards in total offense as the Colonels posted a 47-0 shutout victory over the Devils of FDU-Florham on homecoming Saturday afternoon at Ralston Field. The win improves Wilkes to 2-3 overall, while allowing the Colonels to remain undefeated in MAC conference play with a 2-0 league record. After struggling on offense in previous games this season, Sheptock and the coaching staff changed things up a bit coming into the week. “We’ve worked to put everyone on offense on the same page this week,” Sheptock said after the victory. Soccer from PAGE 20 game past FDU goalie Danya Morales who collected eight saves throughout the duration of the game. The Lady Colonels defense gave up just two attempted goal shots during the second half. Freshman Melissa Polchinski native of Yorkstown, NY and Taryn Hallowell from Belvidere, NJ scored the final two goals for the Lady Colonels. The Lady Colonels homecoming defeat over FDU proved to be the team’s third consecutive win. “We dominated the game,” said Sumoski. “We showed a lot of really good soccer (Saturday) and it’s just gotten better the last three games.” “I think it sends a message to the rest of the conference that we are for real and we’ve taken our lumps in the schedule in the beginning and this is now when it’s paying off.” The Lady Colonels are currently 6-6 overall and each of the teams’ wins have come by way of shutout including their 2-0 road victory over Susquehanna University (PA) last Wednesday. “We’ve simplified things so that we’re doing less with our playbook, but it ends up with more production in the end. It makes us a much more balanced, yet proficient offensive unit.” On defense, the Colonels came into the game wanting to get more opportunities out of their standard defensive scheme, and the results paid dividends for the team on Saturday. “As we get to the midpoint of the season, we’ve started to really grasp what all of our kids can do best, and that allows us to put them in the best positions to make plays on defense” Sheptock said of his defensive effort against the Devils. “We wanted to get the players thinking less, and reacting more in what they do out there on the field.” Senior quarterback Al Karaffa reaped the benefits of Sheptock’s trimmed-down, more aggressive approach Saturday. On the second play from scrimmage in the third quarter, Karaffa handed the ball off to running back Alex Pearson on what appeared to be the same exact play twice in a row. Except this time, Pearson pitched the ball back to Karaffa, who then found Jason Prushinski downfield for a 60-yard touchdown strike. The ensuing extra point pushed the lead to 27-0, and helped to slam the lid shut on any comeback the Devils may have attempted to muster. “We could see things starting to come together last week,” Karaffa said. This afternoon at 3:30pm the Lady Colonels will go on the road to face DeSales University (PA) for their second conference game of the season. The Lady Bulldogs are currently 3-8-1 overall and 0-1 in the Freedom Conference. Last season the Lady Colonels defeated DeSales on the road 2-1 and will be looking to mirror that performance. The Lady Colonels opened the first half with two goals and held DeSales in check giving up only one goal in the second half. The Lady Colonels continue conference play on Saturday on the road against the 57-1 Delaware Valley (PA) Lady Aggies. Candice Halliday contributed to this report. The Beacon/Gino Troiani Quarterback Al Karaffa fires a pass down field during the Colonels 47-0 blowout against FDU-Florham Park (NJ) on Saturday. The Colonels take on Lycoming College on the road next Saturday at 1:30pm. PACKAGE HANDLERS Lady Colonels Remaining Schedule: 10/9 @ DeSales 10/13 @Delaware Valley 10/18 vs. King’s 10/21 @ Rochester 10/24 @ Mahattanville 10/27 vs. Arcadia 10/30 Freedom Conference playoffs 11/3 Freedom Conference Playoffs Think fast ~ think FedEx. FedEx Ground. Thinking about some fast cash and help with college? Join the fast-paced FedEx® team as a part-time Package Handler. You’ll work up a sweat and, in return, get a weekly paycheck, tuition assistance and more! SORT OBSERVATIONS MUST BE COMPLETED PRIOR TO APPLICATION. Part-time PACKAGE HANDLERS QUALIFICATIONS: • 18 years or older • Able to load, unload, sort packages • Part-time, 5-day week, early morning hours STOP IN OR CALL TO SCHEDULE A SORT OBSERVATION. FEDEX GROUND 220 Armstrong Road Centerpointe Commercial & Trade Park (follow sign) Pittston, PA 18640 Phone: 570-654-1362 FedEx is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer (M/F/D/V), committed to diversifying its workforce. Visit www.fedex.com/us/careers ~ ® Ground �OCTOBER 9, 2007 SPORTS 17 Wilkes’ mens basketball names new assistant coach BY ALISON WOODY Beacon Lifestyles Editor Assistant coaches may come and go, but this one hopes he is here to stay. Neal Biscaldi, a New Jersey native, has been named new men’s basketball assistant coach. He has over 13 years experience at all three division levels. Prior to coming to Wilkes, Biscaldi has coached at Rowan University (NJ), St. Francis University (PA), Bloomfield College (NJ) and Gettysburg College (PA). While Biscaldi has been numerous places, he explains that it is common practice for assistant coaches. “Usually with assistant coaching positions a lot of times to get in the business... most of the time you do like a two year stint. It just seems to be the nature of the business,” he said. Biscaldi said that this new position is the best one he has been in for a long time. “Coach [Rickrode] is a good person and a good guy, and is with a program that is known and respected.” Biscaldi, who has previously worked at a Division-I school [St. Francis University] prior to Wilkes, said that his biggest challenge is getting used to the level of play again. He said, “Not to say that this level is not good--it is. We have great guys on the team, personally and play-wise. It’s just that the level is different.” Biscaldi said that the main reason he chose Wilkes is because of “the tradition from the kids [Rickrode] has brought in to the basketball on the court.” Jerry Rickrode, head men’s basketball coach, explained what he looks for in his assistants. “You try to hire an assistant who has passion for the game, has a good knowledge base, and has some experience at the college level,” he said. Rickrode said that his main goal when a new assistant enters the program is to get him involved in every aspect of the game so that “they are prepared when they leave to be able to run a program.” He said, “You try and hire people you feel will be able to move on from this and do well in a head coaching position or another assistant position at a high level.” In his past five years, he has helped assistants prepare for jobs such as the Director of the Hoop Group Company, an assistant coach at Rider University, and a head coaching job at St. Peter’s College. Biscaldi added, “One of the things that attracted me to Wilkes is that [Rickrode] has placed people at all different levels. He always says that it has nothing to do with him, but it has to to have all these guys out there.” Biscaldi is now Rickrode’s fourth assistant in five years. While it may seem challenging for a team to go through so many different coaches in such a short period of time, Rickrode explained that he likes his players to be involved in the hiring process. He said, “This job is a full-time position where the assistant must develop a good relationship with the players and can act as sort of a buffer between me and the guys.” The men’s basketball season begins on November 19 against Baptist Bible College. The Beacon/James Rosato C ub -.•- -....ting? :ir ______ ay Part.y? Ofllc ting? oo Pa y? to a ·1 -t es Qu1znos~Q M MM •• TOASTY! 72 South Main Sit. ii _. s Bar -e Ho· rs. onday-'11'hu .sday lO _-- -8 DI - ," 'day · · Sa· day l.OaH1.-JOpn:1. S ._ ndayl2p -Gp , (570) 208 SUBS Ca· - r·. g t -ays -_ t:arti ga ·•9.9 Call for details-~ �OCTOBER 9, 2007 SPORTS 18 Commentary M ARCH OF THE PENGUINS The puck drops here! Penguins this season is in goal. Ty Conklin, who won only three games for Syracuse last season, will have to overcome vercom inconsistent play. Backing king hhim up will be either journeyman ym ggoalie Karl Goehring, currently ur with the team on a try-out ry basis, a David Brown, or John J Curry. ur Brown and Curry aare coming n off stellar college careers, s but will their skills translate an to the pro ranks? Fans can watch th the he Wilkes WilkesBarre/Scranton Penguins in their quest for the Calder Cup on television if they can’t make it to the Wachovia Arena. Every Saturday night home game will be broadcast on WQMY, including this week’s battle against the Philadelphia Phantoms. BY MICHAEL CIGNOLI Beacon Correspondent The Wi Wilkes-Barre/Scranton kesPenguins opened their e ninth nth season in the American Hockey League e wi with a thrilling 5-4 victory over the Hershey e Be Bears last Wednesday. If the game m was aany indication of what’s to come this h season, on fasten your seatbelts Penguins fa fans, it’ss ggoing to be a remarkable ride. The Penguins g ns were in an interesting situation this is su summer. Last year, they had a roster filled with prospects from both the Edmonton Oilers and Pittsburgh Penguins. However, as a result of an affiliation swap, the Oilers prospects will not be returning to Northeast Pennsylvania. A number of other players left the Penguins via free agency. Only ten players from last season’s team, which put up a league-best 51 wins and franchise record 108 points are returning. The rest of the roster is composed of rookies and the Penguins’ own free agent signings. Up front, the Penguins have more talent than they could possibly ask for. Tyler Kennedy (TK) is back in black and gold for another season. As a rookie, TK tied the franchise record for points in a single game when he put up five against the Hershey Bears in January. Look for him to add to the 37 points he scored last year during an injury-shortened season. Jonathan Filewich is coming off a 30 goal season, and could score more than that if he’s not called up to the NHL for an extended period of time. The speedy duo of Connor James and Joe Jensen are also back and they played well together during preseason games. Tim Wallace, Kurtis McLean, and Mark Letestu add much needed grit to the Penguins shut down lines to keep their opponents’ top players in check. Newcomers Nathan Smith, Tim Brent, Jeff Taffe, and Chris Minard are also expected to score goals and provide some words of wisdom to the team’s younger players. The quartet scored a combined 87 goals last season while playing for Manitoba, Portland, San Antonio, and Lowell respectively. Leading by example, Minard scored a natural hat trick in his first game in a Pens uniform and Taffe added a goal later in the game. In what will be his 15th and final pro season, Dennis Bonvie is expected to stick up for his teammates the way he has so well in his multi-decade career. Watch for him to teach rookie heavyweight Aaron Boogaard a thing or two about dropping the gloves throughout the season. The Penguins’ lone returning defenseman is Ryan Lannon. He’ll be joined by two defensemen with extended AHL experience, Mark Ardelan and Deryk Engelland. Ardelan ranked 14th amongst AHL blueliners with 38 points last season and was brought in to fill the void left by captain Micki DuPont’s departure. Look for him to quarterback the powerplay while Engelland plays a physical defensiveminded game. Rounding out the Penguins’ defense is a solid crop of rookies who paced Pittsburgh’s prospects to a first place finish in the Kitchener (Ontario) Rookie Tournament this summer. Kris Letang, one of the final cuts from Pittsburgh’s roster, has the potential to be one of the best defensemen in the league if he keeps up his solid play. Jon D’Aversa recorded 60 points with Sudbury of the Ontario Hockey League last season. While he might not get to 60 points with the Penguins, he and University of Minnesota standout Alex Goligoski should make an immediate impact on both defense and the scoresheet. Dartmouth product Ben Lovejoy looked solid during preseason contests. The biggest question mark plaguing the ST DE FORTHE 21st CENTURY CAll: BILL HENRY at 2.15-71H619 OR ( HEeK 11HE WEB SmE FOR INFORMATION �SPORTS OCTOBER 9, 2007 19 Athlete of the Week Kyle Follweiler BY GERARD HETMAN Beacon Staff Writer When Kyle Follweiler looked ahead to his senior season of football at Wilkes University, the all-American linebacker knew he would need to show leadership by example for a defensive unit that lost eight of eleven starters to graduation. After stellar campaigns in each of his first three seasons, Wilkes coaches and fans expected him to rise to the occasion. Now, at the midpoint of the season, Follweiler has fans at Ralston Field- and across the country- sitting up and taking notice. In this weekend’s Homecoming rout of FDU-Florham, Follweiler led the Wilkes defensive efforts with 10 tackles, eight of which were solo efforts and one sack. A business administration major from Slatington, PA, Follweiler has been turning in a performance on the gridiron that is nothing short of phenomenal. In the first five games of the 2007 season, he has collected 73 total tackles- including 50 solo stops- as well as three sacks and two interceptions. While the four-year starter and 2007 team captain has been on the radar screens of opposing offenses for several years, Follweiler has certainly found his most productive gear at a time when his team can most use the veteran leadership he provides. Follweiler credits his intense preparation and attention to detail as major factors in his accomplishments on the football field. “It’s very important to know what your opponent is going to throw at you. The coaches do their best to get us all ready, and we each need to follow through on our end for everything to come together on Saturdays,” said Follweiler about the approach he takes to getting ready for each week’s opponent. “Kyle is a player who brings a great deal of passion to the program,” said Wilkes head coach Frank Sheptock about Follweiler’s impact this season. “Even with all of 6 the individual success he has had, he remains a dedicated student of the game. He brings vocal leadership to his teammates, but also goes out and backs it up in practice and on game day. It is invaluable to our program to have a player and leader of that caliber.” Looking ahead to the rest of the season, Follweiler continues to put the success of his team above himself, while also taking each game as one more step towards the goal of a second straight MAC title. “We need to stay focused and take it game-bygame. Every opponent is tough and you can’t afford to overlook anyone.” Follweiler said of the outlook for the remainder of the 2007 campaign. “We’ve seen a lot of progress each game, and now we’re really starting to turn it on.” Congratulations to Kyle Follweiler on being named this week’s Beacon athlete of the week. The Beacon/Gino Troiani Freshman Kiara Midkiff tossed the ball in-play while performing a front-flip during the Lady Colonels homecoming win against FDU-Florham (NJ). Midkiff and the Lady Colonels will be traveling to DeSales University (PA) today for their second conference match of the season. The team will wrap up this week’s conference schedule on the road Saturday against Delaware Valley (PA) before hosting King’s College on October 18. WEEKLY RECAPS Wilkes Hall of Fame The 15th class was inducted into the Wilkes University Athletics Hall of Fame in a ceremony on Sunday, October 7th on campus. Members of the Class of 2007 include Mike Gundersdorf ’97, who was football standout; wrestling star Alan Zellner ‘75; three-sport standout Ellen Van Riper ‘83, who played volleyball, basketball and softball; field hockey star Angela (Polny) Vivian ‘95; and the Middle Atlantic Conference champion 1975 men’s lacrosse team. Women’s Tennnis Wilkes University extended their women’s tennis winning streak to nine straight matches with a 9-0 Freedom Conference win over Arcadia University on Saturday afternoon. The Beacon/Gino Troiani Volleyball DeSales University remained unbeaten in Freedom Conference volleyball action by netting a 30-17, 30-23, 30-22 win over Wilkes University on Tuesday night in the Marts Center. The Bulldogs ran their overall record to 13-4 and moved to 4-0 in the conference. The Lady Colonels are now 8-12 overall and 1-2 in conference play. The team will march down the street to King’s College on Wednesday for their fourth conference game. NUMBERS OF THE WEEK 276 Number of saves collected by Total number of passing yards by Lady Colonels field hockey senior quarterback Al Karaffa goalie Julia Smith. The team during the homecoming game moved to 6-6, 1-0 in the conferagainst FDU on Saturday. ence with their win over Mahattanville (NY) on Sat. 17 Total number of goal attempts by the Colonels soccer team during their 2-0 win over FDU on Saturday. Sean Switt and Todd Helwig scored goals for the team. 11 Number of wins by the Lady Colonels tennis team. Their only loss was against Bloomsburg University on September 13. They are currently 5-0 in the Freedom conference. �Sports OCTOBER 9, 2007 20 Not In Our House The Beacon/GinoTroiani Second half performance stumps FDU in homecoming game BY CARLTON HOLMES Beacon Sports Editor Ever since the beginning of the season, he knew a huge part of his teams’ success rested on his shoulders. Aside from losing graduating seniors from last years’ Lady Colonels roster, at the beginning of this season, head coach John Sumoski unexpectedly lost veterans forcing him to design another successful season by integrating the freshman with the veterans who still remained. At this point, Sumoski knew in order for his team to win games, he had to put the right team on the soccer field by mixing play- ers that would produce as a whole. In attempting to do so, developing team chemistry was a problem for the Lady Colonels. After battling against nationally and regionally ranked teams during the initial 11 games while dealing with unexpected issues, Sumoski and the Lady Colonels seem to have found their mojo. “The last couple games we’ve started to gel as a team,” said Sumoski. “We’ve found our niche formation wise and player wise. We’ve eliminated problems with the team early on and the team chemistry has gotten much better in the past week. I think we’re really starting to play for each other.” After winning five of their initial 11 games (all were non-conference contests), the Lady Colonels put together a 5-0 shutout against FDU-Florham Park (NJ) during their homecoming game on Saturday. That game was the first Freedom conference contest of the season for the Lady Colonels. Senior defender Bethany Head scored the first goal of the game for the Lady Colonels at the 10:11 mark in the first half off an assist from teammate Rebecca Duttry. That goal proved to be the only goal for the Lady Colonels during the first half after nine attempts. FDU took a shot at three goals but none of them would even reach any of the three goalies that played for the Lady Colonels. Senior Liz Pauly, junior Jessica Berkey and freshman Anne Miller all played the goalkeeper position for the Lady Colonels but none walked away with any saves due to their stifling defense. “I have a hundred percent confidence in our defense,” said senior defender Briana Bertoni. “We’re all working together and willing to back each other up. It’s not just about the defense, it’s our whole team because we defend as a team.” In the second half of play, the Lady Colonels continued to apply defensive pressure while lighting up the scoreboard. Only two minutes passed following the 45:00 halftime break and freshman Casandra Valentin from Haskel, NJ was set to score the second goal of the game for the Lady Colonels. Senior Georgina Robinson would dish out the assist to Valentin. Eight minutes later, with 55:11 on the clock, Head scored an unassisted goal, her second of the See Soccer on PAGE 16 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon Newspaper Collection, 1947-present Description An account of the resource <p>This is Wilkes University's <em>Beacon</em> Newspaper collection, 1947-present. We also have digitized copies of the <em>Beacon's</em> predecessors, <em>The Bucknell Bison Stampede</em>, 1934-1935 and <em>The Bucknell Beacon</em>, 1936-1947 June. It should be noted that Wilkes University does not have a complete set of issues for the Bucknell Bison Stampede and Bucknell Beacon. For researchers who are interested in seeing the complete issues for these publications, please contact <a href="https://researchbysubject.bucknell.edu/scua">Bucknell University's Special Collections Department</a>.</p> <p></p> <p>Missing Issues:</p> <p>1947 August 8th<br />1947 September 5th<br />1947 October 3rd<br />1947 October 17th<br />1947 October 31st<br />1947 November 21st<br />1947 December 19th<br />1948 September 9th<br />1950 April 28th<br />1953 April 10th<br />1962 February 2nd</p> Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Beacon staff is comprised of Wilkes University students who are advised by a full-time faculty member of the Communication Studies Department. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1934-present Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright of the Wilkes Beacons is retained by Wilkes University. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Professor Emeritus Harold Cox digitized the collection from 1934-1970 and created a <a href="https://beaconarchives2.wilkes.edu/">legacy website</a>. Digital Archives student John Jenkins digitized the collection from 1970-present. Special thanks goes to Communication Studies Professor Dr. Kalen Churcher, Editor-in-Chief Kirsten Peters, Beacon staff member, Emily Cherkauskas, and other Beacon staff for their help in acquiring digitized copies of the Beacons from 2006 onward. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon 2007 October 9th Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2007 October 9 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Communication Studies Department Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Wilkes University https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/cb7cb69c47ae24c63fa8441a22972c30.pdf 8d6ecb6a7c410439b3115d7fe7d32b00 PDF Text Text Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA The THE NEWS OF TODAY REPORTED BY THE JOURNALISTS OF TOMORROW Volume 60 www.wilkesbeacon.com OCTOBER 2, 2007 Brown exercises veto on SG club vote In This Issue... BY ANDREW SEAMAN Beacon News Editor VO TE!'·~ Matt Brown, Student Government (SG) President, shook up the organization’s regular weekly meeting last Wednesday, when he decided to exercise his presidential veto power after a motion to grant the Student Peace Action Network (S.P.A.N.) club status failed a general board vote. Brown said, “I never thought that I was actually going to have to veto, just because I have a lot of trust in all the members on my board.” A veto is a somewhat unusual move for SG presidents. He explained that in his opinion the board was split with 10 members favoring a motion to make S.P.A.N. a club, while 11 members opposed the motion and 12 abstained from voting. Brown explained, “The board was basically split because we had a lot of abstaining votes from freshmen who weren’t at the previous meetings.” Page 6 Freshmen and Senior SG members work together to solve the murder mystery exercise that is meant to build teamwork and leadership. Former SG President and the director of the Sidhu School of Business PPD program, Matt Sowcik. See VETO page 4 The Beacon/Andrew Seaman MyWilkes spelled out Offices Relocate T Page 9 1Ao· BB'4 h>lovo, ..;t· ' ; . ~ I The Beacon / Cara Koster Asking residents to recycle and clean up campus grounds helps Wilkes RAs meet Residence Life requirements. Page 14 , Inside News................................1-5 Opinion.............................6-8 Lifestyles.........................9-11 Arts & Entertainment....12-15 Sports...........................16-20 \. Issue 4 BY NICOLE FRAIL requirements Resident Assistants Beacon Asst. News Editor (RA) must meet every semester. Last April, Brenda Stanley as“Residence Life has always been sumed the leadership of the Wilin the business of having a strucCourtesy of Valerie Martinez kes residence life office as its new tured programming model of how director. She did so with a num- to get students involved. As the new ber of ideas to get students more director, I wanted to find a way to involved with the campus and the add my spin on getting the RAs on city of Wilkes-Barre. These ideas, board about what it truly means to which were also influenced by get students involved and be sucpast experiences from her time cessful while here at Wilkes,” Stanas Area Coordinator at Salisbury ley said. University in Maryland, have resulted in modification of the See MY WILKES page 4 h BY CANDICE HALLIDAY eBeacon Staff Writer The doors of Passan Hall are open once again. On Monday September 24, the office of Student Affairs began its move from Conyngham Hall across campus to the second floor of Passan Hall. This marked the beginning of Passan’s reopening after the Registrar’s Office, Financial Aid and Financial Services all relocated last academic year to the University Center on Main (UCOM) to become part of the consolidated student services. Dr. Mary Beth Mullen, Student Affairs Coordinator, explained that Barbara King, Associate Dean of Students; Mark Allen, Dean of Students; and Ms. Judy Wienckoski, Student Affairs Assistant, are the only three members of the student affairs staff moving from Conyngham to Passan. The remaining offices are part of University College and will remain in Conyngham. Dr. Paul Adams, Vice President for Student Affairs moved to the UCOM last year at the time that all administrators relocated. Allen explained, “Student Affairs moving from Conyngham to Passan allows space for University College to consolidate its operation by, eventually, moving Career Services to Conyngham from Max Roth. All the moves are being initiated to improve the coordination of services for programs that significantly impact students.” The Student Affairs offices are not the only offices moving to Passan. Beginning Monday October 1, Residence Life will occupy the first floor of Passan. In addition, Allen also explained that Student Leadership Director Phil Ruthkosky will also move to the second floor of Passan and will work out of the Student Affairs office suite. Ruthkosky’s old office in the Henry Student Center will be occupied with the Coordinator of Student Development. �NEWS OCTOBER 2, 2007 2 Student Government My Wilkes SG Veto News Briefs 3 4 4 5 BY AMY FUSCO Beacon Correspondent Most students have seen the movie or read the book. The young woman--usually in a dimly lit space--begins to sense she’s being watched. Her skin prickles and she turns around to gaze into the murk. But the stalker expertly fades into the surroundings, biding his time until he makes contact and the plot takes off. Sound like a scene that could be replayed at Wilkes? Technically, according to Christopher Bailey, Director of Campus Support Services, the university has formally handled only two or three complaints of stalking in the past five years; however, college students across the nation should be aware of the issue. Last spring’s Virginia Tech shooting put the spotlight on stalking when it became public that the shooter, Seung Hui Cho, had previously been accused of stalking behavior. According to a survey of 223 college and university campuses conducted by the National Center for Victims of Crime, 13% of the college women surveyed reported having been stalked. Reflecting on the law of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Bailey defined ‘stalking’ as the act of a person who initiates “continued unwanted contact or attention” with another person. Stalking can occur through various forms of communication, such as phone, email, text messaging, harassment in social networking sites such as Facebook or MySpace, or being physically visible. Experts also note that the more personal information offered on social networking websites, such as posting schedules or social plans, the easier it is for a stalker to follow or harass. Although there has not been any major issue of stalking at Wilkes University, the most typical stalking has been caused by an ex-boyfriend or an ex-girlfriend, who could not accept that their relationships were over. Bailey notes that if any student-male or female--experiences unwanted attention and is made uncomfortable by it, the student should immediately report it to Public Safety. Public Safety only has control over Wilkes University’s campus, so if the stalking issue reaches beyond the campus, the student should report it to the Wilkes-Barre police department. Dr. Paul Adams, Vice President for Students Affairs, explained that students should also bring any problems related to stalking to the attention of family members, friends, RAs and anyone who they feel comfortable talking to about it. People who are being stalked may visit the Victims Resource Center for additional help. Adams also advised students to “terminate all contact with the stalker” in order to prevent being continually stalked. Furthermore, if a student is emotionally damaged from the stalking situation, he or she may utilize the counseling center and psychological services at Wilkes University to receive help. Neglecting to report a stalker could result in catastrophic consequences like those that occurred at Virginia Tech. The perpetrator, Cho, consistently communicated with a few people by e-mail, but Christopher Bailey believes that this “stalking was a symptom of a deeper issue for that individual.” Although stalking may have been a symptom, statistics indicate the students at universities and colleges are more likely to experience stalking that leads to violence. According to the Nationalk Center for Victims of Crime, 76% of women who are killed by their intimate partners were stalked by these partners before they were killed. There are support systems and networks to help identify students who are troubled and if this occurs, there is a way to intervene in order to make that student and others safe. David Lewis, a sophomore at Wilkes University, stated that, “Stalking emphasizes the fine line between love and obsession... stalkers are nothing but sadistic diplomats who take love and cripple its good name.” Many students are conscious of what stalking consists of and how it could affect people. Even though it is a rare occurrence at Wilkes, university officials advise that students, faculty and staff should still keep it in mind to ensure that this campus is a safe place. Watch Beacon News on Wilkes World LIVE at 12 p.m. on Tuesdays and again Wednesday through Friday at 7:30 p.m. or at http://www.wilkesbeacon.com Photo Courtesy of Patty Gilmour The Beacon / Jenna Stephens Stalking sense: students urged to act on unwanted attention In the past five years, Wilkes University has formally handled few complaints of stalking on campus. Stalking can occur through many forms of communication including text messages and social netweorking sites. BEACON Serving the community through fair and accurate reporting while supporting the views and opinions of our readers. Editorial Staff Editor-in-Chief: Andee Scarantino Email: wilkesbeacon@gmail.com Managing Editor: Nick Podolak Email: wilkesbeacon@gmail.com News Editor: Andrew Seaman Email: news.beacon@gmail.com Op/Ed Editor: Mark Congdon Jr. Email: thebeacon.oped@gmail.com Lifestyles Editor: Alison Woody Email: beacon.lifestyles@gmail.com A&E Editor: Marissa Phillips Email: thebeaconae@gmail.com Sports Editor: Carlton Holmes Email: beaconsports@gmail.com Photo Editor: Cara Koster Advertising Managers: Stephanie Yachim Dana Zlotucha Email: thebeacon.ads@gmail.com Advisor: Dr. Andrea Breemer Frantz Established in 1936 PA Newspaper Association Member Printed on Tuesdays during the academic school year. 130 S. River St. First Floor, Conyngham Hall, Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 (570) 408-5903 wilkesbeacon@gmail.com www.wilkesbeacon.com �OCTOBER 2, 2007 NEWS SG Notes September 26, 2007 Homecoming Candidates Treasurer’s Report All College: $11,120.72 General: $2,672.59 Special Projects: $3,500 Spirit: $ Leadership: $815.00 Conferences: $11,000 Start-Up: $1,200 New Business New Members - New Members accepted their positions and received their SG binders (see winners on page #) Matt Sowcik - Matt Sowcik organized SG’s team bonding and leadership exercise, a murder mystery (see page 1) SPAN - The Student Peace Action Network (S.P.A.N.) came to SG seeking club status, after a motion to grant the students club status failed, SG President, Matt Brown vetoed and the item was tabled until next week (10/03/07) (see page 1) Medieval Renaissance Club - SG granted club status to the Medieval Renaissance Club. Homecoming Update/Charity Decision - 15% of students have already voted on a homecoming king/queen, the new mascot costume is on schedule, and the donation this year will go to St. Judes. SG Mentors - New SG members were assigned a mentor to help them understand the organization better. King Queen Mark Congdon Kate Baas Andrew Curry Meghan Badach Kevin Homa Angela Dellafortuna Michael Lewis Dana Lehman Blaine Madara Danielle Namiotka Events Homecoming - October 1 - 6, 2007 Casino Night - October 19, 8 p.m. - 11 p.m. SG members bond BY ANDREW SEAMAN Beacon News Editor Student Government (SG) members sought to bond and promote leadership with a unique exercise during the meeting. The exercise was led by a former SG president and the director of the Sidhu School of Business PPD program, Matt Sowcik. The exercise challenged members to solve a murder mystery by discovering the murder weapon, where the murder took place, motive, and the time of death, and of course the murderer. Matt Brown, SG President, explained that there is always a bonding exercise held by SG to introduce the new members to veterans. Last year’s bonding and leadership exercise was at the ropes course and rock wall. “This year I decided to stay in the Miller Room and bring in a guest,” said Brown. Brown also added that he decided to invite Sowcik to the Student Government (SG) members sought to bond and promote leadership with a unique exercise during the meeting. The exercise was led by a former SG president and the director of the Sidhu School of Business PPD program, Matt Sowcik. The exercise challenged members to solve a murder mystery by discovering the murder weapon, where the murder took place, motive, and the time of death, and of course the murderer. Brown explained that there is always a bonding exercise held by SG to introduce the new members to veterans. Last year’s bonding and leadership exercise was at the ropes course and rock wall. “This year I decided to stay in the Miller Room and bring in a guest,” said Brown. Brown also added that he decided to invite Sowcik to the meeting after he participated in the murder mystery exercise in class. Jeff Bauman, SG Vice President, said, “I felt that it was a unique opportunity to bond. Being a mentor and an Resident Assistant, I know how important it is to kick the feelings of anxiety out the door, and to make everyone realize how important team work is.” Bauman suggested that the exercise could have been done at another time though, “SG meetings are about business, and I feel that the activity would have been much more beneficial to the whole board at a different time,” he said. s n io so r e n n i W G S f t c e El Sophomores Representative Lacee Wagaman FreshmEn President Benjamin Beidel Vice President Megan Dickinson Secretary Jessica Gen Treasurer Laura Perkins Representatives Tiffany Andrews Brittany Burns Katherine Gallagher Stephen Gruver Thomas Markley Katherine Munchel Seniors Representatives Kevin Homa Jason Narcoonis Jordan Padams 3 �NEWS OCTOBER 2, 2007 MYWILKES from FRONT PAGE “There’s more than just going to class, and if we can provide [students] with those alternative social opportunities, then they are more connected to the university.” Stanley contends that a strong connection with the university will not only increase the retention rate, but it may even help with recruiting. Stanley’s spin on residence life has brought structure and creativity to the RA’s requirements and the My Wilkes Residence Life Programming Model was formed. Each letter of My Wilkes reflects a portion of programming for the RAs to focus on when they interact with their students: Multicultural (Diversity); You (Self Identity Development); Wellness (Health/Counseling Services); Involvement (Student Development); Life Skills (Career Services); Kindness (Community Service); Educational (Academic); and Social. “I personally like the model. I feel that it really helps RAs look and find programs to complete. Also, I think it is great to stress the programs that can go along with model really expand options, but can really show students the resources that we offer,” said Jessica McMahon, a sophomore secondary English education major and RA for Waller North, located on West River Street. To meet the requirements, RAs can choose to do a variety of different things like invite a guest speaker to lecture on an important topic like how to handle depression (W); show movies and hold discussions afterwards (M); or run a workshop to help students learn the do’s and don’ts of searching for an apartment if they are thinking of moving off campus in the future (L). Depending on the RA’s residency, a certain number of requirements must be met each semester. For example, a freshmen RA must meet four of the eight requirements and an apartment RA must meet five. However, no matter where an RA is located, the K (Community Service) and I the M (Diversity) requirements must be met. “Despite the differences that we try to see, we’re actually more the same than we are different. I want to challenge [the RAs] to think beyond what they would typically do for a diversity program,” Stanley noted. McMahon has all of her bases covered for her residents this semester. “I am currently holding a sem e s t e r- l o n g program that has the students recycling plastics and cans. I also asked the students to collect their soda tabs for the Ronald McDonald House. I feel that this program fit well into Wilkes’ theme of Sustainability. I also am currently planning a Halloween social with Waller South (the connecting residence hall) and I am hoping to do a mul- Join America’s #1 Student Tour Operator www.ststravel.com STUDENT TRAVEL SERVICES 1-800-648-4849 / www.ststravel.com at the national level. A member of S.P.A.N. assured SG members that the group is not interested in the political side of the organization. Another reason Brown said he exercised his power to veto was, “…I personally invested a great deal of my time investigating the differences and the similarities between S.P.A.F. and S.P.A.N. …I do believe that these groups are different. Fundamentally... they cannot work together as one unit on everything that they want to accomplish as club.” Jeff Bauman, SG Vice President, said “I applaud Matt on his use of power to veto. He, as President, has the power to employ the veto on a matter that he felt should have went another way. But also, the board did vote. In a close decision and I don’t see how the veto changed anyone’s opinions or ideas. We just indefinitely pushed off mak- ing a decision about S.P.A.N. becoming a club.” SG representatives decided to table the vote on whether or not S.P.A.N. would be made a club until the October 3 meeting, after the general board failed to overturn Brown’s veto by tw-thirds of the present members. You w eUn.eu I~ L!P~ K~ E~ Sodal VETO CANCUN, ACAPULCO, from FRONT PAGE JAMAICA, BAHAMAS Another factor contributing to split was the board’s confuPUERTO VALLARTA, the sion on whether or not S.P.A.N. SOUTH PADRE is any different from the Student Action Forum (S.P.A.F.), FLORIDA, CRUISES Political which was granted club status in Sell Trips, Earn Cash & Travel Free studios are,” said Dr. Paul Adams, Vice President of Student Affairs. “There’s an awful lot of life that goes on in those residence halls and a lot of life lessons are learned. That’s why we treat them like any other educational environment on campus. It’s a place for students to learn about themselves and learn about others.” Though neither Stanley nor Adams anticipate this semester’s RAs to run into any problems while meeting their requirements, they still take into consideration the fact that they may need time to adjust to getting into the habit of planning. “As much as they are in my eyes an RA, I have to recognize that they are a student, as well, so sometimes I have to allow for their academic planning to come before that of the RA job. I completely understand that. That’s probably the only challenge that might come up, that paper work,” Stanley said. While Diehl notes that the most difficult part about being an RA is being available to his residents at all times, McMahon struggles with another issue. “Sometimes the hardest part of this job is the lack of privacy. As an RA, you are put out there, especially when you consider that we are doing rounds and students recognize us. However, I think students need to realize that we are here to protect them, not to hurt them and that can also be another hard boundary to juggle.” To some students who resided on campus last year, it may seem that there is more required of them this semester, but Stanley assured that that’s not the case. Beyond a bit of organization, the only thing that’s really been changed is the name. “The easiest way to capture an audience is semantics,” said Stanley. Mtdtiadtunu STSTRAVEL.COM September of 2004, and focuses on educating students about political issues while getting them involved in the process. Members of S.P.A.N., said that they are different from S.P.A.F., because they do not focus on politics. However, after reviewing documents handed out by S.P.A.N., SG members argued that S.P.A.N. does have a political bias 4 ticultural event that promotes students to research their heritage and come together and make something from their culture.” Junior pharmacy (P1) student Brian Diehl is an RA on the fourth floor of the YMCA and is also attempting to plan ahead. “So far, I have a pot luck dinner planned for October 2 and I would like to carve some pumpkins towards the end of October.” Through the programs the RAs plan and hold, their residents should become more involved with not only the people on campus, but also those with whome they live. “If you can convince your residents to become actively involved in what you do as an RA in those first [few] weeks, they’ll come to every other program you do thereafter,” Stanley believes. “It’s my hope that [residents will be] less likely to disrupt the community. We’ll see less judicial, less policy violations, and less misbehaviors than we’d like to see in our residence halls.” “You have to look at the residence halls as another learning environment on campus, just like the classrooms and labs and �NEWS OCTOBER 2, 2007 5 Beacon News Briefs Local (Wilkes University) About 15 students turned out for a self-defense workshop sponsored by the women’s studies program and the Women’s Interest Society Empowering the University Population (WISEUP). The students who attended the class were taught basic self-defense skills by Dr. Ed Schicatano, psychology professor and 2nd degree black belt. (Wilkes University) Wilkes University will be providing flu shots at the cost of $15. The vaccine will be given in the middle of October and they can be reserved by calling (570)408-4730. (Harrisburg) On Friday, a state judicial board heard its last testimony from witnesses testifying against Judge Ann Lokuta. Lokuta, a Luzerne County judge, risks losing her job after she was charged with judicial misconduct after witnesses chronicled a long list of interpersonal abuses. The trial will begin again in Philadelphia on December 10, when the defense will have a chance to call its witnesses. (Washington, DC) In the next 15 months, officials expect almost 30 applications for nuclear power plants. This past week, the first application in 30 years was filed and regulators say that they expect a boom in applications as the need for power increases. (Durham, NC) Duke University formally Dr. Ed Schicatano, Associate Professor of Psychology, apologized to the lateaches students how to defend themselves in a workshop crosse players and their spondered by WISEUP. families who were involved in the highly publicized rape scandal last year. The presiNational (Washington, DC) Newt Gingrich, former dent of Duke, Richard Brodhead, said that Speaker of the House, announced he would they should have reached out to the players not run for the presidency in the 2008 elec- and their families in their time of need. tions. This anouncment comes after GinInternational grich found that he could not legally explore (Madrid, Spain) A series of commercials the possiblitly of running and remain as the funded by the government of Spain, aims to head of his non-profit organization. Courtesy Marketing Communications dissuade immigrants from coming to Spain. Over the past year 31,000 immigrants from Africa have braved a 10 day journey on wooden rafts to seek opportunity in a new country. The government’s ad campaign which cost $1.4 million, encourages people to stay and be the future of Africa. (Wellington, New Zealand) An earthquake measuring 7.4 on the Richter scale hit off the coast of New Zealand Sunday afternoon, in open water. No tsunami warnings were issued by the New Zealand government. (Yangon, Myanmar) An U.N. envoy in Myanmar was working with the militaristic government to reach a compromise after the military shot into crowds of peaceful protesters. The envoy was also meeting with Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, who is under house arrest for being an “opposition leader.” San Suu Kyi, who has been under house arrest for the past 11 years was allowed out of house arrest to meet with the envoy. 02) ~ .f.QJ!l)CD - i liihl'£fo _-_~--inJI pi;r,- h-p 1!1F 4e'livt1')'' WWWrJ - ~-Bc11rn: S~· Ni -:- .- lt=J-i~ :::.iS.i~;f~fi~..:.l:.!!~;;.j . - .st. B ~PA.18'1lU 570\..825 5 6.6 I 125. 5037 2 11.1 - - 'J-'i ff" ~ lhu;;s 10:3l11A.M - i i PM ti S t 10: 39 ~ 12~ :O.AM' S -- P: P.M We Accept On Delivezy We Abo Ac~ept Debit Cards - i!i:i -- . D ~ Dm ,- ~76.-.U.B'...:36'7 I! �Opinion Paper questions free speech UN is a waste Angry Rant: MTV OCTOBER 2, 2007 6 DeVOTE yourself to voting in November BY THE BEACON EDITORIAL BOARD We are constantly told that as America’s young citizens, we should do our patriotic duty and vote. However, the 18-29 year old voting bracket has the lowest turnout rates, despite recent increases in the 2004 and 2006 elections. According to The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, 18-29 year olds only made up 13% of the voting electorate, and only had 24% of a turnout rate. Our age group is largely affected by the issues that are occurring within our local and federal governments like crime rates, revitalization of downtown Wilkes Barre, Iraq, social security, the deficit, and taxes to name a few, but we are not voting in large enough numbers to enact and effectively make change. This election is important, as all are, because change has to happen on a local level first in order to make effective alterations at the federal level. As we all know, November is approaching, and with it comes Election Day on the 6th. Since many A,J...,,,., 1.-J \',k.io ;..,lrr-o.i.,u.. H,"' ,_,."'~ <'rt-.:J.e,..-t of ~0 "" ) ¾,.._ Ll ,_ ;kl) ',\-..,\.e4 ,J A..,er:u.J, of us are not close to our homes, we may not be able to go home to vote, if we’re even registered. To fix this problem, what college students can do is change your voting address to that of your college address, or you can request an absentee ballot. For those who may not be registered to vote, there are many websites including rockthevote.com or justvote. org that illustrate how to register to vote or how to change your address or anything else, like your party affiliation. Also, rockthevote.com explains that when going to vote for the first time in your new district, make sure to bring a photo ID with your current mailing address or some type of bill that you can show proof of where you live. However, if you make a copy of your photo ID or bill and send it in with your voting registration, you do not need to bring these when going to the polls. If you are unaware of the stances the political parties take on issues, and you’re not sure which to support, there are many websites that offer a quiz to help you decide which political party you share similar views with such as people-press.org, ontheissues.org, or theadvocates.org. So, are you tired of the way our city, state, or country is being managed? Are you pleased with the continued progress of our downtown? Could our elected leaders do more to make us safer? Do you endorse the laws, policies, or issues that our elected officials are supporting and passing or not passing? Are you pleased with our country’s current situation in Iraq, the economy or even the government’s stance on social issues like civil unions or the decreased funding of college aid? Are you happy with our elected officials? Do you want things to change? If your answers to any of these questions show that you want change, then take action and register to vote and vote on Election Day on November 6. As Mahatma Gandhi once said, “You may never know what results come of your action, but if you do nothing there will be no result.” Take action and DeVOTE yourself on Election Day. A Sight for Sore Eyes by: Aleksander Lapinski Things that go bump in the night Keeping yourself safe while walking alone at night BY STEPHANIE GERCHMAN Beacon Asst. Opinion Editor After receiving the call from public safety about the girl who was raped near Kirby Park early in September, I was afraid to go anywhere alone at night. I have a job that generally doesn’t allow me to be back at Wilkes until approximately 9:30 p.m. You’re probably wondering what the problem is then, because the shuttle runs until 10. Well, I live in University Towers and that is quite a walk from any place that the shuttle could possibly drop me off. The shuttle stops 7 7 8 at the Henry Student Center and at Evans upon request. Both of these locations are just about equidistant from where I need to walk. In the dark, it feels like a long, scary walk back to my apartment. Most would prefer to avoid walking alone at night if possible, but if you have no choice, there are a few things that you could do to keep yourself safe. One thing would be to carry pepper spray. It tends to be hard to find in stores anymore but my mom got mine on Ebay, you can find it for $3 or less. If you can’t find pepper spray, you could hold your keys in between your fingers pointing out of a clenched fist. I also always make sure I have my cell phone on me. Perhaps most important, and what some do not know, is that anyone walking alone at night can also call Public Safety for a ride. They will pick you up or walk with you anytime between dusk and dawn. All you have to do is call 408-4999. You don’t have to feel silly calling them even for short distance walks; it’s their job. An even better solution would be to get another bus stop on campus. Since University Towers is on campus there should be a bus stop after dark at University Towers or at least in the parking lot behind the UCOM. It’s unnecessary to have a stop during the day because the walk from the Student Center isn’t very long during the day. The stop could be made upon request. The shuttle stops by Evans upon request and when it does it drives right past University Towers, it wouldn’t be that far out of the way. If the stop were behind the UCOM, the shuttle wouldn’t have to stop on Main Street and University Towers residents would only have to walk a short distance. I urge all of you to be careful. Try not to walk alone, but if you do, be very cautious of your surroundings or give Public Safety a call. Beacon Poll Results Americans have a lot to worry about. The ongoing Iraq war, stock market and housing investThe following are results of a ment instability, drug busts, AIDS, poll that The Beacon conducted and environmental concerns domonline this past week. The poll inate the nightly news reports. Is was unscientific, and does not it any wonder that with such boldclaim to reflect the overall atface headlines other issues fail to titudes of students on campus. capture our attention? Seemingly Results are based on 104 re“less important” social problems sponses. like homelessness, poverty, and the growing deficit tend to make inside pages, if that, because of The Beacon asked: the pressing nature of the other stories. Whoofdothose you think willissues win the One sidebar that baseball World squeaks Series? onto the only occasionally public radar is animal cruelty. Re• animal Boston Red Sox12% cently cruelty has become • mainstream NY Yankees28% a more issue with ma• NY Mets13% players, jor corporations, football and •evenPhiladelphia local people stirring up the issue.PhilliesAnimal 23% cruelty involves • Cleveland anything from dogIndiansfighting,7% and • San DiegotoPadresshooting whales, killing0% aniMilwaukee mals•for fur and animal testing. BrewersThe problem isn’t1% awareness; it • more Chicago Cubs2%to beis that people appear lieve• thatArizona it’s okay to hurt animals Diamondbacks12% for personal benefit or enjoyment. • there LA Angels of contingent Worse, is a small Anaheim2% in the country who believe that the practice of animal cruelty can be excused becauseQuestion: of age-old culNext Week’s tural practices. Just two weeks ago celebrity the Makah Who is your favorite tribe made the wire over the iscriminal? sue of whaling. Years ago the Native •American tribe legally killed Paris Hilton whales something of Jr. a sport. • asRobert Downey The •tribeLindsay suspendLohan its practice because• the50cent grey whale was placed on the species list and • endangered Hugh Grant federal government prohibited • Paul Reubens (Pee-Wee whaling.Herman) However, in 1994, the grey•whale Lilcame Kim off of the endangered• list.Johnny Cash The• tribe obtained Nicole Richiea permit in 1999• to Mike kill a Tyson whale which outraged animal rights groups. After a court hearing it became necessary Visit www.wilkesbeacon.com for receive a waiver to the cast tribe your tovote. Results will in order to hunt in whales. Recently, be published next week’s members of of theThe tribeBeacon. shot a grey issue whale repeatedly with a rifle before they were due to receive their waiver. The five men involved are all facing fines of up to $20,000 �OCTOBER 2, 2007 OPINION 7 You can’t spell ‘unhelpful’ without UN BY ANDREW SEAMAN Beacon News Editor I really can’t say that I completely understand the purpose of the United Nations (U.N.). Maybe at one time it was a useful body, but right now it is nothing more than an international annoyance. I have felt this way for awhile, but after reading about the protests in Myanmar over the past week, I am more convinced than ever. The Buddhist monks in Myanmar, who are revered by the locals, joined in on the protests over high fuel prices which later turned into protests over the militaristic government and the way it oppresses its citizens. Anger is actually the best way to describe what I felt after reading articles on how a U.N. envoy traveled to Myanmar looking to help solidify a compromise between the military rulers and the pro-democracy opposition. What would have happened during the revolutionary war if the U.N. had been around? Would they have stepped in and tried to get the mother country and colonies to “compromise?” Such a move by an outside entity such as the U.N. actually inhibits a pro-democracy push from the citizens of the country. I know that people will say that democracy at the U.N. they only see the United States. does not work everywhere, and once again, Last year when sanctions were placed on a I really can’t say that I know whether that is right or wrong, but if the people of a country are repressed by a junta, they deserve the chance to say, “No, I am not going to put up with this anymore.” The residents of Myanmar made a statement with their protest. They said they wanted to be able to talk and converse freely. They wanted to be able to live in peace without the fear of imminent death hanging over their heads. I just don’t see what business the U.N. has stopping that. The protesters were peaceful; it was the military that randomly shot into the crowd, and it was the military that arrested thousands of people. That sounds like an opposition that is at least looking for a diplomatic resolution to their problem. Another thing that is wrong with the U.N. is that it does not have its own identity. Instead, United Nations headquarters in NYC. Courtesy of when international bodies look http://sixu.wordpress.com/category/wales/ country, the leader threatened America, not the U.N., with nuclear war. In my mind the U.N. needs a gigantic overhaul if it wants to once again be a force in the world. This is rather interesting because the U.N. was originally created to replace the failed League of Nations. In general the U.N. tries to prevent the outbreak of wars. U.N. leaders need to leave the U.S. and find their own territory. Another thing that is crucial for the U.N. is to rethink their international system of law, because it is not effective if only three or four countries follow them. Yes, some people can find points to argue that the U.N. has been effective in the past, but I think the cons outweigh the pros in all of this, and the whole organization is as effective as its predecessor. If citizens of the world want to be free to live in a democratic society, the U.N. should not try to inhibit their actions by trying to find a compromise. They should be doing all they can to create a democratic government for those people.should not try to inhibit their actions by trying to find a compromise. They should be doing all they can to create a democratic government for those people. Rocky Mountain Collegian pushes at free speech limits Editor’s dismissal would be blow to 1st Amendment BY MARK CONGDON JR. Beacon Opinion Editor The United States Constitution guarantees all American citizens the right of free speech and freedom of the press. However, according to a CNN.com article published on September 25, a recent opinion piece published by The Rocky Mountain Collegian, the student newspaper at Colorado State University, is sparking much debate on the limits of the first amendment of free speech and press. The article, written by the student editorial board, contains only four words and reads “Taser this: F**k Bush,” but spells out the F-word. In response to the offensive editorial, the College Republicans at this University have started a petition calling for David McSwane, the editor-in-chief, to resign for allowing the opinion piece to be published. In addition, since the piece was published, The Rocky Mountain Collegian has reportedly lost over $30,000 in advertising. The newspaper is self-supporting through advertising revenue and does not receive financial support from the university or student fees. The four word editorial was in response to a highly publicized incident at the University of Florida where UF student Andrew Meyer was tasered by campus police at a forum with John Kerry for asking him the question, “Why has no one impeached Bush?” The student was arrested for trying to incite a riot. However, the videos on YouTube clearly show that no riot was about to take place. Moreover, the incidents at Florida and Colorado universities bring the first amendment right of free speech to the forefront yet again. Though I believe that it was poor professionalism of the newspaper to run this piece, as a registered Republican and co- founder of the Wilkes College Republicans, I do not at all support the Colorado State College Republicans’ petition to have McSwane resign as the editor-in-chief. Op-ed pieces are written to get the public and community to talk and bring to light issues that are of importance. This article clearly accomplished this goal of getting the conversation flowing about the limits and rights of free speech and the press, which most likely wouldn’t have been achieved if McSwane wrote a typical op-ed piece of 500 or so words. It appears that the College Republicans’ motives behind this petition seem to be more political because it targets President Bush. However, limiting the rights of free speech and press because you don’t agree with what someone publishes or says about a political leader or party, the First Amendment has clearly been violated. If trends like this continue, our rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution are in jeopardy of being restricted or becoming extinguished. The First Amendment states that, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” If the Colorado State College Republicans are successful with their petition, it will be a slap in the face to the First Amendment. Whether readers agree with McSwane’s article or not, should the rights of speech or press ever be limited based on political motives? Are we willing to lose some First Amendment rights because people don’t agree with what’s being published in the media? What has happened to our forefather’s dream of free speech and press and the American democracy? �OPINION OCTOBER 2, 2007 The Angry Rant: MTV is ruining America BY TIM SEIGFRIED Beacon Asst. Sports Editor MTV has done it again. And I don’t mean yet another show about rich, snobby kids from Southern California who are devoid of personality. No, they are instead unleashing another evil upon the world: a reality show starring Tila Tequila (real name Nguyen), a “celebrity” who has yet to do anything of note except parade herself around in varying states of undress on the cover of magazines, car shows, or while hosting a television show on some obscure cable network. Her biggest claim to fame comes from her having over 1 million friends on MySpace. Holy crap! You have a lot of friends on a website that hasn’t been popular in two years! But, anyhow, is having over 1 million “friends” really an accomplishment? Especially when over half of those people are horny 17-year-old guys from Connecticut who says things like “Hit me up if u wnt 2 chat, yo!” Of course, she has all the elements in place to be a model-turned pop star: Good looks, a nice body, songs with names such as “Suga Mama” and “Whattup,” and of course, the lack of any discernable talent, including a voice that sounds like someone is running sandpaper over a cheese grater. Seriously, she sounds like she smoked a pack of Lucky Strikes and chased it with a bottle of rubbing alcohol. Of course, in true MTV style, her mediocrity (that’s an understatement) is being rewarded with her very own TV show. And no, it’s not about people throwing batteries at her. Believe me, I looked it up. It’s called A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila, and here’s the plot: Tila is looking for love, but she’s bisexual, so she doesn’t know if she wants her true love to be a man or a woman. She is introduced to ten men and women, one of whom she will choose at the end. Really, is the person she chooses truly a winner? Think about it: She’s going to be spending a lot of time(um, doing time?) with a lot of these people, so is the one she picks really getting a good deal? It’s like eating a ham sandwich after 19 other people have spit on it. But here is the kicker: The men and women don’t know about her bi-sexuality until the end! It’s like “The Crying Game,” ex- cept for finding out that a woman is really a man, you find out that a talentless girl with a myspace page is, in reality, a talentless girl with a myspace page who somehow managed to get her own television show. Of course, you have to hand it to MTV, who seems to always be at the forefront of pioneering a new genre of television shows. MTV was one of the first major networks to have a reality show when it debuted The Real World in 1992. With “A Shot at Love,” MTV sashays into an entirely new genre of television in which one person chooses between multiple people to find true love, a concept that hasn’t been done yet, except for The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, Average Joe, Flavor of Love, Joe Millionaire, Boy Meets Boy, I Love New York or Rock of Love... In the end, Ms. Tequila is nothing more than a typical product of the “quasi-celebrity” scene; the type that offers nothing of substance or value to the entertainment industry (but then again, who really does), but who still manages to be famous anyway. It’s really a sad scene, MTV. I guess I’ll go check out her MySpace page. No turn on red! Weekend traffic faux pas in downtown Wilkes-Barre BY ANDEE SCARANTINO Beacon Editor-in-Chief What do you think? ■ The Beacon wants your voice to be heard. Your Voices is the opportunity for students to voice their concerns. If you want your voice to be heard, please contact The Beacon with the following information: 1 Contact information including your email address and a phone number where you can be reached 2 Your name, major, and year 3 Your opinion thebeacon.oped@ gmail.com The Beacon reserves the right to edit submitted pieces for space and content. ! Some interesting challenges arose this weekend for law abiding pedestrians and drivers in Wilkes-Barre. But sometimes it’s best to let pictures tell the story... Photos: The Beacon/Andee Scarantino 8 Some interesting challenges arose this weekend for law abiding pedestrians and drivers in Wilkes-Barre. But sometimes it’s best to let pictures tell the story... Don’t be an ass! At least, don’t be one if you’re moving along in traffic. In fairness, these donkeys were part of a promotion for the Kiwanis Club of Wilkes-Barre’s Heritage Festival & Coal Car Race. Still, what the heck? The donkeys did not move quickly (when they did move) and clearly caused a disturbance in traffic. Perhaps more disturbing, this car at the intersection of Northhampton and River St. was the source of some morning double takes and undoubtedly choice words Saturday. Notice how the car is trying to make a turn (a left-hand turn, if you were won- dering) from a ONE WAY street, going the wrong way! The car nearly caused nearly five accidents and contributed to some serious air pollution and it belched smoke from under its the hood (not visible in photo.) To all Wilkes-Barre pedestrians: look both ways. �LIFESTYLES OCTOBER 2, 2007 9 Dr. Redmond Oktoberfest Student of the Week 10 11 11 Shopping outside the box...of the mall, that is The Beacon/Gino Troiani BY ALISON WOODY Beacon Lifestyles Editor w For most students, shopping for new 1s clothing means a trip to the mall. Sure, it is easy and convienent, but for those who are re fashion forward, mall shopping oftens lacks -s the most up-to-date styles. Often people think that to find the latest st trends one has to travel to New York or Jr another big city, when in reality, there are numerous boutiques and apparel shops in and around Wilkes-Barre. Just over the Market Street Bridge, there are three very distinctive boutiques that bring New York shopping options closer to home. Panache, located at 503 Market Street, has been open for two years. While there may not be any widely recognized designer labels, owner Jennifer Rushton has successfully integrated high1 fashion with reasonable le prices. The options range ie from party dresses !S from n Monaco, Monaco, to to Plastic jeans and .stic jeans and button-up tton-up shirts shirts that perit are are per;t for fect for work. rk. The shop also offers varieties of hats, legg i n g s , shoes and h a n d bags. Rushton explained that she gets a shipment in once a week, thus lS allowing her her clothing collection ction to change constantly. stantly. She also only offers 1:ffers each each piece in a small, tall, medium medium and large and once once it it is is gone gone from the racks, not ks, she she does does not reorder it. Rushton said, “You cannot buy a shirt for less than $3040 at the mall. I try to keep price points good, but keep a line of nicer clothing.” rur lllU~t; students ~LUUC:lll~ For those Koster Cara / who think evevwho think n aco erything erything e Be Th at at aa boutique is 1s over over boutiaue $100, they need look no further than Rampel, located at 511 Pierce Street in Kingston. Rampel offers a very small selection, but the prices are afforable even to the student on u11 a i:1 tight ug1n budget. uuugc:L. There 111c;1c; is 1~ nothing in the ilie store store over over $70 $70 and and the majority ity of of clothing clothing is i between $20-30. $20-30. Also, Also, all shoes are $1 are only only $15. Carmen Jones, Carme owner of Rampel, said that she gets all of her clothes from Miami and New aJ y York and makes it a n ppoint to offer fi cheaper versions of Vt what wl is in the fashion magazines. According to Jones, sequins, Jones, metallics, metallics, jeweled necklines, sweater necklines, dresses pants dresses and and wide-leg wid, are what is are what is hot hot right right now. Rampel pel carries carries all all of of the the above, above as well as some some men’s men's clothing. cl For For those thos who can afford to Showroom 56 to splurge, splur at located in the at Prestige, Pres United Unite Penn Plaza in Kingston, provides a Kini wide selection of designer labels for both men and women. Showroom 56 at Prestige offers a variety of jeans, BCBG and William Rast clothing, as well as Sam Edelman and Charles David shoes. The majority of items are a $100 or above. In addition to these three boutiques, Tara’s Men’s Clothing is located in Midtown Village; Buka, an accessories cessories store, stor can be found in Shavertown; Shavertown; and and Envy, a locally run online-only online-only clothing clothing line that showcases aa more more edgy edgy look. look. While While Wilkes-Barre Wilkes-Barrenmay not be known as the fashion capital of the East, residents can rest assured that at least we can dress the part. �LIFESTYLES 10 Switching roles: from professor to student For Dr. Brian Redmond, college means giving lectures, assigning projects, and grading exams. It also means sitting at a desk and taking notes with the same students he teaches in his classes. Redmond, a professor in the environmental engineering and earth science department, has continued to further his education by taking college classes while teaching at Wilkes. For over 20 years, he has balanced being both a professor and a student. Throughout that time, he has completed three additional majors: physics, chemistry, and English. Wilkes University offers free tuition for all full-time faculty and staff members. There is no cap on the number of courses they can take per semester. “The University provides tuition remission benefits because of its strong belief in lifelong learning,” said Brigid Peet, the benefit coordinator at Wilkes. “This includes developing our faculty and staff to enrich their personal and professional lives. There is a positive correlation between employee satisfaction and the service provided to our students.” Redmond usually takes one course each semester. Over the years, he has taken a wide variety of classes, and has noticed similarities between seemingly different subject fields. For example, he noticed an overlap between an Eng- lish course he was taking and the astronomy class he was teaching. He thought it was interesting to read Edgar Allan Poe’s works on astronomy, though Poe’s scientific knowledge was found to be lacking. “There are surprising carryovers between some very different courses,” Redmond said. Making the transition from professor to classmate can be awkward, but Redmond says he doesn’t have a problem switching roles. “It’s not uncommon that I’ll be in a class with a student and have that same student in a class I’ve been teaching,” he said. “It’s never been a problem. They seem to like it.” Redmond says that student life has changed a great deal since he began working on his first bachelor’s degree over forty years ago at Michigan State University. Not only do students have the advantage of technological advances--computers and calculators weren’t available during Redmond’s Michigan State days--but they also enjoy a more laid-back atmosphere. “College life has become less formal,” he said. “In our dorms, we wouldn’t even eat dinner without a coat and tie.” He points out that students come to class wearing hats, sweatpants, and flip-flops. Even other professors don’t dress as formally as they once did. “It’s not necessarily better, not necessarily worse,” Redmond said. “It’s just different.” Redmond says that taking so many courses over the years has introduced to him many different teaching styles. Often, what he has experienced finds its way into his own classroom. “I’ve picked up some teaching tricks from my colleagues,” he said. Redmond describes his teaching style as grounded more in reality than in abstracts. He prepares his students for lives after graduation in which they will need to know how to utilize sources for information, not memorize facts. He teaches all his courses open-book. Although Redmond is not taking a class this semester because of a “teaching overload,” he plans on starting right up again in January. After earning his English degree last semester, he is unsure what his next major will be. “I might not know for a few years,” he said. “It could be anything--history, philosophy, mathematics, who knows?” Dr. Brian Redmond The Beacon/Cara Koster BY CHRISTA SGOBBA Beacon Asst. Lifestyles Editor OCTOBER 2, 2007 165 North Wilkes-Barre Blvd Wilkes-Barre, PA (570) 825-8459 IN Sunday Home-style dinner specials $1 .50 Miller Lite ca ns Monday Dozen clams/ wings for $4.99 $1.50 Miller Lite cans lives! D n up to nt 665 sma t d Y+ non th! m In . c · .r· k, : - , , (570) 823- ·... 9' t Tuesday (College Night) $1 Yuengling Lager Drafts $3.95 Bar Pizza Wednesday (Mexican Night) $1 off Coronas & Corona Lights ½ Off Mexican Apps 5 p.m. - 9p.m. Thursday Dozen clams for $4.99 Featured Beer Night Friday Martini specials "After Work" Happy Hour Monday - Friday 5 - 7 p.m . $ 1.00 off all Mixers & Import Drafts $1 .50 Domestic Drafts �OCTOBER 2, 2007 LIFESTYLES Student of the week: Zachary Bremmer 11 BY CHRISTINE ZAVASKAS Beacon Asst. Lifestyles Editor Last year alone, Zachary Bremmer, a senior double major in international studies and philosophy, spent about 250 hours participating in community service. Bremmer became interested in working to help others when he became a community service coordinator through the work-study program at Wilkes University. Although Bremmer no longer does work-study, he has chosen to remain heavily involved on his own time with helping those who are less fortunate. Bremmer has participated in a wide variety of community service programs such as Alternative Spring Break in New Orleans; Habitat for Humanity; Reach; and Urban Plunge Weekend. This semester, Bremmer has already helped with beautification in Forty Fort through the Shady Trees Commission, and is currently assisting in the planning of Homelessness and Hunger Awareness week, which will take place in November. On campus Bremmer is also an active member of WISE-UP and S.A.V.E. For his hard work to benefit our community, Bremmer has been named “Student of the Week” and he recently sat down with The Beacon to share more about his experiences. The Beacon: What have you learned through your work helping the community? Bremmer: I learned kind of hope, I guess, because you never realize how many people are involved with it, or how many people are willing to give a whole big chunk of their time to help out other people. For example, the ASB [Alternative Spring Break] trip, there were 36 of us and I mean we had weekly meetings, we had a ton of fundraisers to just raise all the money to buy the airline tickets and everything else. Then everybody, you know, obviously had to give up their spring break...not go to Cancun or whatever, [but] go down there to actually work. So it’s just really hopeful when you realize how many people are actually willing to give part of themselves to helping other people. The Beacon: Why do you think community service is so important? Bremmer: I think it’s just a lot of people don’t have the ability to get out of the situations that they’re in...if we give a couple hours of our life, it’s not really going to hurt us…I think a country’s only as rich as its poorest people. If you have a lot of people who don’t have a lot of quality of life, then I think that’s a big reflection on the country as a whole. The Beacon/Cara Koster The Beacon: What is the most difficult thing you’ve seen or experienced in your work with community service? Bremmer: It would have to be New Orleans...When we would go through these houses…you’d have to take out all of the stuff from the people that was still there. One group...found wedding dresses, like two of them. Another group found a folded up American flag that we assume was from the funeral of a veteran. Just seeing these personal things really made it real…that this was actually somebody’s house and they didn’t even have enough time to grab photographs…Their whole lives were still here in this muddy, gross waste from the flood. So that was hard to deal with. The Beacon: What are your plans for the future and how has your work with community service affected them? Bremmer: I would like to work with economic development, but I’m having a hard time finding jobs in that area...so my job search is slowly turning into grad school search. Community service has directly affected that. I mean, my first semester I was a nuclear engineering major, and now I’m not anymore. I just really want to work with people, helping people, building people up. So I think if I wouldn’t have had the experiences that I’ve had with community service, I wouldn’t be looking in this field at all. IIf you go: The Lion Brewery’s Oktoberfest BY ALISON WOODY Beacon Lifestyles Editor B The Lion Brewery will celebrate its 3rd Annual Oktoberfest on October 5 and 6. The event begins at 5 p.m. with a “tapping of the keg” celebration. Friday night will also include live entertainment and fireworks. On Saturday, the brewery will open at 11 a.m. and will offer tours and beer samppling. Four different bands with perform throughout the day, and a wide selection of German food vendors will also be on hand. Caricature artists, magicians, rides and, of course,, beer for those of age g will highlight g g to festival. The tradition of Oktoberfest began in Germany in 1810 when Crown Prince Ludwig married Princess Therese in Munich. As German immigrants began to enter America, small Oktoberfest celebrations began to emerge all over the country. Bridget O’Connor, public relations coordinator for The Lion Brewery and 2006 Wilkes alumna, said, “We are dedicated to holding an annual Oktoberfest in celebration of Charles Stegmaier’s German heritage and legacy... Last year’s celebration was close to 10,000 patrons.” What: The Lion Brewery’s 3rd Annual Oktoberfest Dates: Friday, October 5 & Saturday, October 6 Times: Friday from 5 p.m. - 11 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. Features: Live entertainment, fireworks, food, beer, rides, games, etc. The Beacon/Cara Koster �A&E OCTOBER 2, 2007 12 Black Deserts/Welsh Tips Local Band Spotlight Crossword/Website 12 13 13 14 14 15 15 Reading marathon planned for Banned Books Week BY ALISSA LINDNER Beacon Asst. A&E Editor The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck and To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee are all books commonly read in high schools across the nation. These three books, along with many more, have been banned or challenged in the United States during the 20th century according to the American Library Association. Banned Books Week runs from September 29 to October 6. Sponsored by the American Library Association, the week aims to create a public awareness of the censorship of books. Many books that have been banned or challenged are regularly read throughout the country. The Wilkes chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, the English honors society, sponsors a marathon public reading during Banned Books Week. The aim of the public reading is to establish a presence in a heavily trafficked area to raise awareness in the college community of books which have been banned or challenged, according to Professor Thomas A. Hamill, Assistant Professor of English and Faculty Advisor to Sigma Tau Delta. This year, the reading marathon of banned or challenged books will take place throughout the day on October 5 on the first floor of the Henry Student Union. “We [Sigma Tau Delta] read books that are great classics, books you would be surprised at,” explained Kacy Muir, a senior English major and also a member of Sigma Tau Delta. Hamill added, “We want to create a ‘town crier effect’ where there is a very public presence of our reading.” Where the Sidewalk Ends, a collection of poetry by Shel Silverstein is one book on the list for this year’s marathon. Where the Sidewalk Ends is commonly read by young children but was challenged. “Silverstein...I read him and I am just so surprised. You read that as a child and you’re not even fazed by it. It’s funny but when you actually dissect it, you think this is very profound and very adult,” Muir explained. and magic.” Harry Potter topped the ALA’s list of most Books that have been banned or challenged are on dis- challenged books in 2002. play during the reading marathon. Many of the books read As Hamill explained, a lot of books that have been during the marathon are books familiar to students on the banned or challenged were commonly read books in high campus. school for many students. To Kill a Mockingbird, a book Hamill explained, “[In past readings]...a lot of students often read in junior high, was challenged in Oklahoma in recognize books they read in high school or as children… 2001 because of “racially charged words and innuendoes,” As students saw these books they were both shocked at according to an article by the Associated Press entitled the fact that these books had been banned and curious to “School systems across U.S. challenge books on reading know more.” lists” on freedomforum.org. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, a book commonly “Our main objective is to raise awareness of the issue read by high school students, is another book that has been and get students on campus and community members to regularly censored. Ironically, Fahrenheit 451 is actually think about the importance of not only books but the freeabout censorship and book banning, according to Hamill. doms that books allow for, freedom of intellectual expresThe reading marathon tries to spark interest in what books sion, freedom of intellectual curiosity,” Hamill said. have been banned or challenged and why they have been Muir added of the marathon reading, “We are actually banned or challenged. Muir noted that most of the books expressing are freedom to read.” that are banned do not contain overtly sexual references, The marathon will run throughout the day this Friday, but offer themes or ideas that are shocking or unpopular. In October 5 on the first floor of the Henry Student Union. short, they take risks and deviate from the norm. Hamill explained that banning books not only shuts down ideas but also stops access to ideas. Part of Banned Books Week is to alert the community that First Amendment rights need to be protected. Both Hamill and Muir encourage the entire Wilkes campus to get involved in books Tuesday, October 2 banned week. Hamill mentioned other stu- The Morning of, Yearling and Livingston performing at dents show a notable amount of respect to the Backstage at 7 p.m. students who read during the reading maraWednesday, October 3 - Film: Dr. Strangelove in Stark 101 at 7 p.m. thon, but encourages all other students to par- Islamic Interest Society “Ramadan Iftar” in the Henry Student Center Grand ticipate by reading their favorite banned or Ballroom at 5 p.m. challenged book. Thursday, October 4 Surprisingly, the popular Harry Potter se- The Kinsey Report performing at the River Street Jazz Cafe ries has been challenged. According to the - Dr. Bernier book signing and reception at Barnes on Noble at 7 p.m. ALA, the entire Harry Potter series was chal- “The Grapes of Wrath” theater production in the Black Box Theater at 8 p.m. lenged because the book “drew complaints Friday, October 5 from parents and others concerned about the - Homecoming events all day: alumni golf tournament, wine tasting, BUJC La books’ focus dies Luncheon - Monacy and Wood Brown Project performing at the River Street Jazz Cafe on wizardry Schedule of Events - A Different Breed of Killer, Ghost of a Fallen Age, The Plague of Ruin and TOYA performing at Backstage at 6 p.m. - “The Grapes of Wrath” theater production in the Black Box Theater at 8 p.m. Saturday, October 6 - Homecoming Events all day: football game, tailgate tent, 5th quarter at Fuse, George Ralston memorial event - Arts Madness at the Mansion at Arts YOUniverse - The Pietasters w/ King Django performing at the River Street Jazz Cafe - “The Grapes of Wrath” theater production in the Black Box Theater at 8 pm - River City Rebels, Three Man Cannon, Sleep Spent and Awkward Silence per forming at Café Metropolis at 8 p.m. Sunday, October 7 - Homecoming events all day: Hall of Fame reception and luncheon - “The Grapes of Wrath” theater production in the Black Box Theater at 2 p.m. - “The Art of Shredding” guitar clinic w/ Bill Hoffman at Backstage at 3 p.m. Monday, October 8 - Half price night karaoke w/ Scott Stevens at Slainte - The Black Dahlia Murder, Goatwhore, The Red Chord and the Absence per forming at Backstage at 6 p.m. The Beacon/Marissa Phillips �OCTOBER 2, 2007 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 13 ‘Black Deserts/Welsh Tips’ highlights landscape similairities Exhibit emphasizes mining impact on environment BY MATT GOGAS Beacon Correspondent Through the lens of one photographer, the Wyoming Valley and South Wales landscapes are strikingly similar for one very important reason: human abuse. Acclaimed photographer and Wilkes alumnus, Ray Klimek’s exhibit “Black Deserts/Welsh Tips” opened at the Sordoni Art Gallery September 22. The exhibit offers a collection of 25 photographs Klimek took from 2001 to 2005 that compare mining landscapes in both Northeastern Pennsylvania and South Wales. A reception and discussion with the artist opened the show. “It was really great having this here on a professional level because it is my work, but also on a personal level because it gave me a chance to come back and visit some old friends,” said Klimek. After graduating from Wilkes in 1987, he attended the International Center of Photography and received his Master’s degree in photography from Rutgers University. “Black Deserts/Welsh Tips,” depicts the similarities in both the coal banks of the Wyoming Valley and valleys in South Wales, United Kingdom. These areas have shown striking similarity in both history and geography. The 19th century saw many Welsh immigrants come into the WilkesBarre/ Scranton area. These Welsh immigrants left the mining areas in Wales for the mining industry in the Wyoming Valley. In the 20th century, both Pennsylvania and South Wales had similar mining disasters with the Knox Mine disaster locally and the Aberfan disaster in the Welsh valleys of Wales. Both of these disasters left the land and the industry destroyed. Klimek’s 25 photograph collection, fifteen in the Wyoming Valley and ten in South Wales, illustrates the desolate land that the mining industry has created in the areas and the global community. “These places have value because we use them. We see them everyday and it’s our historical background. There is a lot of history in this area and in Wales that people are just not aware of,” said Klimek. A native of Exeter, Pennsylvania, Klimek thought it would be a great idea to bring some of this area’s history and geography to light and connect them to other areas such as South Wales in an attempt to point out the international landscapes caused by industry. The exhibition was held in accordance with Wilkes University’s 20072008 theme, “The Year of the Environment.” The theme’s purpose is to educate the campus and community about environmental issues, such as global warming, the human impact on the environment, and other related issues in terms of the global and local environment. The Beacon/Nick Zmiejewski “We thought that this would be a great idea for our theme because it’s Klimek’s art shows the mining landscapes right on our doorstep. We hope that of Northeastern PA and South Wales. organize the event. the exhibition will open discussions about The exhibition is currently on display in these issues and Mr. Klimek is from this area which is really important to this project the Sordoni Art Gallery now through Sunas well,” said Dr. Ronald Bernier, the Direc- day, October 7, 2007. It is open to the Wiltor of the Sordoni Art Gallery, who helped kes campus and the general public. .- ' AT YOUR . THIS'\ day t. 6-30-&,~ Steve Husted from (' live · mk: : rich:, . . •ht Op· ti~ *MiddJl~ W"c:dnc& Ff 'Th11« r~n~· ff ,.~ 7~31 JfkJOpm &!Ill •!Opm STUDE -THOUSI ·cc; .H 2stCENTURY cvtty ~day mg t ··mm. ?:00-8:30pm • "'Poetry CmllJ· ,,,. b o • d111b di:scu.ssion 7. , 0-i.:O -_pm Jun Warn.en.book l'!'foo Bad. ~~s .P.41)m . ~ ~ ..--krabblc ~ .•IGm G~ Sp«id"' £ om 6.00pm to close ~.ry ¢Veru.ng ... p tteanit yC>W' movie: stub f:t-!:'.ml "'.Movies 14'" :and get 25'% u.H' ill itt::m in QUr · · arb -~ cafc:. ~ Do:n\·fwgct to, pit:'k u:p. a Fn::q~t Buyt:r Cud todarFLEX lDOLL.AR8 .. - he.re in ,o c· �ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 14 OCTOBER 2, 2007 LOCAL BAND SPOTLIGHT: These Elk Forever BY MARISSA PHILLIPS Beacon A&E Editor Gregory Gover is the one and only official member of These Elk Forever, formerly known as Gr. Glacier, Gregory Glacier, and Little Glaciers (never underestimate a good name change). At times he keeps it simple with just a keyboard and a guitar, but other times he’s been known to have a guest contributor, or two, or three. He employs a vast selection of instruments in his music, which makes it difficult to pin down an exact genre, but the band has definite folk roots. Recently The Beacon met up with him for an interview, right as the Friends theme song came onto the radio… Gover: Make sure you say that the Friends theme song is on right now, and Greg’s eyes lit up, and then he clapped along. The Beacon: I definitely will. So, describe what the band sounds like - give us the simple version, and then the more descriptive one. Gover: I guess it starts off as just folk songs, but I like noises a lot, so I add noises. Folk songs that sometimes have electronics and noises. And then sometimes they’re not at all like that. That’s what it’s like, but it’s not like that at all. That sounded pretentious… It’s hard to explain. The Beacon: So it’s mostly just you, right? Gover: Yeah, except live it’s more people. But with recording, up until this point, every other record that I made was just me. But now actually, the one I’m making there are a lot of people contributing. The Beacon: Why did you choose to be a one-man band? Gover: It’s easier that way. I’ve always recorded at home. I didn’t start performing my songs like until this year, but I always made CDs and recordings and I’ve always helped other friends out,. I figured, I’m not going to wait for somebody else to do something else for me to jump on, and best thing would be to go out and play shows because then I have complete control over it. The Beacon: So what are you working on now exactly? Gover: I’m working on an EP now, but it might be a full length, I don’t know. I’m working on that now, but I’m always recording. I write when I record and record when I write, so it’s the same thing always. The Beacon: So how long have you been doing this? Gover: I’ve been doing the same thing under different names for about eight years. The Beacon: So what’s with all of the glaciers in your past names? Gover: Actually, it was stupid. Do you want to know why? The Beacon: Yeah, I do. Gover: I was watching the Discovery Channel or something and there were all these dead fish in a big barrel that were used to feed sharks and their white heads were bobbing up and I thought they looked like little glaciers, so I thought that was real funny. But nobody else gets that that’s funny. So that was that, but then I didn’t like the word ‘little’ anymore, because that’s a weird adjective to use for anything. Then I changed it just to ‘glacier’ and my name, then I changed it to the ‘Gr.’ because I got sick of my first name but people wouldn’t know how to pronounce it. And then I was afraid someone was going to write ‘Dr.’ one day, and that’s terrifying to me. So then I changed this like two months ago because nobody could pronounce it and I wanted something people could pronounce. The Beacon: Are you planning to go to tour? Gover: Yeah, in February and March I did, but I was only out for a week with this project. I have two more shows lined up later in the month at Test Pattern on October 11, and Bennet St. in Kingston on October 20. The Beacon: Any good stories from the tour? Gover: I don’t know. Nothing that I can think of that’s good story-wise. I didn’t kill anybody or anything. I have better, funnier stories from other tours with other bands I was playing in. The Beacon: Like what? Gover: When I was in a band called Strand of Oaks. We were on tour with our friend Jason Anderson and we were leaving Wilkes-Barre and we were driving through upstate New York and we stopped at a gas station and we were getting ready to go and this guy came up to us and he was like, ‘Can you give me a ride to my car?’ And we said okay. And then he said ‘hold on a second,’ and he brought out two pails of gasoline, and we’re like ‘okay…’ So we’re driving him and he’s telling us all these stories and miles and miles are going by and there’s no car in sight. Then we dropped him off on the side of the road, and we were just kind of weirded out, because we were like ‘if there’s no car, why do you have gasoline?’ And as he was getting out of the car he said, ‘Alright fellas, if you can’t be good, be bad.’ That became the tour motto for the next week and a half. The Beacon: So describe your live performance. Gover: Sometimes I play by myself, but sometimes I have up to six people playing with me. It depends. Occasionally it’ll just be me and a guitar and a keyboard, and other times it’ll be me, guitar, keyboard, banjo, electric guitar, sometimes a cello, sometimes a violin, sometimes a saw, sometimes a marimba. There are many different ways the songs have been played. They’re all the same songs but sometimes they’re faster and sometimes they’re slower. The Beacon: And do you want to say anything about the lyrics you write? Gover: Well, I write lyrics for the songs because I don’t play cover songs - that’s weird. I write words about people The Beacon/Nick Zmijewski I knew a long time ago, and they’re usually bad, creepy stories about things people have done to them. That’s what’s hip, and that’s what gets the ladies, said the married guy with the cigarette and the beer, and the weird beard. Gregory Gover, of These Elk Forever, sends out an invitation to any and all musicians to contribute to his new album currently in the works. No, but really, I usually write the words first, and then I’ll write the music to it. They’re more important to me than the music because I’m not a very competent player musically, and I don’t have a very good singing voice. But I figure if I talk a little lower it’ll sound like I’m singing, and people sometimes get fooled by that. The Beacon: Do the people care that you write about them? Gover: They don’t know. I don’t know them anymore. I played at the Test Pattern in August and a friend came up to me, and he said to me that the whole time I was playing he kept looking over at my wife and feeling bad for her, that I was saying the things I was saying. And I was like, “No, they’re not about my wife.’ And then he was like, ‘Well, then I feel worse.’ And then I was like, ‘No, if they’re nice, then they’re about her.’ But they’re usually not nice, although they’re not cruel or misogynistic. I’m not mad at anybody, I just like telling other people’s stories and hope that they’re okay with it, but they’ll never know. It doesn’t matter; they’re my stories now. Isn’t that what people say? People say that, right? The Beacon: Any last words you want to throw in? Gover: I’m recording a record, and if anybody who reads this wants to play anything on it, get in touch with me and you can. Please do because that would be really neat, even if just one person wanted to do that. I’m accepting any people, even if they can’t really play instruments, just to do something. If they want to they can contact me at http://www.myspace.com/grglacier. Photo and art courtesy Greg Gover �Kudracross OCTOBER 2, 2007 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT BY CHRISTOPHER KUDRAK Beacon Staff Writer DOWN 1 Junk e-mail 2 Computer tune 3 Part of a school’s curriculum 4 VIP’s transport 5 Not as much 6 World power (abbr.) 7 Lightening attractors 8 Fast plane 9 Type of clock 10 Pre-existent 11 Type of tea 12 Southeast Asian 13 Type of natural fiber 19 Verbalize 21 Within 25 Junkie 56 Masticate 27 Wasn’t built in a day 28 2, 4, 6, 8….. 29 “The Divine Comedy” author 30 Given a hint 31 Post or support 33 Goodyear products 34 Avoid 35 Between bass and alto 39 Bright or promising 42 Boulder Dam lake 43 Motor bike 46 Type of synthetic fiber 50 Pertaining to nerves 52 Sun output 54 FTC part 56 Masticate 57 Butterfly in cocoon 58 In the middle of 60 Survey briefly IBILA BY ANDEE SCARANTINO Beacon Editor-in-chief Ever wonder how you could possibly pull off an impossible excuse to get out of doing one thing, so you could really do another? Imagine planning “an event” you’ll attend for work, when in reality, you may be sipping wine in a chateau with your mistress/mister for the weekend. Thought it was unrealistic, that you couldn’t slip away for fun without getting caught? That’s where my web site of the week comes in. Ibila, your generator of alibis, is located at www.alibila. com It’s a French service, but from my understanding, they provide services elsewhere. What you need to do is locate the site in Google, and have Google translate the page if you do not speak French. Upon doing so, you’ll see something truly extraordinary. This site claims to provide users with an alibi for everything. It will make phone calls to your boss, saying that you have urgent family problems. The service provides either a male or female voice, depending on the alibi you want to create. They claim to be able to create an alibi for every situation, and even serve as a means for making purchases, as to avoid a track record. They create professional documents, justifying that you were at conferences, meetings, lectures, etc. They even give you false e-confirmation of flights, as in, they say you’re flying to a certain destination when you aren’t. The site makes “products derived from an event to which you were supposed to assist: cap, tee-shirt, pen, etc.” Now, 62 Nat King ____ 63 On the Atlantic 64 Word with wear or room 65 Attention-getter 67 King topper Courtesy Lackawanna County Library System ACROSS 1 Scent 6 Astral bear 10 Accompanying 14 Fairy 15 Before long 16 Advil target 17 “Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy” author 18 To a sickening degree 20 Orange juice and champagne 22 Riverbed component 23 Brief swim 24 Large flightless bird 26 Camp bed 27 Humanitarian organization 32 Move towards 36 Racetrack shape 37 After taxes 38 Colorado, for example 40 PC list 41 Fairy tale publisher 44 Las Vegas’ rival 45 Type of key 47 August baby 48 Greek god of love 49 Automobile body type 51 Wall hanging 53 Up to now 55 Animal abode 56 Auditor 59 Yours and mine 61 Bus line 66 People collectively 69 Red flowers 70 Homer’s Iliad, for example 71 Abel’s father 72 Small valleys 73 Roe vs. ____ 74 Ocular part 75 Leavening agent Answers 9/25 15 that’s just cool. With the translated version, only some links are available. I looked at the actual site, and saw that there are price ranges for different services. They work closely with you, also, giving you a proposal for alibi before they act. Here’s my take on this: I don’t agree with lying. I despise lying, cheating, adulterous people. However, I think this site is just cool. I’m sorry. It goes against all of my ethics. It really does. I think that it’s a disgrace to the human race. However, I just love the concept. I think the person who created this service is seriously a genius. End of story. I give this site a “B” for Brilliant! �16 SPORTS OCTOBER 2, 2007 PREVIEW OF THE WEEK BY CARLTON HOLMES Beacon Sports Editor Now that the Lady Colonels have successfully made improvements from a season ago when they posted 6-24 record to 8-11 midway through this season, the next question for the volleyball team is will it return to the Freedom Conference playoffs like the good ‘ol days of 2004? The Lady Colonels are boldly staring in the eyes of the postseason with an early 1-1 conference record leaving the team fourth in the MAC and two and a half games behind first place DeSales. But a home win tonight at 7p.m. against DeSales could possibly set the tone for their final three conference matches against King’s College, Delaware Valley College, and Arcadia University. The Lady Colonels are in control of their own playoff destiny and a performance facelift may be all this team needs. “I just think we need to play more consistently as a team,” said second year head coach Alicia Orlowski. “We’ve kind of been an up and down team where we will play really well and then we’ll fall apart alittle bit. But I think we need to get that consistency and that will put us over the .500 mark. When we’re playing well, we’re pretty unstoppable.” The last time the Lady Colonels saw the .500 mark was Sept. 1 after a tournament loss to King’s College. The Lady Colonels fell short to a three-game sweep by the Lady Monarchs and never could seem to balance the win and loss column since. In the Lady Colonels first conference outing against FDU-Florham (NJ) on Sept. 12, the team lost 3-0 in just their second home match after beating Lycoming College at home two days before. Wilkes has a 1-1 home record. Although the volleyball team has struggled to keep its head above the waters of the .500 sea, the players believe they have a fight that may have them swimming come postseason. On Sept. 22, the Lady Colonels went on the road to face Lycoming College for a second time this season at the Elizabethtown Tournament in Elizabethtown (PA). In one match, the referees appeared to be “picky” about the Lady Colonels ball control putting the team at an emotional disadvantage after Wilkes opened leading two games to none. Needing one more win to seal the deal, Lycoming would take the third game 30-25. The heated battle would end in the fourth game when the Lady Colonels wrapped up their night with a 33-31 win. “I’ve never seen them jump so high,” The Beacon/Gino Troiani said Orlowski. “The adrenaline was just there, that they were not going to let the refs take that game away from them.” That win would put the Lady Colonels at a 7-10 record. On Saturday, the Lady Colonels split two games on the road by winning against Brooklyn College (NY) 3-0 and losing by the same margin to Vassar College(NY). With 10 games left prior to the playoff picture the Lady Colonels need to start winning games if they wish to have a shot at being crowned conference champions. Freshman Marissa Harrison leads the Lady Colonels in kills (points) with 162. Junior Katherine Harrington follows with 158 and leads the team in blocking with a total of 34. Harrington, the lone junior, along with seniors Katherine Simone and Kristen Linhart will look to apply their veteran leadership to retain a spot in the postseason that begins with a pivotal game tonight against DeSales. “We are a young team but we are definitely coming together,” said Harrington. “The communication is really starting to click a lot more, so we’re are really starting to gel more as a team. It’s still early in the season so we’re definitely trying to make a run at the playoffs.” DeSales is 3-0 in the MAC Freedom Coonference and will be joining the Lady Colonels at the Marts Center tonight in a game where the end result may begin painting or possibly erasing a playoff picture for the Lady Colonels. Freshman Allison Kelleher prepares for clutch conference games during practice. The Lady Colonels have ten games remaining and will hope to be dancing into the MAC Freedom Conference playoffs that will tip off Wednesday Oct. 31. 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Limit 1 coupon per customer. Cannot be combined with any other offer or sale. Offer effective Sun., Sept. 30 thru Sat., Nov. 3, 2007 in our In-Store Photo Labs Only. OFFERS EFFECTIVE SUN., SEPT. 30 THRU SAT., NOV. 3, 2007 IN ALL PRICE CHOPPER STORES. �OCTOBER 2, 2007 Seahawks v. Steelers SPORTS COMMENTARY Double Take Stepth examines the facts that truly matter... BY STEPHANIE GERCHMAN Opinion Asst. Editor BY TIM SEIGFRIED Beacon Asst. Sports Editor Two seasons ago, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Seattle Seahwaks faced each other in the SuperBowl, with the Steelers being victorious, amid a sea of bad calls and questionable officiating. Last season, the Seahawks returned to the playoffs with a 9-7 record, but lost to the Bears in the divisional playoffs. The Steelers were not as successful following their championship season, as they were without quarterback Ben Roethlisberger for a portion of the season. Now both teams are making a run for the playoffs, and will be facing off against each other this weekend. Pittsburgh(30), is a m u c h d i ff e r e n t team than in 2005, as it is without running back Jerome Bettis, who retired after the SuperBowl, and head coach Bill Cowher, who resigned after last season. Despite this,the team is having a good season in their absence, due to success on both sides of the ball. The Steelers’ offense is averaging over 30 points and 350 yards during their first three games, while their defense has been stellar, holding their opponents to an average of 8.7 points. The offense has been the result of a solid passing game that is being engineered by Roethlisberger, whose 563 passing yards and 6 touchdowns have helped establish a solid running game by Najeh Davenport and Willie Parker. But the real reason for Pittsburgh’s success has been its defense, which is ranked number one in the AFC in points per game(8.7), and number two in yards per game (244.3). The defense is anchored by linebackers 18 James Farrior and James Harrison, who are leading the team with 17 total tackles. On the other side, the Seahawks(2-1) will be relying on their offense to get a win, as that has been their main method of attack so far in this young season, ranking 7th in the NFC with 21.3 points per game. Offensively, the Seahawks are led by running back Shaun Alexander, who has averaged just over 90 yards per game on the ground, with two touchdowns so far. Seattle’s quarterback, Matt Hasselbeck, has been solid, throwing for 250.3 yards per game so far, with 5 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. His favorite targets have been wide receivers Bobby Engram, who has 197 yards on 13 receptions with 1 touchdown, and newly acquired Deion Branch, who has 199 yards on 13 receptions and 1 touchdown. The Seahawks’ offense isn’t overpowering; however, their defense has been making up for it so far, allowing only 16.7 points per game on average, despite allowing 375.7 yards per game, which is ranked second worst in the NFC. Seattle’s defense is led by linebacker Lofa Tatupu, who leads the team in total tackles with 23 to go along with one interception, as well as linebacker Julian Petersen, who has 20 total tackles and two sacks. Offensively, the advantage goes to the Steelers, who have a number of offensive options to complement Ben Roethlisberger’s abilities. The determining factor in the game is the defense, however, as the Steelers have shut down the opposition so far this season, while the Seahawks have been less successful in stopping opposing offenses, especially their passing game. Expect to see Pittsburgh exploit Seattle’s defense, while shutting down their passing and running game. Da pick: Pittsburgh Steelers: 38 Seattle Seahawks: 13 As I sat down to write this I had already made up my mind. The Steelers are definitely going to win. I mean, I have never even heard of the Seahawks, and I think it’s kind of lame to name your team The SEAattle SEAhawks. On the other hand, there’s no way I wouldn’t have heard of the Steelers. They are the Pittsburgh Steelers, as in Pennsylvania. I have to support the home state. Plus if I didn’t pick the Steelers I think my dad might kill me. I came to the conclusion that I needed another factor to decide which team I wanted to win besides “my daddy told me so.” That’s when I went on their websites. I wanted to choose the team that had the cooler website. The Seahawks won that without a doubt. They have far better colors and a more creative layout. This left my decision up in the air. I have to pick a winner. That’s the whole point of this column. Well, it became clear to me who the winner would be with one scroll down a webpage. As I glanced over the Seahawk’s official website, I noticed something that was cheesier than their team name. The Seahawk’s cheerleaders are called the Sea Gals. While a play on words tends to work for some things, this is not one of them. I wonder if they teach their kids to write the alphabet A, B, SEA, D. Maybe they call their coaches and other sideline people the Sea Guys. Clearly, trying to use “sea” in all different ways doesn’t even work if you aren’t taking it seriously. I don’t know about you, but I think it’s pretty obvious that the Steelers are definitely going to take this one. They are from Pennsylvania, my dad likes them and they don’t have a cheesy name for their cheerleaders, they don’t even have cheerleaders. So, the Steelers can say SEA ya to the Seahawks Quick Hits... Who? Pittsburgh Steelers v. Seattle Seahawks When? Sunday, October 7th Tube? FOX56, 10:00 a.m. �SPORTS OCTOBER 2, 2007 Athlete of the Week BY CARLTON HOLMES Beacon Sports Editor Before grabbing her stick to prepare for a Lady Colonels’ field hockey game, sophomore Jennifer Keegan, a farm girl from Shohola (PA), finds motivation in one thing: rap music. After the sounds of Soulja Boys’ famous hit “Superman” boost Keegans’ adrenaline to get her pumped up for the game, it’s time for her to put on an offensive show for the Lady Colonels. Now that she has started all ten games and is leading her team in the scoring category, it’s safe to say that Soluja Boys’ lyrics have Keegan wearing the “S” on her chest for the Lady Colonels. Ever since the first game of the season, Keegan has proved that she is a vital part of this year’s Lady Colonels squad. “Jen is a very aggressive forward and what’s great about her is that she is really scrappy in the circle (the only place on the field a player can score),” said head coach Sarah Miller. On Sept. 1, the Lady Colonels “cranked up” their sticks and took a trip to Bethlehem (PA) to face Moravian College in front of approximately 150 field hockey fans. With only 25 minutes left to play, Keegan and the Lady Colonels found themselves down two goals to none. Being down by two goals seemed to frustrate Keegan, but that same anger lit a much needed fire under her after a team huddle with one of the captains. “Kristina (Naveira) had given us a big pep talk and it really pumped everyone up, especially me, because when I get angry I guess I play better,” said Keegan. “I just took it down field and scored it. Three minutes later I scored again. Then, I set Alyssa (Koncelik) up because she was open and I 169 The Beacon/James Rosato wasn’t.” “It was just team worked, we all talked to each other and wanted it really bad and it just came together,” Keegan added. Keegans’ two unassisted goals in three minutes and a pass to Koncelik for the final goal of the game led the Lady Colonels to a 3-2 win in their first game of the season. Keegan tops the team in goals scored with five while accounting for three of the teams 12 assists. Keegan and senior Lindsay Thomas share the Lady Colonels lead in assists. After posting a team overall record of 99 record last season to go along with three goals in her freshman campaign, Keegan believes this year she and the 4-6 Lady Colonels can turn things around en route to a MAC Freedom Conference title. 19 Football from PAGE 20 defensive back Darius Harrison. Harrison took one of his interceptions to the house for the Colonels’ initial touchdown in the first quarter off an 85 yard return down the sideline leaving him gasping for air as he ran back to his teams side of the field. “I was dying at the end,” said Harrison. “I was tired, but I knew I had to score to help the team in whatever way I could to help win the game. It (the touchdown) gave the defense a little energy and a swagger to come out and play like we know we can.” Despite Harrisons’ early interception touchdown return to set the tone for the Colonels defense, the team managed to give up 304 passing yards of a total 426 yards by Lebanon Valley. Lebanon Valley had possession for 38:16 of the game on 87 total plays called. The Colonels rallied for 293 total yards of their own in which 178 of those were on the ground. Karaffa finished the day by completing 11 of 26 passes and two touchdowns passes, one to senior tight end Kyle Regner and sophomore tight end Drew Letcavage. The Colonels are currently 1-3 overall and 1-0 in the MAC Freedom Conference. The homecoming game this Saturday will feature FDU-Florham (NJ). FDU has lost two and won two games so far into the season including a win against William Paterson, a team that beat the Colonels at home. WEEKLY RECAPS Women’s Volleyball The Wilkes University volleyball team split a pair of matches at a tri-match hosted by Vassar College on Saturday. The Lady Colonels posted a 30-14, 30-12, 30-17 win over Brooklyn College in their first match of the day. Wilkes then dropped a 30-20, 30-19, 3021 decision to the host school in the nightcap. Men’s Tennnis The Wilkes University men’s tennis team cruised to a 9-0 win over Susquehanna University on Sunday afternoon at the Ralston Complex. The Colonels ran their record to 2-1, while the Crusaders slipped to 0-3. Women’s Tennis Wilkes University won a pair of matches on Saturday in a rare women’s tennis doubleheader at the Ralston Complex. The Lady Colonels fashioned a 9-0 triumph over Keystone College in their first match of the day, before scoring an 8-1 victory over Susquehanna University in the nightcap. The two wins improved Wilkes to 9-1 overall. NUMBERS OF THE WEEK 9 25 19 Number of yards rushing yards Both women’s and men’s tennis Total number of attacks (points) Number of tackles by senior by freshman running back Alex sweep their opponents this past by junior Katherine Harrington All-American Kyle Follweiler on Pearson in the Colonels victory weekend. Six of the matches were in the Lady Colonels victory over the road against Lebanon Valley. over Lebanon Valley on SepBrooklyn College this past SaturTen of his tackles were unassingles competitions and the tember 29. day. The team won 3-0. sisted. other three were doubles. �Sports OCTOBER 2, 2007 20 Finally! Beacon Archives/Todd Weibel Freshmen help Colonels to first win of the season BY CARLTON HOLMES Beacon Sports Editor After a brutal three-game manhunt, the Colonels have finally found what they’ve been searching for during their fourth outing. Not only did they pick up their first win of the season in their conference debut against Lebanon Valley (PA), but the team has found themselves a shining new face in the backfield in running back Alex Pearson. Sophomore Corey Carter started the game against Lebanon Valley just as he did the first three games, but suffered an ankle injury after a seven yard run in the first quarter. “(Being injured) was crazy, because we worked so hard during our bye week and everybody stepped their game up,” said Carter. “Coach told us it’s finally time to start winning, the offensive line did better, and everyone went down for extra film so the feeling of being injured hurt me. But I’m happy that we won because that’s more important than my individuals stats.” Carter stated that even when he injured his ankle in practice and in previous games, he usually returns to the field after he shakes it off. Unfortunately, he couldn’t return to the field to finish the game and that’s when the stage opened up for Pearson. Two plays after Carter’s injury, on first down and 10 to go, Pearson took the handoff from senior quarterback Al Karaffa for a 12yard run and the rest was history. The Colonels opened the fourth quarter on Lebanon Valley’s four yard line and were close to pulling away from being deadlocked at 22 a piece. Karaffa and the Colonels would use all four downs before he missed the target on a pass to senior wide receiver Rocky D’Anconti from the two yard line leaving that offensive series scoreless. Just as Lebanon Valley’s defense shut down their offense, the Colonels defense would get a little payback of their own. During the seven minute mark of the fourth quarter, Karaffa completed one of his two interceptions to Russ Destafano for an 18-yard return at Lebanon Valley’s 30 yard line. Lebanon Valley used 17 plays in 06:43 to make it to the Colonels one yard line, but was stopped short after three attempts at punching in a touchdown. Senior All-American middle linebacker Kyle Follweiler stopped Lebanon Valley’s running back, Bryan Lynch, for a loss of four yards. Follweiler put on an phenomenal performance racking up 19 tackles after totaling 20 in the Colonels previous game against Rowan University (NJ). After getting seven shots to score inside the Colonels 10 yard line, Lebanon Valley sent their field goal unit to end the game with 01:13 but to no avail. The kick by Dan DiBona would miss off the left upright sending the Colonels to their first overtime game since September 16, 2006 when they beat Delaware Valley at Ralston Field. The Colonels struck first in overtime beginning with a 17 yard pass to junior wide receiver Jason Prushinski for. Three yards away from glory, Pearson would finish off Lebanon Valley with a touchdown leaving the final score at 29-22. The 5’9” freshman from Lawrence (NJ) carried the load for the Colonels rushing attack posting a team season high in yards with 169, the most rushing yards in a game by a running back since last year’s Tom Andrepoulos put up 186 against Susquehanna on November 4, 2006. Lebanon Valley had one more shot to tie the game during overtime from the Colonels 25 yard line, but Follweiler snatched away that opportunity with an interception of third down off a pass from freshman quarterback Caleb Fick. The Colonels defense capped Saturday with three total interceptions including two by freshman See Football on PAGE 19 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon Newspaper Collection, 1947-present Description An account of the resource <p>This is Wilkes University's <em>Beacon</em> Newspaper collection, 1947-present. We also have digitized copies of the <em>Beacon's</em> predecessors, <em>The Bucknell Bison Stampede</em>, 1934-1935 and <em>The Bucknell Beacon</em>, 1936-1947 June. It should be noted that Wilkes University does not have a complete set of issues for the Bucknell Bison Stampede and Bucknell Beacon. For researchers who are interested in seeing the complete issues for these publications, please contact <a href="https://researchbysubject.bucknell.edu/scua">Bucknell University's Special Collections Department</a>.</p> <p></p> <p>Missing Issues:</p> <p>1947 August 8th<br />1947 September 5th<br />1947 October 3rd<br />1947 October 17th<br />1947 October 31st<br />1947 November 21st<br />1947 December 19th<br />1948 September 9th<br />1950 April 28th<br />1953 April 10th<br />1962 February 2nd</p> Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Beacon staff is comprised of Wilkes University students who are advised by a full-time faculty member of the Communication Studies Department. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1934-present Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright of the Wilkes Beacons is retained by Wilkes University. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Professor Emeritus Harold Cox digitized the collection from 1934-1970 and created a <a href="https://beaconarchives2.wilkes.edu/">legacy website</a>. Digital Archives student John Jenkins digitized the collection from 1970-present. Special thanks goes to Communication Studies Professor Dr. Kalen Churcher, Editor-in-Chief Kirsten Peters, Beacon staff member, Emily Cherkauskas, and other Beacon staff for their help in acquiring digitized copies of the Beacons from 2006 onward. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon 2007 October 2nd Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2007 October 2 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Communication Studies Department Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Wilkes University https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/1776df3c8dfffc7b386841b2280f75d4.pdf f0fc648d478796e1856b7be4665eeb6f PDF Text Text Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA The THE NEWS OF TODAY REPORTED BY THE JOURNALISTS OF TOMORROW SEPTEMBER 25, 2007 In This Issue... Rx’s Risky Side Effects Page 7 .&iilff fiJMtance !RJati.OJM fitp~ Page 9 ~Rl1PEcf Or u/Rl1T!I www.wilkesbeacon.com Volume 60 Issue 3 Student shaken after Terrace Street shooting BY NICK PODOLAK Beacon Managing Editor Melisa Bracone had just fallen asleep before being awakened by the startling ‘pop’ of a gunshot and cries of ‘bloody murder’ in the street below. Crouching down beside the window for ten minutes to observe the situation, she called 911. “I was scared,” the junior English major said. “My heart was beating so fast I did not know what to do.” According to a Wilkes-Barre police report, on September 13 at approximately 4 a.m., a victim stated that two men, whom he asked to leave his premises, returned for a cell phone. When the victim opened his door, one of the men greeted him with a black revolver and yelled, “This is the way you want to play,” before pulling the trigger twice, but the gun did not fire. The suspect then pointed the barrel towards the victim’s dog and killed it with one shot before screeching off in a black four-door sedan with tinted windows. The victim’s sister described the suspect as “a dark skinned black male, 5’8” with cornrows and a thin build; 19 years of age.” “These people that shot that dog the other day, they were people that they knew,” said Manager of Public Safety Gerald Rebo. “Basically, where Wilkes students are living is generally a good area, but like any other area you could have one or two persons in there who have guns.” The shooting, which occurred at 22 Terrace Street, was just one of such incidents to occur over the past few months involving illegal use The T Beacon/Cara Koster of firearms. This summer, a person was fatally wounded after sustaining gunshot wounds outside of the White House Café on Hazle Street. On September 3, a shooting on Madison Street left an 18-year old critically injured. And just last week, a man was reportedly walking at East Northhampton and South Hancock streets in broad daylight with what appeared to be a supposed rifle; however, no charges were expected to be filed after police learned he was simply hunting squirrels with a pellet gun. The Beacon/ Jenna Stephens But Wilkes-Barre Police Chief Gerald Dessoye does not necessarily see the illegal use of firearms as a major issue in the city. Workers at the APlus convenience store on Academy Street work from behind bullet proof glass to ensure their safety. See TERRACE page 5 Jersey natives bring Cooltura to downtown Page 13 , Inside News................................1-5 Opinion.............................6-8 Lifestyles.........................9-11 Arts & Entertainment....12-15 Sports...........................16-20 BY NICOLE FRAIL & Beacon Asst. News Editor PAT ZEIGLER Beacon Correspondent Two sisters recently relocated from New Jersey plan to open the door of their brand new business to the public this week. Cooltura, which is a play on the Spanish word for “culture,” is located on the second block of South Main Street near Flaming Star Tattoo, Café Metropolis, Top of the Slope, Inc., and the Wilkes-Barre Rock Climbing Gym. Though the large sign above the main entrance reads “Cooltura: Accessorios, Musica, Phone Cards,” the Trelles sisters insist that the new store is not exclusively Spanish-based. “It’s open for everyone no matter who you are,” said Cooltura’s owner, Nancy Trelles. Along with the merchandise noted on the sign out front, Main Street’s newest addition will offer a wide variety of items. Walking into the store can easily be compared to entering six different stores in the Wyoming Valley Mall simultaneously. A majority of the space displays CDs and DVDs by Spanish artists, but the assortment of merchandise doesn’t stop there. Hair accessories, purses, and jewelry cover an entire wall while key chains, bumper stickers, stuffed animals, greeting cards, and other trinkets also fill the shelves. There’s even a gothic inspired collection towards the back of the store that consists of clothing and other accessories. Andréa Trelles will be helping her older sister get the business up and running and is excited about the opening this week. Because the store is “not for one specific type of person,” they hope to draw attention to a diverse crowd of both college students and Wilkes-Barre residents. See COOLTURA page 3 �NEWS SEPTEMBER 25, 2007 2 W-B Chamber’s patience Saving history Beacon News Briefs SG Notes 3 4 4 5 First Lady of Wilkes brings Midwest green thumb to campus BY LINDSEY WHITE Beacon Correspondent passion has translated to her influence across the campus. Gilmour grew up in a rural area where she developed a deep appreciation for the outdoors. Her love for nature and preserving the environment is reflected throughout the Wilkes university campus. She has been integral to the landscaping around the Darte Center and has also consulted on the greenway expansion project that was Mrs. Patty Gilmour, wife of Wilkes University president, Dr. Joseph Gilmour, is no shrinking violet. An avid reader, landscaper, and lover of the outdoors, Mrs. Gilmour is far from the typical first lady. After living in Kansas City for thirty years, she relocated to Wilkes-Barre with her husband when he was I went from working by hired as the university president. myself all of the time to living “It was a lot more of a transition than I thought in a fishbowl. it would be. I had just -Patty Gilmour entered a new marriage... and assumed a new public role. I went from working by myself all of the time started in the fall of 2006. As a volunteer, Gilmour is not to living in a fishbowl,” she said. She found that at times it was of- paid for her work in the landscapten difficult to take on the role that ing area. “I am not rewarded for the typical first lady assumes. She doing this, other than emotionally. acknowledged, “As the president’s I absolutely love to do it and I feel wife, I had this preconceived no- that it is my way to make a differtion that I should be the entertain- ence,” she explained. One of the biggest tasks she has er that is always perfectly dressed. I enjoy entertaining, although it is undertaken at the university is not my principle focus, but I do the greenway expansion project. not like dressing up. I realized Although she was not part of the that in order to be happy I had to Master Plan development, Gimour was asked to offer her input as to be true to myself.” As a rewhat should be included in the sult, she chose to devote greenway design. She chose her time and energy to a variety of native plants to something that she was create a habitat truly passionate about, for birds and landscaping. That butterflies, as well as something Photo Courtesy of Patty Gilmour that the community could enjoy. Gilmour also plans to have the Pergola, the structure made of columns donated by the Karambelas family located near Evans Hall, covered with different vines. The Pergola will be used as an outdoors theatre or gathering place for individuals. Gilmour explained that the last part of the expansion project will consist of a labyrinth, a place designed for spiritual reflection and meditation. The concept is based on balancing two sides of the brain and will incorporate grass and stone. Gilmour noted that she hopes it will be completed by the end of the school year. In addition to the landscaping she does for the university, Gilmour and her husband have participated in Wilkes community life on variety of levels. For example, after former Secretary of State Colin Powell delivered his speech to the Wilkes community last year, he and the Gilmours had dinner together. Gilmour said that Powell later wrote to them about how much fun he had. She added, “I think he even enjoyed the fact that I had the nerve to eat his dessert.” Along with this, the Gilmours host a holiday party each year for the faculty and staff, as well as a Wilkes Family Picnic over the summer. Interacting with the student body at the university is one thing Gilmour said she would like to become more comfortable with. Activities such as “a picnic to welcome the incoming freshmen, an environmental committee, movie nights, and chat sessions at her home” are some of the activities she would like to pursue with students as she becomes more comfortable at the university. Monica Turner, a sophomore communication studies major at (LEFT) Patty Gilmour stands with her husband Dr. Tim Gilmour, President of Wilkes University. Wilkes is one student who has become close with the president’s wife. “To me Wilkes-Barre is a big city because I’m from a very rural area. I feel like she understands how I feel when others don’t because she is also from the country. She’s definitely someone I can bond with on that level.” Executive members also believe that she has become an important part of the Wilkes community. Both Michael Frantz, Vice President for Enrollment and Marketing Communications, and Paul Adams, Vice President of Student Affairs, believe that Mrs. Gilmour has become a goodwill ambas- sador for the university. Frantz stated, she is a “vibrant, energetic, and a gifted individual who has the university’s best interests at heart.” BEACON Serving the community through fair and accurate reporting while supporting the views and opinions of our readers. Editorial Staff Editor-in-Chief: Andee Scarantino Email: wilkesbeacon@gmail.com Managing Editor: Nick Podolak Email: wilkesbeacon@gmail.com News Editor: Andrew Seaman Email: news.beacon@gmail.com Op/Ed Editor: Mark Congdon Jr. Email: thebeacon.oped@gmail.com Lifestyles Editor: Alison Woody Email: beacon.lifestyles@gmail.com A&E Editor: Marissa Phillips Email: thebeaconae@gmail.com Sports Editor: Carlton Holmes Email: beaconsports@gmail.com Photo Editor: Cara Koster Advertising Managers: Stephanie Yachim Dana Zlotucha Email: thebeacon.ads@gmail.com Advisor: Dr. Andrea Breemer Frantz Established in 1936 PA Newspaper Association Member Printed on Tuesdays during the academic school year. 130 S. River St. First Floor, Conyngham Hall, Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 (570) 408-5903 wilkesbeacon@gmail.com www.wilkesbeacon.com �NEWS SEPTEMBER 25, 2007 3 Chamber urges patience while search to fill storefronts continues BY JAMIE GWYNN Beacon Staff Writer Representatives of the Greater WilkesBarre Chamber recently denied rumors it will need to cut jobs because of the drain on funds from ten empty storefronts surrounding Movies 14 on East Northampton and Main Street. In response to whether the rumors were accurate, Lawrence Newman, Vice President of Economic and Community Development for the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber, emphatically stated, “No, absolutely not.” He added that there is a misconception among the community that the ten remaining storefronts suffer from a lack of interest from businesses. “The foundations that we are building today have to be foundations that last for us to build long-term success for downtown, and you don’t do that by just sort of running out and grabbing the first places that [are interested],” Newman said. “We have to systematically get the right mix of business into the right places of downtown.” But the original plan, which was announced in 1996, only included a movie theatre. Due to various obstacles, the plan started to fizzle. This is when the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber decided to step in. In 2003 Mayor Leighton approached the Chamber about salvaging the original plan. When Newman sat down with officials from RC Theatres and discussed what the city could do in order to complete the project, the only solution was to revise the original plan to include other ideas which would become part of a larger revitalization plan for Wilkes-Barre. One of the ideas, named “The Northamp- mark two months ago. “In that first year of operations we’ve had over 540,000 people go to that movie theatre; that’s over 10,000 people a week,” said Newman. He added, “Those are real Courtesy Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Industry Over 10,000 people visit the RC Theatre 14 every week. Movies 14 is one of the downtown area’s greatest success stories, according to the W-B Chamber. ton & Main Theatre/Mixed Use Project,” numbers that demonstrate real demand that includes twelve storefronts, two of which we are now out and able to talk to the kinds are currently leased to Quizno’s and Jan- of tenants we want in that project and want in downtown.” nuzzi’s Pizza. Gabrielle Lamb, Economic DevelopNewman detailed how credited tenants want to see at least a years worth of full op- ment Specialist for the Chamber, explained erations before reaching a long-term com- that although the Chamber gets numerous mitment. The theatre passed the one year requests from businesses to lease out the empty storefronts, it’s about finding the right tenants. “We are just as eager as everyone else and want nothing more than to see downtown filled with a variety of new businesses; however, we need to take it one step at a time and focus on bringing the right tenants to this project.” Lamb added, “We want this to be a premier destination in downtown Wilkes-Barre and this is one part of the process.” President Gilmour, Chair of the Chamber of Business and Industry board, expressed the same concern. “I do believe that we want to be very careful in terms of who we ultimately have as tenants in the Northampton Project because you certainly don’t have want to have a tenant who doesn’t represent the kind of quality and perspective that you want [for downtown Wilkes-Barre]. What you want is the highest quality,” he said. And in order to have the highest quality, patience is the key. But how long can a city, which has endured much criticism for its lack of excitement, be patient? “This is not a sprint; it’s a marathon. This is not something that can be won overnight,” said Newman. “Realistically, we don’t expect to have full occupancy in these storefronts until 2009.” Gilmour has higher expectations for the project. “I think it’s going to come within the next year and if we’re lucky, maybe the next six months.” But Gilmour added, “Patience is the [key].” COOLTURA from FRONT PAGE After being in business for 36 years, Mike Miscavage, owner of Top of the Slope, Inc. and the Wilkes-Barre Rock Climbing Gym, recognizes potential when he sees it. According to Miscavage, Wilkes and King’s students don’t frequently venture far enough from their respective college campuses to discover what the second block of Main Street has to offer. “People don’t even know that [Top of the Slope is] here.” Though he advertises in the colleges’ bulletins and even offers a ten percent discount to all college students with valid school identi- fication, Miscavage, along with other business owners in the area, still struggles to bring students in. While the Trelleses and Miscavage await Cooltura’s opening to see if it turns a profit, Wilkes students are also looking forward to it, it could be something really great. It’ll be good to have another [store that sells music] in Wilkes-Barre, especially so close to a venue like Café Metropolis,” said Wilkes freshman Matt Duffy. Though there is no grand opening planned for Cooltura, Nancy and Andréa Trelles do intend to rip down the brown t paper from their front windows this week. If everything goes well, they also plan to expand their selection of merchandise and provide The Beacon/Cara Koster jobs to those who finding out what the new store has to offer. may be interested in helping them run their “I think it’s awesome. If kids actually use new family business. ura,Jnc. acccso r Ios u.si ca bone €.arbs “If [Cooltura] will get kids to walk over here, it’d be great,” he said. �SEPTEMBER 25, 2007 NEWS Beacon News Briefs Local (Wilkes University) According to an incident report from Public Safety, dated September 21, early Friday morning public safety officers were called to the second floor of University Towers for a noise complaint. When the officers arrived they found two students and another man fighting in the hallway. The Wilkes-Barre Police and a resident assistant were called after the public safety officers made several attempts to break up the fight with no success. The police cleared the scene, and one person suffered an abrasion to his head but refused treatment. The Wilkes-Barre Police did not file charges. (Wilkes University) Dr. Anthony Liuzzo, prepared his yearly Holiday Retail Forecast on September 13, 2007. This year Liuzzo predicts that technological goodies will be the popular item found under most trees this year. Liuzzo, who directs the MBA program at Wilkes University, has been featured in USA Today and the New York Times for his annual forecast. (Northeast Pennsylvania) The federal prosecutor for northeastern Pennsylvania announced his resignation effective October 12. U.S. Attorney Thomas A. Marino, said he will be moving into the private sector after his departure. Marino also noted that his resignation is not related to an ongoing investigation regarding local businessperson, Louis DeNaples. Marino and DeNaples are said to be acquaintances and DeNaples used Marino as a reference on an application for a slot machine casino currently under construction. 4 illegal aliens would soon be able to obtain a drivers license in his state. The new guidelines overturn a 2002 decision put in place after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. New York Governor, Eliot Spitzer, says that the new guidelines will decrease insurance cost and promote public safety. (New Orleans, LA) Episcopal National bishops are meet( Wa s h i n g ing in New Orleans ton, DC) As with the goal of the February 1, forming a response 2008 expiration to an ultimatum set date draws near by Anglican leaders. on the “Protect The ultimatum requires America Act,” Presthe Episcopal bishops to ident Bush is pushing o pledge that they will never to make the law permaz iuz again consecrate another honent. J. Michael McConD r. A n t h o n y L mosexual bishop or hold samenell, the United States director sex prayer services. The Archbishop of of national intelligence, said in a testimony before Congress that the law is not Canterbury says the goal is to compromise. only necessary but does and will continue International to save countless American lives. (New Delhi, India) A TV news channel (Albany, NY) On Friday, September 21, the governor of New York announced that has been taken off the air for a month af- ter the Indian government decided that the channel aired a misleading program. The program in question showed a sting operation where a teacher was accused of persuading her students into prostitution. (Tehran, Iran) One day before flying to the United States, the Iranian president said that economic sanctions imposed by the United States will not stop them from advancing technologically. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, said this at a parade featuring fighter jets and radar-avoiding missiles on Saturday, September 22. Ahmandinejad will speak in front of the United Nations in New York. (Yangon, Myanmar) About 500 monks were permitted past police barricades to hold anti-government protests. The monks marched past the gate of Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, who is under house arrest for being an “opposition leader.” San Suu Kyi, who has been under house arrest for the past 11 years greeted the monks at her gate. Photo Courtesy of Marketing Comm Campus building with historic treasures saved from demolition for now BY AMY FUSCO Beacon Correspondent Ever noticed a quaint house to the north of the Arnaud C. Marts Center, Wilkes University’s gym? The little brick house at 256 South Franklin Street occupies the property with a spacious yard filled with a variety of plants and a pathway leading to the white front door. Very few students are aware of the MinerMoat House, though it houses some important historical artifacts. Built in the 1950’s, the Miner-Moat house was donated in 1999 to Wilkes University as a gift from Mr. Harry Moat and Mrs. Stella Miner-Moat. Paul Kaspriskie, Project Manager, explained, “It was previously the Human Resource office, which worked at the time, but no longer is useful as an office because the use is limited,” such as handicap accessibility. The Human Resources offices were relocated to the University Center on Main (UCOM) last year. Currently, the house is temporarily occupied by Petra Carver, Vice President for Finance and Support Operations. Last year, Wilkes officials acknowledged that the plan was to tear the building down for other necessary uses of the property, such as expansion or a parking lot. Carver commented, “We [Wilkes University] have a master plan, a work in progress,” but this plan was Judge William Sterling Ross (1802-1868), put on hold in order to preserve the Miner- and Mrs. Charles Abbot Miner. After the death of Mrs. Miner in 1931, the house on Moat house for the time being. Additionally, Carver stated, “The location 130 South Main Street was torn down. Forof the building is very convenient, since it tunately, the mantelpiece was is right on campus.” She believes Wilkes removed before the demoliUniversity put the Miner-Moat House to tion. About thirty years later, good use by allowing her to temporarily in 1960, the mantelpiece was live there and she hopes in the future, the installed in the Miner-Moat house could be occupied by other profes- house. Along with the distinction sors. The Miner-Moat House is also significant of its historic mantelpiece, Dr. Anthony one of the rarest trees in as the home to a very old, historic mantel- Liuzzo piece. According to the plaque installed Pennsylvania has grown on next to the mantel, it is ‘elaborately and the property. A white chestnut beautifully decorated with urns in central tree is located on the left side, and corner panels, and festoons of roses near the fence closest to the in connecting panels.” The history of the road. Unfortunately, the tree mantelpiece dates back to the time period is slowly deteriorating, but of 1786-1788 when Colonel Timothy Pick- Wilkes has agreed to keep it ering owned it. In the past, the mantel was preserved until the end of its in Pickering’s house located at 130 South life. According to Kaspriskie, Main Street. Upon leaving Wilkes-Barre to reside in the Miner-Moat house is well Philadelphia when he became Postmaster built and requires little mainGeneral in President George Washington’s tenance and “as long as [tearcabinet, Pickering sold his house to General ing the building down] does William Ross in 1796, leaving the mantel not bother anyone,” Wilkes behind with it. Throughout the years, oth- University will demolish it er people have lived in the house, such as only if it is necessary. Fur- thermore, if there was a need to tear it down, Wilkes will certainly remove the historical mantelpiece before doing so. STSTRAVEL.COM Join America’s #1 Student Tour Operator Sell Trips, Earn Cash & Travel Free CANCUN, ACAPULCO, JAMAICA, BAHAMAS PUERTO VALLARTA, SOUTH PADRE FLORIDA, CRUISES www.ststravel.com STUDENT TRAVEL SERVICES 1-800-648-4849 / www.ststravel.com �NEWS SEPTEMBER 25, 2007 TERRACE from FRONT PAGE “It’s not a significant amount of numbers only because we don’t have a real lot of shootings compared to areas like Philadelphia or New York,” Dessoye said. “Yes, we occasionally see someone carrying a firearm who has a concealed weapon involved in illegal activity and we notify the Sherriff’s Department to pull the concealed weapon permit.” According to the Luzerne County Sherriff ’s Depart- ment, 2,974 concealed weapons permits were issued by the end of 2006, though Dessoye noted that while it occasionally does happen, having someone illegally use a weapon with a license to carry a firearm is a rarity. “Most people who have a concealed weapons permit are legitimate, law abiding 5 individuals who can stand up to the criteria that the Sherriff’s Deparment sets to issue that permit,” Dessoye said. “Our problem with firearms are illegal firearms illegally carried.” The chief explained that fire- said. “Quite honestly, that’s been going on forever.” Dessoye and Rebo both cautioned students living in the city to keep their wits about themselves, and not to stick their noses where they don’t belong. They urged students to stay away from areas that seem to be trouble, avoid groups or individuals who seem to be involved in illegal activity, check under (and inside) their cars before entering, and travel in groups, especially females, whenever poshens na Step n e J / sible. n aco The Be “ T h e world has changed,” arms are obtained Dessoye said. “It’s not the mom and pop of illegally through the 50’s. There are bad people out there and b u r g l a r y, drug trade, and they travel in all geographic areas and dewhat he referred to as a “straw purchase,” mographics.” in which a legitimate person will buy a gun So does Bracone still feel safe after her legitimately and trade it to somebody who traumatic experience? wants drugs. “Sometimes. When I’m on campus I “That’s pretty much old school,” Dessoye feel safe. This kind of stuff shouldn’t hap- pen. Everyone is so worried about underage drinking and, there’s people carrying around guns and shooting dogs at four o’clock in the morning, and everyone in the school is worried about people drinking underage. They’re not even sending anyone down here,” she said. Beacon Correction On page 3 of the September 18 issue of The Beacon, the story “New faces in President’s cabinet offer individual expertise to team” mistakenly lists Petra Carver as a native of Essen, Germany. Carver is a native of Worms, Germany The Beacon strives for accuracy and good sourcing in all of its stories and regrets the errors in the past issue. Editors are grateful for readers who take the time to point out inaccuracies. Andrea Breemer Frantz, Faculty Advisor Andee Scarantino, Editor-in-Chief SG Notes September 19, 2007 Treasurer’s Report All College: $23,620.72 General: $5,672.59 Special Projects: $3,500 Spirit: $2,000 Leadership: $5,000 Conferences: $12,500 Start-Up: $1,500 -l#lKfS llNIVfRSJTV- Club Reports Programing Board - Remarked that there was a comedian on Monday, September 17. Just over 100 people attended. New Business Personal Finance Club - The Personal Finance Club was granted club status Medieval Renaissance Club - The Medieval Renaissance Club came to SG seeking club status (this is a two week process) SPAN - The Student Peace Action Network (SPAN) came to SG seeking club status (this is a two week process) Frisbee Club - SG heard revisions to the Frisbee Club’s constitution Mascot Allocation - SG allocated money for a new mascot costume to be worn at various events. Fall Elections - Justin Balint, Student Government parliamentraian, gave an update on SG elections. He commented that all is going well, and there was a slight problem with the e-mail voting system, which was fixed quickly. Homecoming - The budget for homecoming was dicussed. Tickets sale are estimated to bring in about $2,700 bringing the cost of homecoming down to $12,293.26. Events Party on the Square - September 20, 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. Homecoming - October 4 - 7, 2007 IN I .P. n up I nt 665 .. C J fo - (570) 823 - ma ,· d y.. th! n .. , t 9 �Opinion RX drugs worth the effects? 7 Angry Rant-Drinking 7 2008 election & troops 8 SEPTEMBER 25, 2007 6 Jena 6 case shows that roots of racism run deep BY THE BEACON EDITORIAL BOARD Jena, Louisiana: Thousands of people on September 20 poured into the streets to participate in one of the largest civil rights marches since the 1960s, according to the Associated Press. Jesse Jackson was there. Al Sharpton was there. College students were there, and about 20,000 others were there, protesting for civil rights and equality, as six residents of this small southern town, often referred to as “The Jena 6,” face criminal charges. One of the accused, Mychal Bell, remains in jail awaiting an appeal by prosecutors. The events that led to Bell’s original conviction and charges filed against five others, trace back to 2006. Nearly a year ago a black student at the primarily white Jena High School asked a member of administration if he could sit under a tree. The tree was known as “The White Tree,” and all of the students who sat under it during recesses were exactly that: white. An administrator told the young man that there wasn’t a problem with his sitting under the tree, but it is telling that the black student felt compelled to ask permission at all. A few black students, reassured that sitting under the tree was acceptable, decided to do so. Much to their surprise, the next day three nooses were found hanging from the tree. The white students responsible were expelled, but quickly allowed to re-enter the school, after the superintendent dismissed the act as a “prank.” Following the noose incident, racial tensions among the students continued to escalate. A few days after the noose incident, a black student was assaulted by a few white students. Fights began to break out, climaxing with an attack on a white student, Justin Barker, allegedly by the accused six. Barker was knocked unconscious and treated at a local hos- remains in jail, is currently awaiting an appeal, and has been denied bail. The other five defendants are currently free on bail. Perhaps the most important issue with this case is the fact that the court that convicted Bell was all white in a county with history of racial disharmony. Who says justice is blind? How are these charges warranted? Some of the explanations given for Bell’s conviction were that his “shoes were a deadly weapon.” Conveniently, school officials overlooked the warning signals, such subtle statements as the nooses hanging from the tree and later, at the height of the tension, people setting the school on fire on November 30. According to CNN, the school handbook states that a fight in school yields a three-day suspension. Apparently, Courtesy of: weblogs.elearning.ubc.ca the injuries that Barker His charges were reduced to ag- has as a result of this fight were gravated second-degree battery, so severe, that during the school but he was still found guilty by function he attended that night, an all-white jury and judge. De- administrators determined that the spite the reduction in charges, Bell Jena 6 wanted to kill him. There is no other way to exstill faced 15-22 years in prison. On September 13, however, the plain the lack of justice in this case Third Circuit Court of Appeals other than racism. This incident overturned his conviction noting happened well over a year ago, that the young man should not and until the trials approached, the have been tried as an adult. Bell voices of the people were quiet pital for cuts and abrasions. However, he was released the same day and attended a school function that very night. The accused six students, all black, were arrested. Five were charged with attempted seconddegree murder. The sixth was charged as a juvenile, as he was only 14 at the time of the attack. Bell, who was 16 at the time of the attack, was first to be tried in court and was tried as an adult. from Jena, Louisiana. Clearly, any publicity always held the potential for public relations backlash for the community. It made sense from the Jena Chamber of Commerce point of view to keep this under wraps as long as it could. But cases like Bell’s are tough to keep quiet for long. To “make it go away,” after Bell’s charges had been modified, the school had “The White Tree” cut down. Unfortunately, the roots of the tree of racial inequality grow deep, as evidenced by the fact that the first young black student even felt he needed to ask permission to sit there to begin with. The nooses remain a symbol of racial threat, despite the many years since KKK-initiated public lynchings of the south. While it should not be surprising, given the division evidenced in Jena, we are shocked that there are some who side with the District Attorney in this case. While there are many groups supporting the Jena 6, as well as nationwide petitions, there are Facebook groups that actually state they support the convictions of the young men. When will justice be served on this case? When is America going to cut out its racist roots that through places like Jena? Apparently, we have already started to speak, once again, like we did in the 1960s and 1970s, as people marched through the streets for justice in the land of the free, and the home of the brave. A Sight for Sore Eyes by: Aleksander Lapinski Beacon Poll Results Americans have a lot to worry about. The ongoing Iraq war, stock market and housing investThe following are results of a ment instability, drug busts, AIDS, poll that The Beacon conducted and environmental concerns domonline this past week. The poll inate the nightly news reports. Is was unscientific, and does not it any wonder that with such boldclaim to reflect the overall atface headlines other issues fail to titudes of students on campus. capture our attention? Seemingly Results are based on 104 re“less important” social problems sponses. like homelessness, poverty, and the growing deficit tend to make inside pages, if that, because of The Beacon asked: the pressing nature of the other stories. Following graduation, how that One of those sidebar issues much debt will you be inonto for the only occasionally squeaks your radar college public is education? animal cruelty. Recently animal cruelty has become • mainstream $10,000-$20,00019% a more issue with ma• $20,001-$40,00015% jor corporations, football players, 13% and •even$40,001-$60,000local people stirring up • $60,001-$80,00011% the issue. Animal cruelty involves • Nothing-I take and anything from dogdidn’t fighting, loans to - 11% shooting out whales, killing aniMore mals• for fur andthan animal testing. $100,00011% The problem isn’t awareness; it • more $80,001-$90,0006% is that people appear to be6% lieve• that $90,001-$100,000it’s okay to hurt animals • I don’t know-my for personal benefi t or enjoyment. parents Worse, there is a took smallout contingent loans-who 4%believe that the in the country • of Less than cruelty $10,0004%be practice animal can excused because of age-old cultural practices. Next Week’s Question: Just two weeks ago the Makah tribe thethink wirewill over Whomade do you winthe theissue of whaling. ago the Nabaseball WorldYears Series? tive American tribe legally killed whales something of a sport. • asBoston Red Sox The •tribeNY suspend its practice beYankees cause• theNY grey whale was placed Mets on the species list and • endangered Philadelphia Phillies federal government prohibited • Cleveland Indians whaling. However, in 1994, the • San Diego Padres grey•whale came off Brewers of the endanMilwaukee gered• list.Chicago Cubs The• tribe obtained a permit in Arizona Diamondbacks 1999• to LA kill Angels a whale outof which Anaheim raged animal rights groups. After a court hearing it became necessary Visit www.wilkesbeacon.com for receive a waiver to the cast tribe your tovote. Results will in order to hunt in whales. Recently, be published next week’s members of of theThe tribeBeacon. shot a grey issue whale repeatedly with a rifle before they were due to receive their waiver. The five men involved are all facing fines of up to $20,000 �SEPTEMBER 25, 2007 OPINION 7 Blindly addressing medical problems can lead to other issues BY MARK CONGDON JR. Beacon Opinion Editor When you recall the fifth grade, what memories surface? The early stages of puberty and hormonedriven emotional highs and lows? An undying love for the Backstreet Boys, ‘NSYNC, Spice Girls or any other pop culture group you’re now too embarrassed to admit publicly? Trying nearly anything to fit in at school? All of the above? For some, fifth grade is a very forgettable year. For me, fifth grade was a life changing experience that I will never forget. When I was in fifth grade I was diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, ADHD, and an anxiety disorder. Though I outgrew the symptoms of these The Beacon/ Cara Koster disorders, and learned to deal with them in a more effective way, I was heavily medicated from 5th grade until the end of my sophomore year in college, a total of nine years. In an article published September 7 by the Medscape Medical News, the misuse of prescription drugs by young adults is on the rise, according to a new national survey. I learned the hard way that prescription drugs are also just a temporary fix, and can cause long-term health effects. Over-zealous prescriptions and a general attitude among the public that drugs can solve all issues is becoming problematic to the least powerful voices in our society: children. During the nine year period in which I attempted to deal with the diagnoses with drugs, doctors put me on many prescription medications including Risperdal, Clonazepam, and Adderall XR to name a few. Some of the side-effects that these medications caused included weight gain, depression, and diabetes. Because of the side-effects, doctors prescribed yet other medications to counterbalance them, like Metformin to help with the diabetes and Effexor XR to help with the depression. This resulted in very high prescription drug bills totaling almost $1,800 a month, and thank God we had insurance to pay for them. Because I didn’t like the way these drugs made me feel, and the doctors weren’t doing anything to help me get off of them, I gradually decreased my dosage, and ultimately stopped cold-turkey. Despite the fact that doctors and pharmacist argue that doing this isn’t the best course, something I believe is true for many, stopping these harmful drugs actually benefited me in ways I never imagined. While the first two weeks after stopping by meds were hell, I told myself that the end result would be worth it. Since I stopped the medications, I have been healthier physically and mentally. I no longer feel like a zombie, and can be myself. My confidence and vitality has gone up, and I have gone from the unhealthy weight of 286 lbs. to my now a very appropriate and healthy size of 170 lbs. Stopping these medications increased my energy level, and I had an easier time exercising. It was at this point that I learned how to deal with my emotions when I was upset. I no longer binged on food, but exercised instead when I was down. This approach did more than build my muscles. It helped with my mood tremendously. I went from a pant size 42 to a 32 paint size. I no longer have to take Metformin for my diabetes because it is controlled by The Angry Rant: Underage Drinking BY TIM SEIGFRIED Beacon Asst. Sports Editor In the past few weeks, there has been lots of talk surrounding the issue that is underage drinking, mostly coming on the heels of recent alcohol related busts that have involved students. First, the fact that there is even debate about this is laughable to me. Underage drinking is illegal, and it’s not exactly an elaborate secret that the Masons or the Illuminati have been keeping from everyone. It’s beaten into our heads from an early age that drinking is a no-no until you’re 21, and a lot of us probably signed a piece of paper in high school that said we wouldn’t drink on prom night. In other words, everyone knows that drinking at a young age is going to come with consequences. Despite that, there are still the drinking parties in high school at a friend’s house when his parents are gone, or the friend who had a flask on him when you are at the movies, or even the parents who let your close friends have a few beers at their house because it was under their supervision and that no one would be driving. Whatever the case may be, college is a completely different ballgame, seeing as how most students are 18 and therefore considered adults, along with the fact that there are no parents and the students no longer have a safety net. That said, I think it’s high time that college students start accepting responsibility for their actions, and for the blame to stop being placed on the laws and those who enforce the laws, whether it’s the University or the police. One complaint that I’ve heard from a number of students is that Wilkes has always had a policy regarding underage drinking; however, this year authorities are more stringent about its enforcement, and as a result, there are more busts on campus. My question is: what’s there to complain about? It’s been known that Wilkes has a policy in place, but it somehow turns into a problem when they enforce it? That’s like saying: “I’ll willingly break the law, but it’s not my fault when I get caught.” Along with that, there has been the argument that the legal drinking age should be lowered to 18. After all, you can join the military or get married without parental consent at that age. Honestly, that is the most overused excuse when it comes to the legal drinking age. Keep in mind that neither military service nor marriage are required by law. No one is forcing you to join the military or get married, just like no one forces you to go to a drinking party where you could get caught. If you want to have a few beers with your friends, fine. I’m not condemning that. However, you have to realize the danger that is inherent when it comes to alcohol. At the end of the day, college students need to start accepting responsibility for themselves. You’re adults, and you need to realize that no one is going to be holding your hand anymore. my exercising and eating healthier, and no longer need my Effexor, because I no longer suffer from depression. The fact of the matter is that although the doctors wanted to help me by giving me those medications, they actually caused much harm to my physical and mental wellbeing. I wish the doctors had offered me other options and alternatives to help with these disorders other than prescriptions, but the tendency to prescribe away the problem is far easier than the answers I finally came to on my own. I have chosen what I believe to be the healthier route and rely on natural remedies, exercise, talk out my problems or I learn to figure things out on my own. This has worked much better for me. Perhaps more importantly, I took control of my own health and began to assume the responsibility for research and decision-making. This is tough for a 5th grader, but when a young person is diagnosed with things like depression, ADHD, or other common ailments, parents need to take responsibility for asking tough questions and investigating all options. Side-effects can cause long-term harm. Check out webmd.com or other solid resources online and educate yourself! What do you think? -- ■ The Beacon wants your voice to be heard. Your Voices is the opportunity for students to voice their concerns. If you want your voice to be heard, please contact The Beacon with the following information: 1 Contact information including your email address and a phone number where you can be reached 2 Your name, major, and year 3 Your opinion thebeacon.oped@ gmail.com The Beacon reserves the right to edit submitted pieces for space and content. �SEPTEMBER 25, 2007 OPINION 8 Predictions for 2008 all hinge on troops coming home John McCain… we can leave it at that. This election, I am sorry to say, is not about the Republican candidates. It is about the We are about 13 months away from the Democrats. This administration has obliter2008 presidential election and I think we ated any chance the Republican candidates should just give up know more about the candidates than we had; they really now and save themselves the could ever want. And we still have a year embarrassment. to go... T h e only true candiLast February, I wrote an editorial prodates for 2008 jecting Hillary Clinton as the winner are: Hillary, and I stand by that decision. HowObama, and I ever I think there are some factors will also throw in that have come into play that I did Edwards. not take into account before. Obama is an First of all, when I look at the Reinteresting charpublican pool of nominees, I just acter; I cannot shake my head. Rudy Giuliani’s really even 9/11 shtick is just old already, explain him. “9/11 this, 9/11 that.” The man has I think he nothing else to talk about. Then we would make have Mitt Romney, the Mormon. a great I truly believe that the Repubp r e s i d ent lican party would implode but I think if it nominated a Catholic, too many let alone a Mormon. Fred people are Thompson is also in there, saying that he but he missed his bandwagon is not ready, and by a few months, and as for Photo Courtesy www.jeremyinc.com that he will have BY ANDREW SEAMAN Beacon News Editor another shot in four or eight years. Then we have Edwards the Democrat’s “secret weapon.” I say that because he is going to be the last nail in the coffin for the Republican Party. Hillary or Obama on a ticket as president with Edwards as vice president is an election clincher. You have a non-traditional candidate paired with the most stereotypical candidate ever, and that is magic. Then there is Hillary. She played this election smarter than anyone else, she distanced herself from Bill the past few years while she has been in the Senate, and she went into this campaign with the attitude that “I am the candidate. If you don’t come with me now, you are going to be left behind.” People believed her and still do. Another thing that amplifies her sustainability as the leading candidate is the fact that her one backer has been accused of fraud, among other things and she hasn’t experienced too much backlash from that. But there is one thing the Democrats have to do before they can consider the election won (and as a result I would tell the Republicans to hold onto their towels a little longer). The Dems need to show some sign of progress that they are going to be bringing home troops from Iraq and Afghanistan. I consider this the “great race,” because we have the Bush administration saying that it will be bringing home some of the troops, while the Democratic majority is just sitting there saying they want to bring the troops home. It is simple. The person who brings the troops home first wins. How hard is that to understand? The Democrats were handed Congress for a reason and everyone knows what that reason was: to bring home the troops from Iraq and Afghanistan. So far the Democrats have done nothing, and yes, before you say anything… I know they have taken votes and pulled an “all nighter,” but those have been meaningless. They need to take action or the Republicans could very easily turn this situation around by bringing some troops home first. As the election stands now though, I see Hillary being called “Madame President” in 2009, but the Democrats really need to bring some of the troops home before they become the objects of the country’s anger. Because if the Republicans beat them to it, I may have to write another editorial evaluating the election again, and no body wants that. The Baghdad question becomes ‘what now’? decision to go to war with. We practically mopped the floor with the Iraqi army in the Gulf War, and after all, Saddam was still a bad guy, right? His government had provided aid to the terrorists in Afghanistan and was stockpiling weapons of mass destruction. Or so we were told. I find myself now wondering whether or not our current war with Iraq was justified. ‘Mission Accomplished’ banner was proudly displayed on the USS Abraham Lincoln, yet we’ve witnessed a summer troop surge and day after day we still hear nothing but reports detailing sectarian violence in the ethnically divided country. As such, it is difficult to imagine a timely and happy ending for the American mission in Iraq. Recently, President Bush’s September low the comparison to Vietnam through to its logical conclusion, history shows that abandoning the Iraqi people could have disastrous consequences. Instead of reading about the fall of Saigon, we might be readAs a senior, I have now viewed over three ing about the fall of Baghdad. years of political twists and turns through If we, as a nation, are truly committed to the lens of a political science student inthe goal of ensuring the vitality of a demotent on studying the history and layout of cratic government in Iraq, we must stay the the contemporary American political landcourse and maintain some sort scape. In those three years, I’ve witof presence there, rather than nessed the first Presidential election completely abandoning the of my adult life, partisan scandals, and controversy erupting over every- My realist education in foreign policy leaves me contemplating the balance of Iraqi people. So I am truly torn. I am disthing from weapons of mass destruc- power in the Middle East following a dramatic American withdrawal from the tressed over the prospect of tion to immigration reform. war-torn state. seeing more American lives However, in the glow of the everlost, yet the rising threat of Iran shifting political spotlight, one issue and radical Islam in the Middle has remained constant and ever-present: the war in Iraq. While I’m confident I am truly torn because yes, I think it is ter- backing of a proposal for a limited troop East in general seems to dictate a need for we all have strong opinions on the war, it rific that the people of Iraq now have what withdrawal has given cause for celebration a strong counterweight aside from Israel in is evident that the nature of these opinions at least appears to be a functioning demo- to anti-war elements in America. I see this the region. I do believe that American solstems from the answers to two fundamen- cratic government, yet following the revela- as a good thing, but I have my own reasons diers should be headed back home to their tal questions. First, was it right to go to war tion that there were no WMDs in Iraq, the for not supporting an abrupt and total with- loved ones, but I also believe in the need for in Iraq? Second, what do we do next? Like question persists: did we have the ‘right’ to drawal of American troops from Iraq. My a stable Iraqi government in the power vacsome people, I find that my position on the dislodge Saddam from power in his own realist education in foreign policy leaves me uum which we created in dethroning Sadcontemplating the balance of power in the dam Hussein. With the Iraq War maintainIraq War has shifted over the past several sovereign state? Whether you believe we did or did not Middle East following a dramatic American ing its prominence as a front-running issue years in response to my personal answers to have a justification for going to war in Iraq, withdrawal from the war-torn state. Many in the 2008 Presidential election campaign, these questions. Still reeling from the devastation of the we must all now deal with our current di- have characterized the war in Iraq as our I suppose only time will tell us how we anattacks on September 11, 2001, I was a lemma: what do we do now? More than four generation’s Vietnam, and advocate a com- swer the question: what now? firm supporter of President Bush’s initial years have now passed since a triumphant plete American withdrawal. Yet if we folBY JUSTIN RICHARDS Beacon Correspondent �LIFESTYLES SEPTEMBER 25, 2007 Blogging: everyone’s doin’ it 10 Student of the week 11 9 Long-distance bonds face social, practical challenges ship. How much or how little they contact each other depends on each unique relationship, but it should be an amount that is agreed on by both parties. For Bible, communication ranked high on the list of reasons why her relationship thrived. “Talk about everything,” she said. “Let them know why you’re stressed.” That’s a lesson Dehaut learned in the first few weeks of his long distance relationship. Before they both left for college, getting into little disagreements was no big dealit was easily fixed by a short visit or some flowers. “When you’re really close to someone, you get into petty fights,” he said. “Now you have to be careful with what you say, because she’s an hour away.” Strengthening the line of communication is only one benefit long distance relationships can bring to college students. The sacrifices and difficulties test the bond, and, if it survives, the couple becomes that much closer. “It makes you know if that truly is the person you want to be with,” said Bible. Courtesy of Krystal Bible on/C ara Kos te r Krystal and Jonathan Bible were married in December 2006. They have maintained their relationship through telephone calls and emails since February 2006 due to Jonathan’s deployment with the United States Coast Guard. Bea c Last year at this time, Russell Dehaut was just a 30-second walk down the block from seeing his girlfriend. Now, the pair is separated, each located at different schools, and face an hour long drive to see each other. Dehaut, a freshman electrical engineering major, is one of many college students involved in a long distance relationship. According to the Center for the Study of Long Distance Relationships, 20 to 40 percent of college students currently report being part of a long distance relationship. Leah Peters, a graduate intern at the campus counseling center, counsels a growing number of Wilkes students involved in long distance relationships. Although it is a common issue in college, this type of relationship can affect each person differently. “They can serve as a source of support for some, and a source of stress for others,” she said. “But most people fall somewhere in the middle.” Long distance relationships can become overwhelming when they take up all the students’ free time, or if they are constantly preoccupied by them. Focusing all of their attention on a relationship miles and miles away can force students to miss out on defining experiences of college life. “While you want to make your relationship a priority, you have to open yourself up to social and academic activities on campus,” Peters said. Dehaut admits that leaving the campus on weekends to visit his girlfriend, Jessica Drago, at Bloomsburg University, makes it difficult for him to foster friendships at his school. “It does affect your social life,” said Dehaut. “I’m shooting for visiting once a week. But I want her to spend as much time at school as she can so she can make friends, too.” Dehaut and Drago were dating for three years before they had to decide on their college choices. Drago was set on the education program at Bloomsburg, so Dehaut limited his choices to schools within a two hour radius of Wilkes-Barre. That way, they could visit each other more frequently. Although Dehaut is only a month into the long distance aspect of his relationship, he believes his relationship can survive the test of the miles. “From what I’ve heard, the biggest reason long distance relationships don’t work is because people cheat on each other,” he said. “I’m not going to cheat on her, and I know she’s not going to cheat on me.” Krystal Bible, a senior psychology major, has been involved in a long distance relationship since February 2006. She started dating Jonathan Bible when he was stationed in Virginia with the United States Coast Guard. They were married in December 2006. Like Dehaut, Bible believes that one of the reasons her relationship survived was trust. “Trust is key,” she said. “I know my husband would never do anything to hurt me.” Bible also agrees that her long distance relationship has affected her social life at Wilkes. “It changed who my friends were,” she said. “They understood when he’s here, I have to spend my time with him, because I don’t get to see him that often.” She said being part of a long distance relationship makes her more conscious about how she spends nights with her friends. “I’m not saying I feel like I’m 40,” she said, “but I do need to consider what he’s going to think. It is a marriage.” For Dehaut, the hardest part of maintaining a long distance relationship has been not being included in his girlfriend’s new experiences. Before college, Dehaut and his girlfriend spent time together every day. They went to the same high school, had the same classes, and saw each other after school. Now, they are each developing a new circle of friends unknown to the other. He tries to close the gap by staying involved in the everyday aspects of his girlfriend’s life. He e-mails and calls every chance he gets, and continues to act as her wake up call even though he is miles away. “I’ve always been her alarm clock,” he said. “It gives us a chance to talk a little before we go to our classes.” Peters, who is working toward her master’s degree in counseling, believes that communication between the two partners is vital to sustaining a long distance relation- The BY CHRISTA SGOBBA Beacon Asst. Lifestyles Editor �LIFESTYLES 10 SEPTEMBER 25, 2007 everyone,s Slogging: BY ANDEE SCARANTINO Beacon Editor-In-Chief In the past, the best way for non-journalists to get the word out about issues that were important to them was through a letter to the editor in a traditional newspaper or magazine. But letters to the editor are nearly always edited for length and sometimes content. These days, though, writers are gravitating to a less mediated means of connecting with others on pet issues and even personal experiences. They are blogging. First off, a “blog” is a fusion of the words “web log,” and can be used as either a noun (which names the actual site or column) or verb (to blog is to write and publish online). Blogging is quickly becoming a vibrant and growing part of media and culture. While not a particularly new thing, blogging is now part of all aspects of the media. For example, editors at newspapers often use blogs as an informal way to communicate about issues, and add a personal note to the paper. The New York Times supports several blogs. A few are opinion. Many are not, but it seems blogs are a bit easier to work through than fiddling through a 20-inch broadsheet. Often, editors also blog to offer a touch of humanity to the voices that speak the stories on each of their pages. Take Michael Lello, editor of The Weekender, for example. According to Lello, The Weekender is launching its new website, and blogging will be a key feature. “We plan to launch the blogs when we launch the new website... Each member of our editorial staff and our marketing associate will have a blog. It’ll be up to each individual how often they’d like to update their blogs... I think it’s also an important tool for us to interact with our readers on a more personal basis -- many blogs are written in the first person. Also, as a weekly paper, a lot of things happen between each issue,” explained Lello. Lello acknowledged that blog readership has increased over the years not only because of the personal voice the blog gives to the writer, but because they contain information that you can’t get in a traditional print format. Also, Lello said that blogs allow for newspapers to publish breaking news a bit faster than on their actual print website. However, he added that this can be dangerous. According to Lello, some publications will print information in blogs that cannot be verified, and then use the fact that it was printed in the blog, and not the paper, as a way to avoid liability. Lello strongly disagrees with this approach taken by some publications. Traditional publications aside, blogs have also emerged as a means of furthering personal growth. Take Donna Talarico, for example. A freelance writer and 2007 Wilkes graduate, Talarico is an avid blogger. She has worked in various areas of the media, from Froggy 101 to a correspondent for the Times Leader and The Weekender, Talarico knows what’s up and has personal blogs she updates regularly. “First, as someone who is trying to make a career out of doin, it! writing, blogging keeps me, well, writing. Even though it is casual and off the top of my head usually, blogging allows me to keep in the writing habit. Also, I guess it is a nice escape from the more structured writing of journalism and the material for my creative writing class,” said Talarico. “Second, I have more casual acquaintances than close friends, so blogging is kind of a way to share myself with more people, keeping them up to speed on my happenings and opinions.” Talarico also says she blogs for PR reasons. She keeps links for two of her books--an Amazon associate account, and a Google Adsense account--in her blog. Talarico acknowledges that she uses her blog to promote, sell, and keep readers up to date on them. There are many options for up and coming bloggers to get their material out there onto the web. Talarico particularly enjoys Blogger.com, which is owned by Google. In addition, there are other blog development sites like Livejournal, Xanga, and even MySpace. Each blog has a different feel and “scene” to it, if you will. Often, more artistic blogs will be displayed in the Xanga realm, whereas Blogger will give you more real faces and personal accounts. There are also sites like Deadjournal. com, but those sites require an invitation from an existing member, or a payment of a small fee. Talarico recommends blogging as a great tool for networking and displaying your writing and ideas. ecial t3 2 Large Piz7.:as Bue et 30 Wmg-iii $.24,.'99 ST DE T Ht)USI G FO ' TH 21st · .ENTURY -_ .eddl2 · rge Pizza + 1 Dozen W'1, igs. . 1: 95 {ib]lil.! ~~ ~t:f :1 ~nday S ttnt W:mg.s wt .a. . :soda: __ td} Jue~ · , . r, ·mcl i;,iD S l 114 ] L~ Piz7..a 6 Wmgs 2 Liter -•·oda ~-7-99 .· a p111n:ha~ of a :5oda Wedlnesday Affy bw- _: e r l ~ ::imdwim . 95 w/ pur~e of :31 :oru11 �SEPTEMBER 25, 2007 LIFESTYLES Student of the week: Courtney Zawatski 11 BY CHRISTINE ZAVASKAS Beacon Asst. Lifestyles Editor Courtney Zawatski, a junior nursing major and Air Force Reserve Officers Training (AFROTC) cadet, had the unique opportunity to spend one month this summer shadowing nurses at the military hospital on Laflin Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. She also spent one day working in the burn unit of Fort Sam Houston, an army base. Zawatski, along with just five other nursing majors from around the country, was able to experience the life of a military nurse firsthand during the month of June. Zawatski recently sat down with The Beacon to discuss the many ways in which she learned and served during her time in Texas, and it is because of this that she has been named “Student of the Week.” Courtney Zawatski, a junior nursing major and Air Force Reserve Officers Training (AFROTC) cadet, had the unique opportunity to spend one month this summer shadowing nurses at the military hospital on Laflin Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. She also spent one day working in the burn unit of Fort Sam Houston, an army base. Zawatski, along with just five other nursing majors from around the country, was able to experience the life of a military nurse firsthand during the month of June. Zawatski recently sat down with The Beacon to discuss the many ways in which she learned and served during her time in Texas, and it is because of this that she has been named “Student of the Week.” The Beacon: What was a typical day like on the air force base? Zawatski: Basically I spent most of my days in the hospital. It was kind of laid back. It was a really nice environment and everybody was really helpful. They were willing to teach us. We got to do a lot of things in the military hospital that I can’t do when I’m on clinical here, like I got to start I.V.s and stuff like that. Sometimes, we’d get up at 4:45 a.m. and then we wouldn’t be done until like, 2 or 3 p.m. Then the rest of the day was ours. We’d have the weekend. That’s when we went and did stuff. The Beacon: What was the best part of this experience? Zawatski: I’d have to say the burn unit and we got to go see the flight school for flight nurses. They took us through the whole thing. That’s what I want to do, so for me that was one of the best parts. The Beacon: What was the hardest part of the experience? Zawatski: Probably the burn unit. The patient I helped take care of was nineteen years old and he had come straight from Iraq. They’re burned so badly. That was kind of hard to be able to see that. But at the same time, you knew you were helping them. That’s why it was one of the best parts, but it was one of the hardest parts, too. The Beacon: What did you learn from being at the base? Zawatski: I guess basically that there are so many different ways that you can help people. I’m looking at the nursing career in general. There’s so much you can do to help others. Also, I met new people. There were six nursing majors all together that went down from different states all over the place. There was one from Colorado, one from Virginia, one from Illinois. They were from all over the place and we all went and did the same thing. It was really nice to meet them. “The patient I helped take care of was nineteen years old and he had come straight from Iraq. They’re burned so badly. That was kind of hard to be able to see that. But at the same time, you knew you were helping them.” The Beacon/Cara Koster The Beacon: How did this experience affect your future plans? Zawatski: I’m so motivated and pumped to just go and do it now, because after doing this for a month I was so excited and so happy that this is what I’m going to be doing after I graduate. So I left really motivated. If you would like to nominate someone for student of the week, please e-mail beacon.lifestyles@ gmail.com. �A&E SEPTEMBER 25, 2007 12 Grapes of Wrath Comedian Q&A Crossword/Website 12 13 13 14 14 15 15 A, Beginner's Guide to [Z ines BY MARISSA PHILLIPS Beacon A&E Editor September will soon draw to a close, and in addition to all of the horror, pumpkins, and candy corn we can anticipate with the new month, there’s also the arrival of the Philly ‘Zine Fest. Readers open to something a little different will be able to find table after table lined with a wide variety of ‘zines to peruse, compare and purchase October 7 at The Rotunda in Philadelphia. But, exactly what is a ‘zine? If you can’t answer that question, you’re not alone. While the definition varies according to the source, generally a ‘zine is an independently produced publication. While not a requirement, they’re usually created and sold inexpensively, have a small circulation, and readers would be hard-pressed to find one sitting on a rack next to Glamouror Newsweek. The question then might be, since ‘zines are more difficult to seek out, why not just settle for the books and magazines you can easily pick up at a chain bookstore? The quick answer is the variety. Readers who think there is already a wide array of magazines readily available can delight in the fact that the sheer volume and variety of ‘zines extends even further. For every topic or you can’t find on the local newsstands, chances are you can find at least one ‘zine on the subject. There are ‘zines ranging from the common (fashion, food, politics), to the controversial (anarchy, sexuality issues, activism), and the bizarre (spoon hatred, zombie punks, tampons). For those who have yet to pick one up, here’s a list that just begins to scratch the surface of what’s available out there. Cometbus Cometbus is indisputably one of the best ‘zines produced. From the 1980s issues, up to the most recent issue this year, the zine created by Aaron Cometbus continues to be an essential read. The ‘zine has multiple things to offer: comical reviews, off-the-wall vignettes, and highly personal letters to the author, but the strongest parts are the personal stories offered by the author and his friends. Most of the stories are written from the viewpoint of an inconsistent, self-effacing cynic, yet Cometbus is uncommonly perceptive, and offers brutally honest insight. While the subjects of the stories really run the gamut (from masquerading as a college student and being mistaken for a convict, to first loves and losing friends) the author pulls off an impressive feat, and somehow manages to make them relatable to any reader. Pick up any issue, and it’s certain to be a quality read. Better yet, pick up a Cometbus Omnibus, which is a collection of the best issues, as decided by Aaron Cometbus himself. The Inner Swine The defining points of this ‘zine are its wit, self-deprecation, and hilarity. The Inner Swine is written primarily by Jeff Somers, and he offers fiction, scathing social commentary, personal accounts, and brutal self-analysis. The visuals in the book basically consist of internet rip-offs and shoddy MS paint projects, but it purposely contrasts with the high quality of the Croq Croq is a craft ‘zine for people who don’t have endless amounts of money for supplies, and haven’t been blessed with the impeccable skills of Martha Stewart. It also tries to bridge the gap between male and female oriented craft magazines (a solid effort, though doesn’t entirely pull it off). Each issue offers a wide variety of content. They’ve offered “How Tos” on cooking, clothes altering, self-publishing, weaving and soap-making, to name a few. They also include beneficial articles on topics like preventing crafter’s block, finding inexpensive materials, converting a hobby into a business, and protecting creative works. It extends beyond hobby craft magazines, and approaches crafting as more of a lifestyle, which is puts a whole new spin on things. Brains Unlike the other ‘zines on the list, Brains consists of one fiction story, continued through each issue. The subject matter may not have universal appeal, but out of the many fiction ‘zines out there, it’s one of the more entertaining, and it’s a quick read. The story is well developed, and mixes humor, horror, subculture references, and irony. Think, a zombie attack happening at a rock venue, and the chaos that would ensue after hoards of spike clad, mohawked teens tear through the town in a search for, well…brains. It’s worth mentioning that the illustrations included are a definite plus. Stolen Sharpie Revolution This is a ‘zine about ‘zines. It may sound a bit redundant but it’s an indispensable tool for anyone looking to create their own ‘zine, or anyone who just wants to better understand ‘zine creation, distribution, and what it is that sets them apart from mainstream publications. It serves as a “how to,” a fact sheet, and it basically functions as the yellow pages of the ‘zine community. It offers websites and addresses of where to get ‘zines and related materials all around the globe. Local Zines Most people likes to read about what they know, or things that directly relate to them. Readers may not have come across them, but there are numerous ‘zines that are created and distributed right in Wilkes-Barre and the surrounding towns. In Scranton there’s The Antenna, which highlights the local art scene and features poetry and personal stories. There’s also Catalyst, which has a few issues that can be found downtown. It’s a more politically motivated ‘zine, which promotes local activism. Stop into Gallery of Sound or Café Metropolis and more likely than not they’ll have one or two stacks of zines made in the area. Readers who have interest in seeing what other titles are out there, or picking some up, some of the more extensive ‘zine selections can be found at www.microcosmpublishing.com, www.eyecandyzine.com, and www.valiantdeath.com. The Beacon/Marissa Phillips Reglar Wiglar A fun alternative to mainstream music magazines, Reglar Wiglar offers loads of interviews, reviews, comic strips, and entertaining randomness in between. The great part about the music reviews is that they go on for pages, but the format periodically changes. In one issue they start off with standard reviews, then switch things up with one-word reviews, haiku reviews (damage has been done/with crunchy, distorted chords/control is not lost), fake celebrity reviews, and a guest reviewer. As for the randomness in between, one issue features an interview of the publisher, by the publisher, and two pages of screenshots of fruitless google searches (for example, “Friends of Snuffalaffagus”). writing, which just makes it all even funnier. The author is unashamedly silly, but offers impressively delivered, intelligent humor. �SEPTEMBER 25, 2007 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 13 ‘Grapes of Wrath’ to recreate struggles of Depression era BY SHANNON CURTIN Beacon Staff Writer The first theatrical performance of the school year probably won’t leave viewers warm and fuzzy--maybe dry and thirsty, but definitely not warm and fuzzy. The Wilkes University department of visual and performance arts is kicking off the 2007-2008 year with the stage adaptation of John Steinbeck’s novel The Grapes of Wrath. The Grapes of Wrath chronicles the plight of thousands of midwestern farmers in the 1930s when a severe drought caused huge agricultural failures throughout the Great Plains. Add to that the immense economic disaster of the Great Depression, which made it impossible for farmers to invest in industrial equipment or pay their mortgages. The result of such converging calamities led to the agricultural population of midwestern America being forced to leave the land. In hopes of finding employment in California, thousands of farmers packed up their families and moved. Unfortunately the farming lands of California didn’t prove to be an improvement for many families. The mass exodus of the dust bowl region caused California to quickly become overcrowded. There wasn’t enough food or jobs to go around and the newcomers were often treated with hostility from the locals. The Grapes of Wrath chronicles one family’s story as its members attempt to survive in the devastating conditions. The upcoming Wilkes production of The Grapes of Wrath will focus on the desperate conditions of the time period, not only in the content of the play, but in the setting and props used as well. The play is intended for a full size stage, but the Wilkes performance will be held in the Black Box Theatre in the Dorothy Dickinson Darte Center, a much smaller venue. Not only does this limit the size of the performance area but it also decreases the space available for backdrops and large props; thus, there won’t be many. Director and Chair of the Visual and Performing Arts Department, Joseph Dawson said that the minimalist approach will “create an atmosphere where the audience fills in the environmental details.” Dawson hopes that the “original concept” of the production will generate a “positive response” from the campus community. Junior Greta Kleckner is also hoping for a good turnout. She’ll be playing the role of Ma Joad, the matriarch and glue of the Joad family, “I hope to bring out Ma’s character traits. She is so passionate about family and so full of love. My biggest challenge will be truly capturing her nature and bringing that to the stage.” Kleckner encourages the campus community to show their support via attendance. “The VPA department at Wilkes works extremely hard to be true to art, and the university as a whole should recognize, appreciate, and enjoy all of the blood, sweat, tears, and laughter that the department puts not only into this production, but every production. It is impossible to have theatre without an audience!” Of course, just because the space and setting is minimal, don’t expect the cast to be tiny. In fact Dawson noted that The Grapes Photo Courtesy of Marketing Communications of Wrath, the only drama of this season, includes “plenty of opportunities for about twenty cast members to play sixty one roles.” Additionally audience members can expect to be treated to what Kleckner deGrapes of Wrath is the tale of midwestern farmers through the scribed as the agricultural failures and the Great Depression of the 1930s. both the best and worst part of the production, the chal- in the Dorothy Dickson Darte Center. Alterlenge of “learning the dialect.” Indeed, nate dates are September 28, 29, October 5, the trials and tribulations of a midwestern and 6 at 8:00 p.m. with afternoon shows on American family could not be complete September 30 and October 7 at 2:00 p.m. without the signature accent of the Dust Tickets are free for students, faculty, and staff with ID, non-Wilkes students and seBowl area. The show will open on Thursday, Septem- nior citizens are $7, and general admission ber 27 at 8:00 p.m. in the Black Box Theater is $15. The Beacon/James Rosato - RE - - HOl,Y : ER HOR. Il ~ AN I CORIA l!VI! · A.. SCHEIN P . 'I B EMEROm Y P IDDrrl . AL, n' Wilkes students rehearse for Grapes of Wrath. The show opens on September 27 at 8:00PM. It will be performed in the Darte Black Box Theater. �ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 14 SEPTEMBER 25, 2007 Comedian reflects on own brand of low-budget humor it and I just haven’t stopped. BY ALISSA LINDNER Beacon Asst. A&E Editor Last week, comedian Michelle Buteau tried to lighten the mood on campus with her own brand of ‘low-budget’ laughs. Buteau began performing in the comedy circuit six years ago, and has been featured on Comedy Central’s “Last Comic Standing,” VH1’s “Best Week Ever” and is currently featured in the October 2007 issue of Glamour magazine. She recently spent time in London and is presently performing on the national college circuit. Following her performance, Buteau sat down for a few questions with The Beacon. The Beacon: How did you get started in comedy? Buteau: I was like the funny friend, like the funny co-worker. I used to write really funny e-mails, people started to forward them to other people. I just basically started because people told me I should. They said, ‘You’re really funny, you should do comedy.’ I used to go to comedy clubs. I noticed there was no women at shows and I was like, ‘Where are all the women?’ So I tried The Beacon: What inspires your comedy? Buteau: People usually. It’s all about interacting with the audience. The Beacon: How would you describe your comedy? Buteau: I would describe my comedy as funny, but if I had to, I’d say ethnic, single girl, city humor. It’s like Sex in the City but low-budget and ethnic. The Beacon: Where is your favorite place to perform? Buteau: I think...Wilkes University. The Beacon: What kind of crowd do you prefer to perform in front of? Buteau: I just like people, usually ones that are alive. I have done shows where there is like over 500 people and it feels like there is 10. So if you have like 20 people it can feel like 100. I have done shows in hospitals, London, Dublin and Jamaica, people who barely speak English, but funny is funny, ya know? It think it’s like music, it’s a trend. . THIS'\ "the ftve percent" "live Acoustic.Mu iciW/ Wednesday~ Sept ember 26th nigbt in our cafe ! 1 •~able mpt"'' every Tlle'&M!f :night · rom 7i!0-8:30pm. ~ for· . dry & Ao(-m11'1ic: · wid Jltomd by )lim'Wamu every .,I.Mt Thesd;q of the montlf ~ g T~day, Sepk tr1ber 25th. from 'i'.00-sS:JOpm '(Movie GMrS Spedd from 6:00pm to close every evening ... pre-sent yom- movie sru.b f rom "'.M!ovicsi 14"' and. gd 25% off ill itemJ .in our S adm ' call. Dom:{ ·folfg« w pic'k wp a .. Fn:::q_umit Ru~r Cw"'wdar- .· 1iiii\: ~ tu me your The Beacon: Have you ever Beacon/Cara James Rosato performed in front of a crowd you knew would be very hostile? Buteau describes her comedy as “ethnic, single Buteau: You never know be- girl, city humor.” cause comedy is so hit or miss, you Buteau’s untitled CD will be available on Photo can courtesy Cathy Alaimo know what I mean? People not like you October 1. The CD can be found on CDfor any reason. It could be because they Baby.com, her MySpace page and her webdon’t like your shoes, your look, that you’re page. a female, that you’re not a female anything. Buteau often performs with fellow coI try and change people’s minds. median Eric Andre, also known as the Caveman in the Geico commercials. The The Beacon: What do you do to prepare Programming Board has booked Andre at for a comedy performance? Wilkes for October 22 at 9:00 p.m. in the Buteau: How do I prepare? I don’t really. old bookstore on the first floor of the Henry I just do it. The more shows the better. Student Center. Schedule of Events . AT YOUR •UO · ·. M 'C · . 6 - The Beacon: In your performance you mentioned attending college. Where and what did you study? Buteau: I went to Florida International University. I studied TV production and I minored in business advertising. I used to be an editor and I can make really cute flyers. That’s what a degree gets you. FLEX :DOI.LARS m The -- here in. ,u m stuff.! · i Beacon/Nick Zmijewski Tuesday, September 25 Open Mic Night at Mainstreet Barnes and Noble at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, September 26 - So You Think You Can Dance tour at the Wachovia Arena at 8 p.m. - Film: Evening at the Kirby Center at 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. - Go Go Gadjet performing at The Woodlands at 11 p.m. Thursday, September 27 - Marc Ford Band performing at the Jazz Cafe - “The Grapes of Wrath” theater production in the Black Box Theater at 8 pm - Go Go Gadjet performing at Slainte - Dance Gavin Dance, To Outlive the Beginning, Auxilia and Mayella performing at Café Metropolis at 7 p.m. Friday, September 28 -Billy Hector performing at the Jazz Café - The Northeaster PA Philharmonic performing at the Kirby Center 8 p.m. - “The Grapes of Wrath” theater production in the Black Box Theater at 8 pm - Lipservice performingn at the Woodlands at 10 p.m. - The Number Twelve Looks Like You, See You Next Thursday, At the Throne of Judgement and I Hate Sally performing at Backstage at 8 p.m. Saturday, September 29 -”The Grapes of Wrath” theater production in the Black Box Theater at 8 pm -Mayella, Trophy of Your Anatomy, Aesthetic, Murf and the Maggots and Monu mental Slaughter performing at Backstage at 7 p.m. - Lip Service performing at the Woodlands at 10 p.m. Sunday, September 30 -”The Art of Shredding” guitar clinic with Bill Hoffman at Backstage at 3 p.m. -Trophy Scars, The Finals and TBA performing at Backstage at 6 p.m. Goodbye Soundscape, Dino-sores and 7 Story Farewell performing at Café Me tropolis at 7 p.m. �Kudracross SEPTEMBER 25, 2007 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 21 23 25 27 28 29 31 32 33 34 35 36 40 42 48 49 50 51 55 56 “Happily _____ after” Done to show reverence Allen Ginsberg, for example New Jersey basketball team DOWN Edgy “Men in Black” cat CPA’s sign What bullies do “Sleepless in Seattle” actress ____ Ryan Church symbol Monopoly piece Poisonous Pennsylvania snake Eyeglasses type Acknowledge boldly “All ___ Need is Love” “____ City,” starring Bruce Willis Abnormal possessive pronoun Bonnet, for example Bean type Fragrant conifer Exhaust Sacred song Handwriting What you do to plates Fleur-de-_____ Music exercise Maliciously start a fire Forever Tail motion Cooking activity Walk casually Neckwear Fishing devise Eden, for example Charming Eight singers 57 58 59 60 62 63 64 66 Approaches Child sound on a swing Type of list Part of a shoe Squid defense Wear Madison or Lexington (abbr.) Garfield to Jon Arbuckle DontDateHimGirl.com BY ANDEE SCARANTINO Beacon Editor-in-chief Well, this week’s site got off to an odd start. As soon as I tried to log in (after the confirmation e-mail went to The Beacon’s spam folder,) my Trend Micro Internet Security gave me the ever so pleasant pop-up, “You have attempted to open a dangerous Web site.” Great. What was even better was that I got the pop-up approximately 60 times throughout my browsing of the site. This didn’t bode well in terms of my final verdict. It also listed the site as “Spyware,” and it made me regret I used my PC to view it. Moving on, DontDateHimGirl.com claims it is a “social networking site where women from around the world can share their dating experiences with each other.” That is listed under the “About Us” section of the site, but it took me about three full minutes to get that info into this paragraph, as I was interrupted six times; three times for a Wal-Mart ad with annoying music, and three additional times for an E-Harmony ad. Wow. E-Harmony. That is only furthering the advancement of blue-collar couples and poverty across the nation. (I may review it in upcoming weeks.) I’m so glad I know the demographic that utilizes this site. While I browsed through the tabs, with the Spyware warnings, EHarmony ads, and various other distractions worked their way in front of my mouse, I discovered that there was really nothing to this site. They have a section called “He said, she said” which is apparently a forum where people can have it out, so to speak. It only had two little blurbs from an alleged ex couple, and a way to vote for whom the user thinks is “right.” Now, here’s another thing: their search engine. I tried typing in names, and apparently, real people and real names came up. Check this one out. I won’t list the full name because I understand the meaning of libel. *** Billy He threw his wife and kids out to the curb and lied Courtesy Lackawanna County Library System BY CHRISTOPHER KUDRAK Beacon Staff Writer ACROSS 1 Burial chamber 5 Random folder abbr. 9 “Why, because I _______”. 14 Port in NW Pennsylvania 15 Reflected sound 16 Keep away from 17 Pinta companion 18 Sticky wet viscous substance 19 Located 20 Civil war side 22 Pugsley to Fester (Adams Family) 24 Follows 26 Chew and swallow 27 “Tin ___,” starring Kevin Costner 30 Without belongings 34 “___ Antonio, TX” 37 Slang OK 38 Concept 39 Eaten when proven wrong 41 Adds to the pot 43 First king of Israel 44 Away from shore 45 Castle defense 46 Tach readout 47 Resilient 52 Discontinue 53 Tenth anniversary symbol 54 Explanation 58 Takes away by force 61 Armistice 62 Boise location 65 Basketball goal 67 Android officer on the Enterprise 68 1984, for example 69 Not active 70 71 72 73 Answers 9/18 15 compulsively about why. Well he got caught! He’s a homewrecker,COMPULSIVE liar, thief (stole my narcotic prescriptions) and an adulterer! He abondoned his family and left us homeless to have an affair and not feel guilty about it. His beautiful 5 yr old daughter and 3yr old son..... kicked them to the curb...left us with NOTHING~ Beware, he is a good liar...COMPULSIVE liar! (Reviewer’s Note: I left all spelling in tact.) *** OK, I can see girls who have not yet turned into women finding this a great novelty, but that’s <i>libel</i> any way you look at it. I hate to abandon the feminist that I deny I am, but men, you should go to the site, look yourself up, and sue them for defamation of character. Make sure you have great anti-virus protection, and a tolerance for E-Harmony ads. This site is terrible. I give this site an “L” for LAWSUIT. �16 SPORTS Aces High SEPTEMBER 25, 2007 Lady Colonels looks to mimic last year’s performance v. Kings BY CARLTON HOLMES Beacon Sports Editor It was September 12, 2006, and Katie Buckley was on the road for the Lady Colonels as the sixth and final player for the team to step onto the court in single match play. As they do before every game in an attempt to inspire their daughter, Buckley’s parents said, “Go get ‘em.” For an amateur tennis player, Buckley needed every ounce of encouragement she could get. Once she stepped on the court, that dreadful feeling of nervousness took over. It was just the second conference match in her freshman campaign and Katie Buckley was next up to play in one of the biggest matches of the season for the Lady Colonels tennis team. Standing on the other side of the net ready to squash the little freshman was King’s College four-year veteran Jaclyn Dunn. Prior to facing Buckley, Dunn had already cooked three of her first four opponents and was hungry to eat another, especially a newcomer to the Lady Colonels roster. Buckley, timid as she is before every match, would strike first, and as a result, the butterflies in her stomach eventually flew away. It wasn’t easy, but the first set would go in favor of Buckley by a score of 6-4. At this point, Buckley was in the driver’s seat and all she needed was to win one more set to pull away from King’s soil with an upset under her belt. The next set wasn’t even close. In only her fourth match as a Lady Colonel, Buckley spanked Dunn in the second set 6-2 and that was all she wrote. “It (winning) was a good feeling because I know it’s a rivalry,” said Buckley. “The whole team was happy since we won and I and two in the doubles competition leaving the final score at 6-3. Buckley and freshman Victoria Bybel won singles matches for the Lady Colonels. “We’ve beaten Division II schools before, but we know Bloomsburg is the top one in this whole region,” said Leicht. “We knew that would be a step up in competition. But it definitely helps with (other) competition to know that we could compete with that team.” The following game for the Lady Colonels would prove Leicht right when it comes to playing higher divisions to gain the upper hand against competition around Division III. The Lady Colonels matched-up against FDU-Florham Park on the road on Sept. 15 in Madison, NJ. This would be the first conference game of the season and the Lady Colonels went to town on the Lady Devils. None of the matches were forced into a third set. The Lady Colonels shut-out FDU in seven of the 12 sets to move to a record of 3-1. “It’s nice to win 9-0 when everybody contributes to the team win,” said Leicht. “It definitely gives us confidence. We’re strong but it’s still nice to get those kind of wins where not only the teams wins but when every individual part wins.” After clipping the Lady Monarchs last season in all nine games, the Lady Colonels will look to repeat that effort. But even though a whole season of tennis with the Lady Colonels is in the bag for Buckley, she still can’t shake the butterflies. “I still feel the pressure, but it goes away once I start playing. Once I feel the person out and how they play, then I feel better about myself,” said Buckley. Maybe the butterflies in her belly will prove to be positive once again for Buckley and the Lady Colonels as they go for their third consecutive victory against the Lady Monarchs at home tomorrow at 3:30pm. how we played.” doesn’t say much about it.” “I’m not remotely concerned with the Sumoski went on to make a goalie change The Lady Colonels played brilliant socafter 24 minutes into the game substituting cer after they weathered Clark’s storm, but loss, because we’re playing against regionBerkey for senior goalie Liz Pauly. Pauly needed to hold her to one less goal to poten- ally and nationally ranked teams that are caught four saves in 66:38 of play to hold tially force an overtime game; maybe even getting us ready for conference play,” added Sumoski. Stevens scoreless for the remainder of the another win. contest. After 35 minutes into the first half, senior Bethany Head scored the first goal of the game for the Lady Colonels off “I’m not remotely concerned with the loss, because we’re playing a pass from Georgina Robinson. Robin- against regionally and nationally ranked teams that are getting us son followed with a goal of her own at ready for conference play.” the 67:04 mark to close the Lady Colonels losing gap to just one goal. “We played our hearts out in that In the first round of the 2005 national game,” said Robinson. “We lost 3-2 but “One positive way of looking at it is that they scored all their goals in the beginning we had a lot of good soccer that game,” said playoffs, the Lady Colonels played on the and they were all on free kicks for them. We Sumoski. “We had 60 to 70 minutes of real- road against Stevens and lost 5-0 after beatplayed very well that game but the score ly good soccer that I was very pleased with ing Drew University (NJ) 1-0 in the MAC Freedom Conference Championship. Last year Wilkes played Stevens for a second time and lost at home 1-0. Robinson, senior forward from Kreamer, PA, tops the Lady Colonels in scoring with two goals on the season after improving multiple aspects of her game during the offseason. Julissa Reed, Melissa Polchinski and Bethany Head combine for the rest of the team’s goals with one apiece. The Lady Colonels take on Eastern University (PA)at home Wednesday at 4pm. Conference play begins for the Lady Colonels Saturday October 6 at home against FDU-Florham (NJ) at 4 pm. Soccer from PAGE 20 felt really good that I could contribute with a win and keep going from there.” Buckley wrapped up last year with an impressive record of 10-3. Last season, it took the Lady Colonels two hours and 35 minutes to complete a nine match sweep over King’s. Wilkes defeated the Lady Monarchs in all six singles games and won all three matches in the doubles competitions. That win put the Lady Colonels at 4-0 and King’s dropped to 1-3. Fast forward a year and two weeks from the day the Lady Colonels faced King’s College last season. They meet again tomorrow at Ralston Field. After being crowned MAC Freedom Conference champions last season with an 18-2 record, the Lady Colonels are currently 4-1 overall, most recently beating DeSales University on September 20. Wilkes has a 1-0 conference record start under the leadership of back-to-back Freedom Conference Coach of the Year Chris Leicht. If you were to ask the humble coach about his outstanding awards, he’ll tell you, “No comment; it’s about the girls.” Last season, Leicht led the Lady Colonels to a record breaking season in the win category with 18 and took the team to their first NCAA D3 national tournament bid before falling in the opening round to Hunter College (NY)in Amherst, MA. Five team competitions have been played and the Lady Colonels have fallen short only once to Bloomsburg University, a Division II program that was nationally ranked last year. The Lady Colonels went on the road to face Bloomsburg on Sept. 13, Leicht’s alma mater, and lost four of the six single matches The Beacon/James Rosato The Lady Colonels are currently 5-1 after beating Lebanon Valley 7-2 on Thursday in Annville, PA. �SPORTS SEPTEMBER 25, 2007 Men’s Soccer 17 from PAGE 20 One of the major problems for the Colonels has been consistent aggression in the first half on shot attempts. Prior to their game on Saturday against Elizabethtown College (PA), the Colonels racked up 39 goal attempts in the first half compared to 58 in the second. Team co-captain Andy Curry leads the team this season in goals with three. The Colonels squared off against Elizabethtown at home. Both teams showed their stingy side on defense in a game with only one goal scored. Luckily for the Colonels, it belonged to them. The sophomore from Mountaintop (PA), Arthur Jankowski would boot one in from 35 yards out after a whole 77 minutes was played. The Colonels had enough of being shut-out and dished out one of their own moving them to a record of 4-4. Senior goalkeeper TJ Baloga had four saves on the day as Elizabethtown dropped to 5-2. The Colonels take on Baptist Bible at home on Thursday at 4 p.m. as they continue their quest to make a dream out of a young team. “Our goal is definitely the Freedom Con- ference playoffs and to capture that”, said Wingert. “I don’t think we’re a nationally ranked caliber team but all you got to do is win your conference to make the NCAA (tournament). No soccer team at Wilkes has been able to do that in the past. It may be a young team but we would certainly have reached our identity as a NCAA team.” Who’s Next? * 9/ 27 vs. Baptist Bible *10/1 @ Lycoming *10/3 @ Rowan *10/6 vs. FDU *10/10 vs. DeSales *10/13 @ DelVal *10/16 vs. King’s *10/22 vs. Scranton The Beacon/Gino Troiani Wilkes senior Jimmy Thomas slides for the ball against Elizabethtown on Saturday, September 22. Wilkes defeated Elizabethtown 1-0. CHE.C K OUT Qu1znos~ DASTY. M M ■■ I■ 72 South .· -, ain St. Wilkes-Barr _·. or _ - onday-Thursday 10- lH- - Dil . iday - · Sa rday 1.0anI-lOpm. S . nd yl2•Dt1-Gp1a (570) 208-SUBS OUR FEATURED s ·_: B �SEPTEMBER 25, 2007 SPORTS 18 Commentary National League MVP to be decided in final week of season National League East Rivals among the players in the hunt BY TIM SEIGFRIED Beacon Asst. Sports Editor This season, the National League MVP race might literally come down to the wire. With less than a week left to play in the regular season, there are four legitimate candidates, all of whom are on teams that have a shot at the playoffs. The New York Mets’ stranglehold on the NL East has loosened, allowing the resilient Philadelphia Phillies to sneak in, while they simultaneously keep pace in the Wild Card race. They trail the San Diego Padres, who have a tough remaining schedule, including games with the Colorado Rockies, as well as the Milwaukee Brewers, who are vying with the Chicago Cubs for the NL Central crown. Among the MVP contenders is Jimmy Rollins, the veteran shortstop on the Philadelphia Phillies, whose leadership on the team outweighs his statistics. During spring training, Rollins made a bold statement and said that the Phillies were the team to beat in the NL East, a statement that didn’t go unnoticed in New York when fans showered Rollins with boos and catcalls when the Phillies made their first trip north for the season. Despite their 4-11 start, Rollins stood by his statement, and similarly showed it on the field, helping the Phillies regain their footing after a horrible start. It also didn’t hurt that he was putting up the best numbers of his career, either. Rollins, who has never been known for his power, had a breakout season last year in which he hit 25 homeruns, 11 more than his previous career high. This season is proving not to be a fluke, as he has 29 homers and 90 RBI, while having 202 hits and scoring 132 runs, all career highs. In spite of those numbers, Rollins has done more for the team than hit. In a season that saw the Phillies lose last years MVP Ryan Howard, All-Star second baseman Chase Utley and speedy Shane Victorino for long MVP, as he is leading the Mets in batting average (.320), and has been steady throughout the season, when teammates like Jose Reyes and Carlos Delgado have gone through slumps. To be sure, Wright is a huge part of the Mets’ success this season, and will certainly be in the MVP talks in the future. Joining the ranks of the MLB youth movement is Prince Fielder, the 23-year old power hitting first baseman for the Milwaukee Brewers. Fielder, in his second full season, is following in the footsteps of his father, Cecil, a tremendous power hitter in his own right. Prince Fielder is leading the NL in homeruns with in impressive 47, is leading the Brewers in RBI (112), and he is quickly turning into one of the best power threats in the National League, which no doubt has helped Photo courtesy reid.mlblogs.com Milwaukee sit atop Jimmy Rollins looks to win his first MVP award. the NL Central for stretches of time, Rollins has proved to be most of the season. the constant, playing in every game this Typically, there is one player each season season and being the unspoken leader of the that sneaks in the back door when no one is club. looking and very quietly turns into one of In addition to his offense, Rollins is also the best players in the league. having a great defensive season, and is a This season, that player is Matt Hollivery likely candidate to win his first Gold day, the left fielder for the Colorado RockGlove award. ies. Holliday, who has always been a good Rollins isn’t alone in his division, how- player, has gone unnoticed while playing in ever, as rival New York Mets third baseman Colorado, but is having a season that could David Wright is making his own strong case very well put his team in the playoffs. for the coveted title. Despite the Rockies having more than a Wright, in his third full season is proving four game deficit in the NL West, Holliday to be a leader both on and off the field for is leading the charge toward the postseason the New York Mets, as he is one of the best by leading his team in average (.337), home young players in the game. runs (36), and leading the league in RBIs He recently hit a milestone in his young (131). career by having both 30 homeruns and 30 Four candidates, four teams with a shot at steals in one season, joining the ranks of the post-season, and only one MVP award Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, and Alex Rodri- up for grabs. guez. It’s going to be a wild week. Wright is certainly making his case for STATISTICS Thru 9/22 Jimmy Rollins, SS Philadelphia Phillies Average: .294 HR: 29 RBI: 90 David Wright, 3B New York Mets Average: .320 HR: 30 RBI: 104 Matt Holliday, LF Colorado Rockies Average: .337 HR: 36 RBI: 131 Prince Fielder, 1B Milwaukee Brewers Average: .288 HR: 47 RBI: 112 AL Batting Title Race: 1.C. Jones(ATL), .341 2. M. Holliday(COL), .337 3. C. Utley(PHI), .335 4. Edgar Renteria(ATL), .333 5. H. Ramirez(FLA), .333 6. D. Young(WAS), .323 7. M. Cabrera(FLA), .323 8. Albert Pujols(STL), .322 9. D. Wright(NYM), .320 10. D. Lee(CHC), .317 �SEPTEMBER 25, 2007 Athlete of the Week: Sean Vona SPORTS dously in his role with the team from his freshman year to this season., and we look When a team graduates a great deal of tal- to he and our other younger players to conent and leadership, many younger players tinue to play a large role in leading us in the are often looked upon to step up their roles right direction.” While the colonels started the year with to help bridge the gap. For the Wilkes uni3 straight losses, they subsequently turned versity men’s soccer program, sophomore things around with a three-game win streak midfielder and pre pharmacy major Sean that has Vona has exempligiven them fied that philosotremendous phy as a young but momenpromising Wilkes tum. “The squad continues to first goal establish it’s idenwe scored tity in the early part against Miof this season. sericordia, A native of Vestal, in the first NY, Vona is part of game of that a young, talented streak, has group of midfieldreally proers that looks to pelled us” control possession Vona said of of the ball and set the team’s up the Colonels recent sucoffense for mulcesses. tiple scoring op“That game portunities. While he Photo courtesy prosportsofficialteamsites.com gave us trehas already tallied one goal on mendous confi dence that we get quality the season, Vona is quick to put his role in perspective and credit his teammates with opportunities to score more goals than we stepping up their games to contribute to the had been getting.” With several more qualColonels recent three-game win streak. “As ity opponents on the upcoming schedule, a center midfielder, my main objective is to Vona and the colonels will be looking to get the ball and help get our offense in gear keep things rolling into the MAC freedom to score. We have multiple playmakers on conference portion of the schedule. Congratulations to Sean Vona on being this team, and when we are all clicking our named this week’s athlete of the week! potential is tremendous.” 19 BY GERARD HETMAN Beacon Staff Writer Head Coach Phil Wingert, who has just three seniors and no juniors on his roster for this season, has looked for Vona and his younger teammates to shoulder a heavier amount of responsibility than would normally be asked of a first or second-year player. “Sean has done a great job for us, both on the field and in the classroom.” Wingert said recently. “He’s grown tremen- 16 Number of aces by the Wilkes University volleyball team in a 3 set win over Manhattanville on Tuesday, September 18. The Beacon/Gino Troiani Wilkes sophomore, Sean Vona, has emerged as a leader on the men’s soccer team. Vona, a midfielder, was pivotal in helping the Colonels turn their season around with a three game winning streak. Congratulations on being named Athlete of the Week! WEEKLY RECAPS Men’s Soccer Dickinson College remained unbeaten and posted its sixth straight shutout win with a 5-0 victory over Wilkes University in a non-conference match on Wednesday afternoon. The victory improved the Red Devils to 7-0, while the Colonels saw their three-match winning streak come to an end and fell to 3-4. Women’s Volleyball The Wilkes University volleyball team copped their first Freedom Conference win of the season by scoring a 30-10, 30-11, 30-16 win at Manhattanville College on Tuesday night. The Lady Colonels improved to 6-7 overall and evened their conference mark at 1-1. Manhattanville fell to 1-7 overall and 0-1 in conference play. Women’s Soccer Stevens Institute of Technology raced out to a 3-0 lead less than 20 minutes into the match and then withstood a Wilkes University rally to earn a 3-2 non-conference women’s soccer win on Tuesday night. The Ducks ran their overall record to 5-1-1 with the win, while the Lady Colonels saw their overall mark fall to 3-4. NUMBERS OF THE WEEK 1 Number of goals that Wilkes Sophomore Arthur Jankowski scored en route to a 1-0 victory over Elizabethtown on September 22. 2 Number of goals scored by Wilkes junior Devon McKay to lead the field hockey team to a 4-0 win over Marywood on September 20. 5 Number of goals scored by the Wilkes field hockey team in a 5-2 victory over Cabrini College on September 22. �Sports SEPTEMBER 25, 20 Young Colonels soccer team surges with senior leadership In the midst of 23 soccer players kicking balls around during last Friday’s practice just over the Market Street bridge at Ralston Field is a hardworking veteran that has quickly claimed his part of the spotlight. Jimmy Thomas, senior from Myerstown (PA), stood in one of the two lines during a soccer drill in which the objective was to sneak a goal in past the team’s goalie T.J. Baloga. Thomas waited patiently in line to get his turn from the right side as the scorching postnoon sun beat down onto the red hairs of his flamboyant goatee. He watched as a few of his teammates missed. Then it was Thomas’s turn to kick. Thomas passed the ball to his partner in the drill. His teammate returned it to him placing a soft pass to allow Thomas to kick one past the goalie. He made contact and Baloga couldn’t stop the ball from reaching the net. The drill came to an end and one of the players screamed in response to the goal as he ran back to the huddle “All right J-Bomb”, short for Jimmy Thomas. If you ever wondered if an athlete’s practice effort is demonstrated on the field during a game, it is, especially for “J-Bomb.” On September 8, the Colonels hopped on the bus to go on the road to face Misericordia University in front of an estimated 200 fans for their fourth game of the season. The first three opponents of the season were Montclair State University (NJ), William Paterson University (NJ) and Muhlenberg College (PA), and each team shut the Colonels out combining for a She is a 5’11 junior from George Bush’s old stomping grounds, and unfortunately for the Lady Colonels soccer team in the first 20 minutes of the game, the addage that ‘everything from Texas is big’ held true and they couldn’t stop her from scoring goals. On September 18 the Lady Colonels traveled to Hoboken, NJ, to face Audra Clark and the Stevens Institute of Technology, the team with the longest winning-streak at home in the country. Clark, a native of Dallas/Texas, has been blessed with a mountainous figure that stands out like colossal obstruction on the soccer field. The Lady Colonels felt every inch of this beast’s head. The reasons that the panel of judges from the Skyline Conference chose Clark to be part of the first all-conference team during her freshman and sophomore year, showed in just 02:18 of the game when she scored the first goal of the game off an assist by teammate Sara Roeder. Only a dozen minutes later, the enormous woman bolted down field as teammate Salme Cook dropped off a pass to her. Clark picked up the pass off her head for another goal to put the game at 2-0 in only 14:17 of the first half. For the Lady Colonels, who only scored one goal in each of their three wins before playing Stevens, down by two in the first 15 minutes, it began to look as if like the fat lady was getting ready to sing early in this one. But not before Clark blasted in one more. Before smokers could even put down their cigarettes, Clark would score again four minutes later from her second goal leaving her with three goals in the first 18:57 of the game. At this point, head coach John Sumoski could attribute Clark’s goals to a couple key things. “It kind of felt like marking tightly in the box is one of our downfalls so we can’t give up too many corners,” said Sumoski. “Our keepers need to improve at getting off their line punching and catching balls.” total of seven goals. After leaving all three games without putting goals on the board, senior Andy Curry managed to score the first goal of the season before halftime against Misericodia but the Colonels still trailed 2-1 leaving sour thoughts in their minds. “I was frustrated,” said Thomas. “I was scared, man.” Nine minutes after returning to the field for the second half sophomore Bret Osswald scored for the Colonels to tie the game at two goals apiece. A tie in this game wouldn’t help the Colonels in the win department after losing the first three games. They were in desperate need of another goal to give them their first win of the season and that opened the floor for someone to steal the spotlight for the Colonels. The goal would come at the 77:00 mark similar to the one scored by Thomas in practice. But this time, it was from the left side. “I looked up. Greg Miller gave me an amazing ball off a corner kick, after he had an amazing cross,” said Thomas. “The ball came right across the net right to my head and I literally had to take two steps (to score the goal).” That game-winning goal gave the Colonels their first win this season and would drive the team to a three-game win streak after beating Widener (PA) and Moravian (PA). “For the first time, everything we worked on in practice came to motion and it just clicked,” said Thomas. The leadership of this year’s young Colonels soccer team is in the hands of head coach Wingert, now in his 26th year. In the past 17 of those years, Wingert has taken 11 different Wilkes teams to the postseason. He has a 237-201-36 career record which leads the history of the Wilkes soccer program and looks to continue, developing on this year’s unique bunch of Colonels. “This team is so young that it’s just trying to find it’s identity,” said Wingert. “The seniors have been a good group, but it’s a small group so it’s almost impossible to compare this team with other ones just because it is such a young team. It’s talented, but it’s young.” See Young on PAGE 17 Women’s soccer makes positive out of Stevens loss The 5’2 junior goalkeeper from Johnstown/PA, Jessica Berkey, tried to protect the net to limit Stevens’s chances at beating the Lady Colonels for a third consecutive time but to no avail. After Clark’s final of her three-goal stretch, the Lady Colonels would go on to shut out the 15th ranked team in the nation for the rest of the game before dropping to a 3-4 record. Stevens improved to a record of 5-1-1. “Two years ago when we got beat up there pretty good 5-0 the same thing happened. We just got shelled early,” said Sumoski. “The difference between this team and that team is, this team is capable of fighting back a little better and that’s what we did.” See Soccer on PAGE 16 The Beacon/Gino Troiani Wilkes sophomore Ashley Deemie goes for the ball during the 2-0 loss to NYU on Sunday. The Lady Colonels saw their record fall to 3-5. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon Newspaper Collection, 1947-present Description An account of the resource <p>This is Wilkes University's <em>Beacon</em> Newspaper collection, 1947-present. We also have digitized copies of the <em>Beacon's</em> predecessors, <em>The Bucknell Bison Stampede</em>, 1934-1935 and <em>The Bucknell Beacon</em>, 1936-1947 June. It should be noted that Wilkes University does not have a complete set of issues for the Bucknell Bison Stampede and Bucknell Beacon. For researchers who are interested in seeing the complete issues for these publications, please contact <a href="https://researchbysubject.bucknell.edu/scua">Bucknell University's Special Collections Department</a>.</p> <p></p> <p>Missing Issues:</p> <p>1947 August 8th<br />1947 September 5th<br />1947 October 3rd<br />1947 October 17th<br />1947 October 31st<br />1947 November 21st<br />1947 December 19th<br />1948 September 9th<br />1950 April 28th<br />1953 April 10th<br />1962 February 2nd</p> Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Beacon staff is comprised of Wilkes University students who are advised by a full-time faculty member of the Communication Studies Department. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1934-present Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright of the Wilkes Beacons is retained by Wilkes University. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Professor Emeritus Harold Cox digitized the collection from 1934-1970 and created a <a href="https://beaconarchives2.wilkes.edu/">legacy website</a>. Digital Archives student John Jenkins digitized the collection from 1970-present. Special thanks goes to Communication Studies Professor Dr. Kalen Churcher, Editor-in-Chief Kirsten Peters, Beacon staff member, Emily Cherkauskas, and other Beacon staff for their help in acquiring digitized copies of the Beacons from 2006 onward. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon 2007 September 25th Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2007 September 25 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Communication Studies Department Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Wilkes University https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/865f2882f350acb4785f51408c1ad847.pdf 05b2223d870f9b92b9907573e7c54a24 PDF Text Text Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA The THE NEWS OF TODAY REPORTED BY THE JOURNALISTS OF TOMORROW www.wilkesbeacon.com SEPTEMBER 18, 2007 In This Issue... Clothin_J Cfosef Volume 60 Issue 2 Two accused of furnishing alcohol to minors Senior class president and roommate to face charges BY ANDREW SEAMAN Beacon News Editor Page 9 Convenient Stores Page 7 Too Bad It's Page 13 Inside News................................1-5 Opinion.............................6-8 Lifestyles.........................9-11 Arts & Entertainment....12-15 Sports...........................16-20 According to a Wilkes-Barre police report, on Friday, September 7, Kevin J. Homa and Blaine P. Madara Jr. were accused of holding a party at their off campus apartment at 110 West Ross Street, where they allegedly charged $5 per person in attendance, and served alcohol to underage students. A representative of the underage drinking deterrence patrol said that many of the people attending were under the age of 21, the legal drinking age in Pennsylvania. Madara is Student Government (SG) senior class president. “There was a situation,” he acknowledged, “And when we asked what we were being cited for, they wouldn’t tell us.” Madara also commented on an article that appeared the next day in a local newspaper, “That article is not 100% accurate,” he said. Homa, also a senior, said he did not want to comment any further on the situation. There is no word yet if there will be any action taken against Madara in SG or if he will retain his seat. Matt Brown, SG President commented, “As everyone knows, the president does not have a vote on these matters. I do believe Blaine is an incredible SG member, whose positive actions far outweigh MADARA The Beacon/Gino Beacon/CaraTroiani Koster The his negatives, and that includes this Courtesy Marketing Comm See FURNISH page 4 past weekend’s incident.” 110 W. Ross St. was the scene of a party where underaged students were charged $5 for admission. Several Wilkes students were cited. Freshmen among 38 cited at Ross St. party BY NICOLE FRAIL Beacon Asst. News Editor The Wilkes-Barre Police Department’s Underage Drinking Deterrence Patrol broke up a party at 110 West Ross Street, Friday, September 7. Alcohol was indeed present at the party and of the 38 students cited for underage drinking that night, the majority of the group were Wilkes students. Michelle Taylor, a freshmen nursing student, was at the party. “My original plan for that night was to just stay in someone’s room and play Guitar Hero, but then we decided to go out. When we were going to the party I figured I’d stay for a little while then head back to my building. I also figured it was a good way to meet people,” she explained. As the night went on, the number of people in attendance grew as well as did the noise level. When the police showed up around 11:00 p.m., Taylor was startled. “To be honest, I didn’t even realize how many people were there because there were so many different rooms that I didn’t even know where they were…” she said. “When I realized what was happening it was too late for me to try and get out. The police came in and it immediately got quiet.” Freshman Alyssa Andruscavage and roommate Elaine Gennaria admityed to also being taken by surprise. “Well I didn’t know what was actually going on until I got shoved into a bedroom when I was waiting in line to use the bathroom,” Andruscavage, who is majoring in elementary education, said. Though she and Gennaria were caught off guard, neither of them were worried about getting into trouble. Both thought that they would be fine since neither of them claimed to have been drinking even though Andruscavage estimated that 85-90% of the people at the party were consuming alcohol. According to both the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania law and Wilkes University reg- ulations, just being at the party is enough for Gennaria, Andruscavage, and Taylor to receive citations from the city of Wilkes-Barre. “What upsets me the most about what happened was that I got in trouble not because I was or wasn’t drinking, but because I was there. I think the whole guilty by association law is unfair,” Taylor said. Gennaria and Andruscavage agreed. “All you have to do is be accessible to the alcohol and you can be charged with what is called constructive possession,” Gerald Rebo, Manager of Public Safety stressed. “If you’re in an uncontrolled environment where alcohol is being furnished to minors or is made available to minors, you can be cited,” Chris Bailey, Director of Campus Support Services said. “Individually they may have not been doing anything wrong by being at the party, but they are still guilty by association… See PARTY page 4 �NEWS SEPTEMBER 18, 2007 2 New Faces SG Notes Wilkes Goes Green 3 4 5 Capital projects team leads effort to enhance campus BY CANDICE HALLIDAY Beacon Staff Writer The walls in some classrooms are much brighter and the grass is a little greener thanks to the efforts of the capital projects team this summer. While many were on vacation, the capital projects team, which consists of Wilkes facilities managers and specialist, was working hard to complete various projects on campus. The first and most difficult project was the renovation of Chesapeake and Delaware halls. These two buildings that used to look old, rickety, and out of place now stand as two of Wilkes most beautiful dormitories. Paul Kaspriskie, capital projects team manager, explained several of the changes that took place in these buildings. He said, “It was gutted from the inside out.” This project involved adding a three story addition, which increased the building’s occupancy level from 45 to 65. In addition, capital projects team members reconstructed all of the buildings’ electrical and plumbing systems. New carpets, windows, and furniture were also installed. Students can also enjoy the comfort of new heating and air conditioning systems. “The scope of the project was starting from scratch. Although it ate up a lot of time, it was needed and is something the University can be proud of,” said Kapriskie In addition to Chesapeake and Delaware, another project that took place this summer was the update and repair of Stark Learning Center. Kaspriskie explained, “The building got run down and with the anticipation of a new science building it is important to maintain what we have.” The team performed repairs to the exterior of the building including painting and sealing windows. Renovations also took place on the inside of the building. The lobby area was refurbished with couches and a new public computer station and all of the hallways and stairwells were painted. The team opted for a brighter white as opposed to the traditional off white in attempt to liven things up. Tile flooring was placed in some if the chemistry and biology classrooms. Four heavily used doors near the elevator in Stark were also replaced. In addition to several cosmetic repairs, the campus also underwent a series of technological updates. Kaspriskie explained that 18 classrooms received new IT equipment. These took place in buildings throughout campus including Stark, Breiseth, Capin, Dorthy Dickson Darte Center, Kirby, and the Marts Center -- all of which offer ‘smart classrooms’ with enhanced technological capability. These classrooms also received new audio visual equipment. The University Towers also underwent renovations this summer. The report explained that internet wiring was replaced along with new cabling to make the elevators more reliable. In addition to University Towers the McCole House, a home owned by the university on South River Street, also received upgrades. Jack Chielli, Executive Director of Marketing Communications, explained in a written report that updates were made to the home in preparation of the new Provost moving to campus. Chielli explained, “This facility needed repairs just like any home and it is important to stay on top of these types of routine maintenance issues.” The Provost’s family now lives in the McCole house. Another more noticeable change that was made on campus was the renovation of the old bookstore area on the first floor of Henry Student Center into a new student lounge. Student leadership director, Philip Ruthkosky, explained the project, “The middle wall was knocked down so there can be a larger area for students to socialize. We are hoping to have a place where students can meet for projects and other social activities. We are working on ordering combi- nations of different chairs and tables.” He added that the furniture should be in within the next few weeks. The greenway expansion project also took root this summer. Chielli’s report explained that capital projects team members planted new flower beds and shrubs and also made a significant upgrade to the sprinkler system. “Wilkes is moving to a more environmentally friendly campus and we are trying to grow native plant species that will provide food for birds and other animals while at the same time use less pesticides,” wrote Chielli. “Overall this area will be a place where the Wilkes community will be able to go and spend some quiet, contemplative time.” Unlike the internal changes that took place at Wilkes this past summer, the greenway expansion project is something that is more physically noticeable. Junior Wilkes student James Winterbottom noted, “These changes were immediately present. I think it has beautified the campus. Since I started here last spring, I have noticed a lot of what had been started was finished this summer.” Kasprikie said a few upcoming projects include the installation of a new fire alarm system and generator in the University Towers along with a fire protection sprinkler system. He also mentioned renovations to the Dorothy Dickson Darte Center. Upgrades to the theater will include a new sound system and seating as well as making it handicapped accessible. He explained, “This is a well needed upgrade. The building hasn’t been touched since 30 some years ago.” He said theater department faculty and staff are already picking out fabrics. Kaspriskie said, “The best thing to come out of it, is not only our people, but the public will see that Wilkes is at a higher level in the community. They can say, ‘Hey this is a great place.’” The Beacon/Andrew Seaman Chesapeake and Delaware stands in the background of the strucThe Beacon/ Jenna Stephens ture outside of Evans Hall. BEACON Serving the community through fair and accurate reporting while supporting the views and opinions of our readers. Editorial Staff Editor-in-Chief: Andee Scarantino Email: wilkesbeacon@gmail.com Managin Editor: Nick Podolak Email: wilkesbeacon@gmail.com News Editor: Andrew Seaman Email: news.beacon@gmail.com Op/Ed Editor: Mark Congdon Jr. Email: thebeacon.oped@gmail.com Lifestyles Editor: Alison Woody Email: beacon.lifestyles@gmail.com A&E Editor: Marissa Phillips Email: thebeaconae@gmail.com Sports Editor: Carlton Holmes Email: beaconsports@gmail.com Photo Editor: Cara Koster Advertising Managers: Stephanie Yachim Dana Zlotucha Email: thebeacon.ads@gmail.com Advisor: Dr. Andrea Breemer Frantz Established in 1936 PA Newspaper Association Member Printed on Mondays during the academic school year. 130 S. River St. First Floor, Conyngham Hall, Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 (570) 408-5903 wilkesbeacon@gmail.com www.wilkesbeacon.com �NEWS SEPTEMBER 18, 2007 New faces in President’s cabinet offer individual expertise to team grow from their experiences. Suarez encourages students, faculty and staff to use her as a resource for any concerns regarding the Wilkes University climate and openness to diversity, or with ideas to make improvements with cultural diversity. Furthermore, she noted, “It’s a celebration of all heritagDr es,” and she highly recom. mends students or faculty from all backgrounds to bring ideas for diversity programs and to also participate in those programs. Dr. Paul S. Adams, Vice President for Student Affairs, echoed Frantz’s excitement about the summer’s additions to the President’s cabinet. “I’m delighted with their enthusiasm, their immediate dedication to Wilkes, and looking very forward to the new ideas that they’ll bring to the University, and I can only see them strengthening what I think is an already very forward looking University.” President Tim Gilmour also communicated enthusiasm. “Each [of the four new cabinet members] also brings significant professional experience from their previous roles and thus were able to begin leading their units from the time they arrived here. I truly look forward to working with each of them in the years ahead,” said Gilmour. M aS a ri z uare r rve . C. Dr R ey n o ld Verret ships.” While Carver has spent the bulk of her professional life in the United States, she is a native of Essen, Germany. Carver’s role oversees all financial and budgetary components of the university and manages all support services including Information Technology, Public Safety and Facilities, and the Campus Master Plan. Carver’s expertise and passion for environmental protection will likely aid in a number of initiatives including the development of environmentally friendly practices and recycling across campus. Carver stressed that she wants to hear the opinions of students. “They [the students] are intelligent and very engaged,” said Carver. “I find it extremely important to get student perspectives and input to see how we can Pe improve the learning experience, tra how we can improve our services and just provide better opportunities and services to the student body.” Dr. Maria Suarez, Special Assistant to the President for Multicultural and Community Affairs, fills a new position on the cabinet. Suarez previously held the title of Dean of Math and Science at Gloucester County Community College. She switched career paths in order to pursue what she was passionate about: diversity and cultural climate in communities. Despite her academic grounding in the sciences, Suarez has previously led a variety of diversity initiatives and projects at Rutgers University and Gloucester that made her a logical choice for the new role at Wilkes. Bilingual in both Spanish and English, Suarez notes one of her key goals is to “work towards inclusiveness and empowerment of people and their heritage.” Among other initiatives, she plans to program a variety of celebrations in heritage and bring people together to learn Ca several ambitious plans are already underway. Discussions and investigation into the viability of a Wilkes law school continue, plans for a new health sciences building are emerging, and ongoing development of the graduate programs at Wilkes will be just a few of the challenges to keep Verret focused in the coming academic year. Maggie Lund, new Vice PresiMa dent for Human Resources gg and Organizational Development, previously worked for Mercy Health Partners for the Human Resources office for three different hospitals. Lund joined the Wilkes family because of her love of education and the energy that exists within the educational settings. She believes that Wilkes has a “welcoming, friendly atmosphere with plenty of things going on.” Her position as Vice President allows her to “provide the best for staff and faculty,” which also plays a role for students. The Human Resources area manages all employment policy and training in areas such as sexual harrassment. Lund noted that the Wilkes University community members she’d met and had conversations with since her arrival were “bright, educated” people. Petra Carver, Vice President for Finance and Support Operations, is also new to the University. Her previous position was Vice President for Finance and Administration for Northland College in northern Wisconsin, a small private liberal arts college with specific focus on environment. Her passion for her position was clear when she described why she chose to interview for the position at Wilkes. “What stuck out to me about Wilkes is its unique location, position and size,” said Carver. “I found it very attractive to be located in the middle of Wilkes-Barre, because that lends itself to very nd Lu ie BY JAMIE GWYNN & AMY FUSCO Beacon Correspondents Wilkes recently welcomed four professionals with diverse backgrounds to fill voids in key administrative positions in the President’s cabinet. Dr. C. Reynold Verret, Provost; Petra Carver, Vice President for Finance and Support Operations; Maggie Lund, Vice President for Human Resources; and Dr. Maria Suarez, Special Assistant to the President for Multicultural and Community Affairs stepped into their respective positions this summer, and have spent the early part of the fall getting to know students, faculty, and staff. “They are a consummate group of fantastic professionals, who are on top of that extraordinary individuals. They each brought to Wilkes tremendous intellect, experience, and insight into how we can make this yet a better institution,” said Michael Frantz, Vice President for Enrollment Services. But what students might not know is how these four came to the University, their goals and views of the student body. Verret, Wilkes University’s Provost, comes to Wilkes from the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia where he served as Dean and Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry in the Misher College of Arts and Sciences since 2002. Coming from a school with a known reputation for success roused the obvious question of “Why Wilkes?” “I think what attracted me was essentially the ability to help shape the logic programs at Wilkes,” explained Verret. “Wilkes University is about to take another major step and to be involved in [its] shaping is very important to me.” This shaping process may have something to do with Verret’s goal of national recognition for Wilkes as an academic leader in the northeast area. “It’s an important goal to be known in the northeast as a very excellent university; a place or destination that you would want to send your son or daughter,” an emphatic Verret noted. As Verret assumes his post as Provost, 3 All photos Courtesy of Marketing Communication. STSTRAVEL.COM Join America’s #1 Student Tour Operator Sell Trips, Earn Cash & Travel Free CANCUN, ACAPULCO, JAMAICA, BAHAMAS PUERTO VALLARTA, SOUTH PADRE FLORIDA, CRUISES www.ststravel.com STUDENT TRAVEL SERVICES 1-800-648-4849 / www.ststravel.com �SEPTEMBER 18, 2007 FURNISH from FRONT PAGE “I do believe that Blaine has a great deal to offer this organization and the majority of the students do look up to him and respect him despite this...” Brown added, “From my personal experience working with [Madara], he puts a great deal of his own effort and his own time into everything he does for the organization and the organization benefits from his actions so much that it would be a shame to lose him.” In this case, the two hosts of the party allegedly charged $5 for admission which could constitute selling alcohol. Chris Bailey, Direc- PARTY from FRONT PAGE On top of the citations students who were at the party will receive in the mail from the city, Wilkes will also give out its own sanctions. “The first time offender has to do an AlcoholEdu, which is different from the one everyone has to take. [They will receive a] $150 fine payable at UCOM, a letter [will be] sent home to their parents, and [the student] is put on disciplinary probation for the remainder of the semester,” Barbara King, Associate Dean of Student Affairs, said. “The laws of the University are clearly spelled out in the handbook,” she added. The student handbook is available online for all students. Though many of the students who met with King last Thursday, September 13, confessed to being guilty, some are also pleading innocent. Those who are pleading not guilty will not be sanctioned by Wilkes until they meet with the magistrate who will then decide if they are indeed innocent. If then found guilty, students will face the same sanctions as the others. Taylor, Andruscavage, and Gennaria are all pleading not guilty. “The most aggravating thing is there is a chance that I will get charged with the same thing that a person who was completely drunk next to me will get. I know it’s the law, but it just seems completely unfair,” Gennaria, a nursing major, said. Since the night of the party, each of the fresh- NEWS tor of Campus Support Services, said that furnishing alcohol to minors is a more serious charge than underage drinking, but added, that charging for alcohol at parties without a liquor license compounds the trouble for students. “You have to have a liquor license and you actually have to charge special taxes and pay special taxes for that liquor license. It’s a criminal offense and it’s a criminal offense from the tax code standpoint.” Barbara King, Associate Dean of Student Affairs, said that in a situation where a student serves alcohol to an underage person, it is usually handled on an individual basis. She also added “In a case like that it usumen have had time to think about the incident and have come away from the situation with new perspectives about partying in college and drinking underage. Taylor recognized the seriousness of the charges and regrets what happened. “I should have left the party, or better yet, I shouldn’t have even gone. I can’t change what happened though. I don’t plan on going out to anymore college parties for a very long time… I have way too much to lose and I’m not losing anything over something stupid like this.” Andruscavage also plans on avoiding any parties she may hear about in the near future. “I don’t plan to go out anytime soon, just to keep myself away from any situation. And when I eventually do go out I will be very cautious of where I am, how many people are there and if there is alcohol,” she said. “If I could go back, I would have left the party when it started to get crowded,” Gennaria added. While Bailey, Rebo, and King all understand that students want to get together and have fun, each of them stressed that alcohol doesn’t always need to be involved, especially if you’re underage. “Just because you’re in college doesn’t give you any right to break the law. If you’re in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the law states that you have to be 21 or older to drink,” Bailey said. Listen to The Beacon online ... ,..........:---- -- ally calls for a disciplinary hearing. “The Student Affairs cabinet is the first disciplinary board. Student Affairs cabinet is…made up of staff members, but it is also made up of kind of a jury of your peers… Now if the student then goes through that process [and] the student is found not guilty fine. If the student is found guilty of whatever it happens to be, everybody has the right of appeal. And this is true in this case with the sanctions that will go out for this particular incident,” King said. Gerald Rebo, Manager of Public Safety at Wilkes University, said, “That incident that happened Friday night, the officer stumbled upon it...As I tell students, if you are going 4 to have a party, we can’t stop you from drinking. We can tell you the pitfalls of drinking but [if] there’s 40 - 50 people at a party, it’s going to draw attention. And that’s exactly what happened. People were outside yelling and screaming. The [undercover officer saw] that, called the other officers up, knocked at the door, went in. That’s history.” Homa and Madara are said to be charged in District Court 11-1-01 for selling or furnishing liquor or malt or brewed beverages to minors according to the Wilkes-Barre Police Department. SG Notes September 12, 2007 Treasurer’s Report All College: $23,620.72 General: $5,672.59 Special Projects: $3,500 Spirit: $2,000 Leadership: $5,000 Conferences: $12,500 Start-Up: $1,500 Club Reports Programing Board - Representatives commented that they had a very successful Club Day and will be having some comedians and other performers coming to campus in the next few months. New Business Alumni Donation - SG agreed to pay $10 for every student who would like to attend an alumni mixer during Homecoming Finance Club The Finance Club came to SG seeking club status (this is a two week process) Frisbee Club - SG heard revisions to the Frisbee Club’s constitution (this is a two week process) MyWilkes - Mike Salem demonstrated how to use the “Groups” function on MyWilkes Fall Elections - SG elections will be Spetember 19-21 and signature sheets are due by Monday, September 17. Homecoming - Tickets and shopping dates were discussed Party on the Square - Party on the Square will be held on Thursday, September 20 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. [see Arts & Entertainment section for more information.] Events Fall Elections - September 19 - 21 Council of Clubs - September 20, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Party on the Square - September 20, 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. Homecoming - October 4 - 7, 2007 On page 4 of the September 11 issue of The Beacon, the photo of the graduating class that accompanied the story “Wilkes receives approval for MFA in creative writing,” was mislabeled the “second class of the Masters of Fine Arts program.” The photo should have been labeled the third graduating class with a Masters in Creative Writing. The Beacon strives for accuracy and good sourcing in all of its stories and regrets the errors in the past issue. Editors are grateful for readers who take the time to point out inaccuracies. Andrea Breemer Frantz, Faculty Advisor Andee Scarantino, Editor-in-Chief Correction �SEPTEMBER 18, 2007 NEWS Wilkes goes green: more energy-efficient campus the goal protecting the environment for future generations.” Also in the agreement, Wilkes must “establish a policy that all new campus construction will be built to at least the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Silver standard or equivalent.” LEED, or “The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System, is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings,” according to the U.S. Green Building Council. While no Wilkes University buildings are yet LEED certified, improvements are underway to work toward that goal. The Science, Health, Engineering eacon/ Gino Troi a ni and use 6 watts less of electricity. They have a longer life,” said Kaspriskie. “The manufacturer says they have a five year warranty, where the conventional bulbs, the T12s, have an average life of one to two years, so between cost savings on replacement, savings on electricity, savings on labor to change them; it’s a huge benefit to the university.” Kaspriskie added that any buildings or structures being built or modified in the coming years will use as much natural light as possible. Skylights and larger windows are main features of new structures. Wilkes is also recycling older buildings instead of demolishing them. The renovation of Delaware and Chesapeake halls is a prime example of such renovation. Also, Wilkes University has made commitments to a more natural landscape. Not only have parking lots been eliminated to allow more green space, but university officials decided to stop using many artificial pesticides. “The university has made the commitment that we will reduce, although we cannot completely eliminate, the use of pesticides, manmade chemicals in the applications... landscaping grasses, as well as landscaping beds,” said Bailey. Mrs. Patty Gilmour is serving as a consultant on environmental initiatives to the university, and has worked closely with the staff at Wilkes to ensure the return of a more natural landscape. “Mrs. Gilmour brings a certain point of view, and certain energy. She is committed. She is a crusader on environmental issues. The university is very appreciative of what she does, in terms of the input she’s had towards natural landscaping and natural landscape management,” said Bailey. Section 2 of the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment states that Wilkes must “adopt an energy efficient appliance purchasing policy requiring purchase of ENERGY STAR certified products in all areas for which such ratings exists.” According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “ENERGY STAR is a government program that offers businesses and consumers energy-efficient solutions, making it easy to save money while B The BY ANDEE SCARANTINO Beacon Editor-In-Chief Wilkes University has pronounced this the “Year of the Environment,” as President Tim Gilmour has signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment. With this public declaration, Wilkes University has decided to “Go Green.” The agreement furthers a collaboration of colleges and universities across the nation to actively reduce their emission of greenhouse gases. It recognizes that by mid-century, human beings must actively reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent in order to stabilize the Earth’s climate and avoid the worst impacts of global warming. “It’s pretty extensive in what they’re asking for, pretty aggressive. Basically, these college presidents are committing to make each of their campuses move toward a level of climate neutrality, so that the operations of the colleges have no impact of CO2 emissions, greenhouse gas emissions,” said Chris Bailey, Director of Campus Support Services. “Until now, the university did not have a centralized effort. What this will really do is force us to think on a campus-wide level about what is our environmental impact. I know from an emission inventory approximately how many tons of CO2 this campus produces. That’s the main greenhouse gas that everyone’s worried about. What greenhouse gas does is, as this UV radiation comes in, it traps it in the environment. This causes... global warming,” said Bailey. The agreement states that Wilkes must “initiate the development of a comprehensive plan to achieve climate neutrality as soon as possible.” Within a year of the signing, a complete inventory of Wilkes’ greenhouse gas emissions must be calculated, and updated every other year. Within two years, Wilkes must “develop an institutional action plan for becoming climate neutral.” “We already implemented, before the signing of that agreement over the past couple years, some cost-saving measures. Some things that we’ve done construction wise have helped lead us toward a greener campus and when we say ‘green,’ we’re not necessarily meaning green grass, but saving our natural resources,” said Paul Kaspriskie, Project Manager of the Wilkes University Capitol Projects team. Within the past few years, Wilkes has replaced much of the single-pane glass in the older dormitory buildings to more energy efficient, insulated glass. Secondly, Wilkes switched its use of fluorescent bulbs, from T-12 conventional bulbs, to T-5 bulbs. “They’re thinner, they’re smaller in diameter, and yet they give off a lot more light 5 (SHE) building plans, for example, promise to be LEED certified, according to Petra Carver, Vice President of Finance and Support Operations at Wilkes. Carver, who is new to the university but comes from a very environmentally conscious campus, is currently overseeing Wilkes’ efforts to “Go Green.” Carver said that she is excited about the change to a greener Wilkes, and hopes to get many projects underway soon. “We definitely need to form a collaborative committee that is made of all constituents here at Wilkes University, students, faculty, staff, and then we will need to talk about the initiatives we will need to undertake for the President’s Climate Commitment. There are certain things we have to do in a certain timeline, so we will need this group and then we will need to work on short-term and long-term planning about the specific projects or initiatives that we want to undertake,” said Carver. “Everybody’s excited about it. Everybody has an open mind about it. I’m feeling really optimistic about the project,” said Carver. �Opinion SEPTEMBER 18, 2007 6 “It’s in the Blood” Grocery store downtown Student Government vote Angry Rant Rain rain go away Animal cruelty is wrongly defended by outdated cultural norms BY THE BEACON EDITORIAL BOARD Americans have a lot to worry about. The ongoing Iraq war, stock market and housing investment instability, drug busts, AIDS, and environmental concerns dominate the nightly news reports. Is it any wonder that with such boldface headlines other issues fail to capture our attention? Seemingly “less important” social problems like homelessness, poverty, and the growing deficit tend to make inside pages, if that, because of the pressing nature of the other stories. One of those sidebar issues that only occasionally squeaks onto the public radar is animal cruelty. Recently animal cruelty has become a more mainstream issue with major corporations, football players, and even local people stirring up the issue. Animal cruelty involves anything from dog fighting, and shooting whales, to killing animals for fur and animal testing. The problem isn’t awareness; it is that more people appear to believe that it’s okay to hurt animals for personal benefit or enjoyment. Worse, there is a small contingent in the country who believe that the practice of animal cruelty can be excused because of age-old cul- tural practices. Just two weeks ago the Makah tribe made the wire over the issue of whaling. Years ago the Native American tribe legally killed whales as something of a sport. The tribe suspend its practice because the grey whale was placed on the endangered species list and federal government prohibited whaling. However, in 1994, the grey whale came off of the endangered list. The tribe obtained a permit in 1999 to kill a whale which outraged animal rights groups. After a court hearing it became necessary for the tribe to receive a waiver in order to hunt whales. Recently, members of the tribe shot a grey whale repeatedly with a rifle before they were due to receive their waiver. The five men involved are all facing fines of up to $20,000 and possible jail time. The part that is possibly the most disturbing is the fact that one of the men has been quoted as saying “”I’m not ashamed, I’m feeling kind of proud. ... I should have done it years ago. I come from a whaling family, on my grandmother’s side and my grandfather’s side. It’s in the blood.” We are saddened by the fact that he believes just because his ancestors killed animals he should be able to do the same in 2007. Celebrities are even making animal cruelty seem acceptable. Anyone who has caught a glimpse of the news lately or happened to be channel surfing past CNN and the other news stations would have an idea of the controversy surrounding Michael Vick. In brief Vick, an NFL player, was charged with illegal dog fighting and the killing of 6-8 dogs by hanging and drowning after they failed to perform to high enough standards. Vick pleaded guilty and will be sentenced in December. One would believe that the public take on what Vick was involved with would be that dog fighting and killing animals for sport or entertainment is wrong. This has largely been true. Vick’s admission of guilt has ensured some public ridicule and disgust. But Whoopi Goldberg didn’t seem to agree. On The View September 4, Goldberg said, “From his background, this is not an unusual thing for where he comes from. It’s like cock fighting in Puerto Rico. There are certain things that are indicative to certain parts of the country.” Goldberg is speaking about the South, as this is where Vick hails from. Dog fighting dates back to 1750s but in this country it has been il- legal to hold dog fights since 1976 and in May of 2007 it became a felony in many states to hold animal fights of any sort. With such a cruel activity considered a felony in 48 states, it is preposterous to think that family history and cultural background are reason enough to excuse such inhumane behavior. After being called out by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and other animal rights groups, Goldberg brought up the subject the next day on The View to say that she wasn’t “condoning” what Michael Vick did. However, the damage has been done. Just because something used to be legal doesn’t mean that it is right. It isn’t so much that certain things used to be legal as they were just overlooked. It took time, but plenty of things became illegal due to higher moral and ethical standards. The major problem is that people tend to think that because their ancestors did it or because it was part of their culture it’s okay to do these awful things to animals. As the old saying goes, two wrongs don’t make a right. People need to stop trying to use their family history to defer the blame that should be placed on them. Zero tolerance policy ignores those who aim for safety BY LAUREN SALEM Beacon Correspondent This semester approximately twenty alcohol related citations have been given, which does not include the off campus citations from the WBPD this past weekend. Although some students are under the impression that the rules concerning alcohol have changed, this may just be a sign that they have not yet cracked the binding of their student handbook. This semester is no different from last semester, or the one before, because Wilkes University’s policies on alcohol never changed. According to the student handbook, “Those under twenty-one years of age are not permitted to consume, possess or be in the presence of alcohol under any circumstances on University property or at any University event.” Since this is true, how was drinking ever a part of the college experience? The real experience is not about drinking, but about the thrill of making choices, taking risks, and dealing with consequences. If an RA crashes an underage drinking party on campus it wasn’t because they were looking for trouble, but because they we’re simply doing their job. After paying a fine of $150, being on disciplinary probation, receiving parental notification, and having to take yet another required alcohol education class, most students may realize that underage drinking is not a risk they want to take. If that is not convincing enough, then keep drinking, because that was only the first offense. Even if a student took the responsibility to choose not to drink, they receive an offense for just being present in a room that contains alcoholic beverages, which can be damaging for a student’s future. In many situations, people drink in groups, but there are a few students who attend an underage drinking party not to drink, but to make sure their friends don’t get so drunk that they die the next morning. With this said, I firmly believe that in order to better protect the students, Wilkes University’s policy on alcohol should be changed so that students are required to be tested before they are given a sanction and should only be given a sanction if the alcohol test shows that they have been drinking. This will allow for better safety of the students and their futures! 7 7 8 8 Beacon Poll Results The following are results of a poll that The Beacon conducted online this past week. The poll was unscientific, and does not claim to reflect the overall attitudes of students on campus. Results are based on 104 responses. The Beacon asked: What is your favorite piece of chex mix? • • • • • • • • • • Wheat chex- 12% Window pane pretzels- 7% Pumpernickel bread slices- 21% Bread stix- 2% Cheez its- 18% Bagel chips- 12% Peanuts- 12% Corn chex- 9% Rye chips- 5% Round pretzels- 2% Next Week’s Question: Following graduation, how much debt will you be in for your college education? • • • • • • • • • • Nothing--I didn’t take out loans I don’t know--my parents took out the loans Less than $10,000 $10,001-$20,000 $20,001-$40,000 $40,001-$60,000 $60,001-$80,000 $80,001-$90,000 $90,001-100,000 More than $100,000 Visit www.wilkesbeacon.com to cast your vote. Results will be published in next week’s issue of The Beacon. �SEPTEMBER 18, 2007 OPINION Public square grocery could enhance downtown BY STEPHANIE GERCHMAN Beacon Asst. Opinion Editor As a college student living in an apartment, I go through a lot of groceries. On my last trip I easily spent over $80 on food items alone. Without a grocery store in walking distance, I tend to stock up on what I need so that I don’t have to make too many trips. If there were a closer grocery store, this wouldn’t have to be a concern. I do have a car at Wilkes, but like many other students I must park my car across the bridge at Ralston Field. I’m not complaining about the distance from campus that I have to park, but in terms of a grocery store outing, it is somewhat of a hassle to walk to the Henry Student Center, wait for the shuttle, sit on it for 15 minutes waiting for more people to fill it up then ride over to Ralston. This is easily a 30-45 minute ordeal just to drive to the grocery store of choice. Then, of course, on the return trip, students have to decide whether they can manage all of the bags on the shuttle or if they can risk parking illegally to dump off the purchases before they repark the car at Ralston. Wouldn’t it be easier if there were a grocery store within walking distance? With a grocery store on or near the square both Wilkes and King’s community members could take advantage of its convenience. It wouldn’t have to be a full grocery store, maybe a small family type of store with the essentials; milk, bread, eggs, snacks, you get the picture. Near the Square would be the perfect location for such a business with several empty buildings right on Main Street. The hypothetical store would likely be consistently filled with students and other Wilkes-Barre residents who have to rely on public transit. It would save them money on public transportation and it would allow college students to walk to the store whenever they need something. Walking downtown to grab a few groceries could also benefit other existing businesses with increased traffic. In addition to college students, the rest of the community would really benefit from a downtown grocery presence. A study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine in January of 2002 suggests that urban communities that don’t have grocery stores but do have several places to consume alcohol tend to be poorer in culture and poorer economically. The area around the square and the square itself would look better with one less vacant building. A more developed downtown would bring in more people to the area which means more customers for preexisting businesses. So, if the problem is the lack of a grocery store in downtown Wilkes-Barre and the solution is to fill an empty building with a place for area people and students to 7 The Beacon/ Gino Troiani Students living on campus should be able to stock up on groceries within walking distance while helping the community. get food and other necessities, the next question becomes: how do we initiate this change? I found an innovative idea upon research. Chestercoop.com is a website that presents the idea of a co-op grocery store which is a food store run by the community that benefits the community. Such a store would create several jobs for area people. Students and residents of Wilkes-Barre would fill the job openings made by the store. Any profit made by the store would go back into the community to possibly aid in local development instead of going to big corporate hot shots. With such a proactive, community building solution it would be silly to not look into a community run co-op grocery store or other options for a grocery store in down town Wilkes-Barre. It’s our town; if you’d like to see a change you need to help make the change. to get the word out to students to vote and the students still decided not to. There were streamers and banners hanging in the Student Center, a meet and greet was offered with the candidates, and a debate was held between the presidential candidates. The debate, however, yielded only a handful of spectators beyond other SG members. I know in my heart, students can’t be that apathetic about politics or the way government is run to turn their backs on the system completely. The thing that really struck me over the summer was when I learned an equation used to figure out the cost of a vote. The system was literally an equation politicians use to determine how much it cost a person to vote. The elements in the equation include time, cost of casting the vote (traveling expenses), and other outside forces. When I did the calculation pertaining to an average student at Wilkes University there is practically no cost to the student. There is no reason people shouldn’t vote. And the reasons to vote include the fact that the representatives elected to represent us do so on all levels including spending our money, making decisions about how Wilkes will participate within the WilkesBarre community, asking questions of the President’s cabinet about policy, and a multitude of other things that do impact our daily lives. So, when SG elections come up at the beginning of this year and you get the email with the ballot, complete it. Otherwise, I am strong believer in the notion that if you are eligible to vote and you don’t, do not bother complaining. A vote is a person’s voice and by not voting a person is giving up his or her voice. A simple plea: vote for SG representatives BY ANDREW SEAMAN Beacon News Editor I come to the students of Wilkes University with a very simple plea: vote during Student Government (SG) elections. I say this as someone who sits at SG meetings, not as a member of the general board but as a member of the press. The members of SG, every year try to get a lot of attention focused on the elections through flyers and decorating the Henry Student Center, but unfortunately that work is usually in vain. Last year when I was writing the article and posting results about the winners, I had to say I was shocked at the percentage of students who voted. I recall it being somewhere in the 40% range. What was so shocking was the fact that the election was done online. The only thing the students had to do was logon, click on the circle next to the person’s name they wanted to win, and click “submit.” Not too tough. Never in my life, would I think that number would be less than 50%, given students had to physically go and vote at the Henry Student Center but they didn’t. To vote, students could have been in their dorm, the library, Stark, Breiseth, or in China as long as they had internet access. They could have been munching on Frosted Flakes in their pajamas. Why didn’t Wilkes students vote? Apathy? Ignorance? Distraction? A desire to make a statement that said the system is broken? To be honest, I have no idea. There is bound to be a student or two saying, “I don’t care” or “I don’t know enough about the people that are running.” Well, the answer to the first claim is that students should care. SG handles hundreds of thousands of dollars of student money and by voting, the student’s voice is heard. To those students who claim they do not know enough about the person running, go online and look on Facebook and see what they are like, find them and ask questions, or take a walk through the Student Center. There are bound to be fliers or some huge political cliché hanging from a wall. I don’t think the problem lies with SG. �SEPTEMBER 18, 2007 OPINION 8 Rain, rain go away...come again some sheltered day Wilkes lacks shelter at Ralston parking lot As many of us know or soon will find out, Wilkes-Barre is notorious for its wacky weather. This past week’s rainstorm reminded me of something. As a commuter, and former resident, I noticed that there is no shelter from the wicked weather at the Ralston parking lot. There is a small shuttle shelter located off South Franklin on the Weckesser grounds and shuttle riders may stand inside the Henry Student Center building for protection from the rain, snow, wind and other weather conditions if they choose pick up there. But Ralston does not offer viable space for commuters who wait for the shuttles after parking their cars. For those who were here last year, we had many rain and snowstorms over the course of the year, and I am sure this year will be no exception. Having shelter is not only a matter of staying dry and safe, but it’s also a matter of health. While harsh weather conditions may not cause illness, exposure can certainly exacerbate the symptoms. In addition, how many have suffered wet clothes and shoes, hair dismantled or make-up ruined from standing in the rain or snow at the Ralston parking lot or any other places on campus? Because more and more of us ride the shuttles, administration and our student leaders should consider adding a shelter at Ralston. If the university doesn’t want the task of doing this, students should voice concerns to our Student Government (SG) members and ask that they provide the shelter that we deserve. Moreover, if SG doesn’t provide the funds directly, shelters could be provided by a senior class gift. The year has just begun, and I am sure we will have many more storms. If you’re busy with work, like myself, and can’t afford to miss class for catching the flu from getting wet, let’s not wait any longer to do this. I encourage you to contact your SG elected officials located on the 1st floor of the SUB or the Deans whose offices are located at Stark and Breiseth. Let those in charge know how you feel, so we can avoid standing in the rain, wind and snow in the future. The Beacon/Cara Koster BY MARK CONGDON JR. Beacon Opinion Editor Due to the lack of shelter, students must face poor weather conditions when waiting outside their vehicles for shuttle services to campus. The Angry Rant: Britney Spears Edition BY TIM SEIGFRIED Beacon Asst. Sports Editor A Sight for Sore Eyes by: Aleksander Lapinski out for her; Madonna is one of the biggest selling artists of our time, America loves celebrity babies, and shaving your head is like Welcome back everybody! After being off the new pilates! for the summer without an appropriate way Britney was stacking the deck in her favor, to vent my anger, I feel relieved to be back but like in Vegas, the house always wins, ranting in the pages of The Beacon. especially when you double down on 12 This year I promised the editors (and my- and the King busts you and you lose your self) that I would spend less time on the money for the weekend, your first month’s celebrity goings-on and spend more time deposit, and the downpayment on that ring on topics that actuyou were going to buy your girlally have an impact friend, but instead you now need on ourselves and our to settle on a pendant with a unisociety. corn on it, even though you hate But, this being the unicorns but she insists on them, first rant of the seacalling them “God’s special horson, I thought I’d go sies…” back to the well one Sorry, I got sidetracked. more time. Back to Britney. I feel bad for BritLong story short: Her career ney. Really, I do. went down the toilet faster than She hit the pop drugs at Lindsay Lohan’s apartscene in the late 90s Courtesy of ment. portraits-caricatures.com like a comet dressed And last week, her much anticiin pigtails and a plaid pated return on the MTV VMAs skirt, and looked primed to be at the fore- turned out to be a bigger train wreck than an front of the music industry for at least…six- actual train wreck. Spears, performing her teen months. new single “Gimme More,” looked stunHer first three albums went number one, ning…ly bad in black lingerie, and looked she was ruling the pop world, she made out as if though she should have been singing with Madonna, married Kevin Federline, “Gimme More Cookie Dough.” had two kids, divorced Kevin Federline, Maybe I don’t feel so bad for her…but and then shaved her head. some cookie dough would be delicious Where did it all go wrong? right about now. I don’t understand how it didn’t work It’s good to be back. �LIFESTYLES SEPTEMBER 18, 2007 Rockin the Campus Student of the Week 10 11 9 Getting by with a little help from your community friends The‘Clothes Closet’ provides free apparel to needy families and college students BY ANDEE SCARANTINO Beacon Editor-in-Chief If you journey to the bottom floor of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church on South Franklin Street in Wilkes-Barre, just a block from campus, you’ll probably find Dawn Seidel and her staff eagerly awaiting and greeting women from the community. The women Seidel and her staff greet are there on their monthly visit to select clothing for themselves and their families, from the Clothes Closet, an organization that provides new or hardly worn clothing free of cost to people who might otherwise not be able to purchase it. “What we do is we provide clothing for low-income families. We try to target women that are going back to work. We get a lot of our donations from women that are in the county that are interested in helping other women out. They provide nice, almost new clothing that’s good for a career.” said Seidel, Director of the Luzerne County Commission for Women and Director of the Clothes Closet. In addition to private contributors, the Clothes Closet receives donations from corporate drives, clothing drives, and also from a distributor that provides new clothing in large quantities. The shipments of new clothing typically arrive once or twice a month. Walking into the small basement room, visitors will see racks of clothing, and shelves with various styles of jeans. There is a room for men’s clothing, and a new “career room” that has professional attire. Among the jeans, you’ll see everything, from Abercrombie to Express, to DKNY, to Levis. Much of the clothing is up-to-date with the latest fashion, and the professional clothing is of department store quality, perfect for those struggling to get back on their feet. Among the many who take advantage in the Clothes Closet is Nicole Wilson of Wilkes-Barre. She visits once a month, and finds the convenience and neatness of the space a great service. “It’s a really great resource, especially in the summer.” said Wilson. “I got some brand new T-shirts. Brand new!” Wilson prefers the Clothes Closet to other discounted and free clothing outlets for the quality of the clothes. “It doesn’t smell like mothballs!” she said. The Clothes Closet is also open to helping out needy college students. With the attractive name brand and designer clothing available, those students pinching pennies may find it a site not to miss. “We would like to supply clothing for college students because we understand, myself being a mother of a college student, how expensive it is. Some of the college students aren’t working. We know you’re a starving college student and we want to help you out,” said Seidel. On Wednesdays, persons who wish to receive clothing arrive in the morning, and select various articles. They are allowed one bag per each family member, once a month. Due to lack of volunteers, the Clothes Closet is no longer open on Thursday evenings. The Clothes Closet is currently staffed with three paid employees, anywhere from 2 to 4 from the Luzerne County Work Force Investment Development Agency Job Experience Program, and one senior citizen from the Area Agency on Aging Senior Aid Program. However, Seidel noted that the Clothes Closet is constantly needing and seeking volunteers, particularly college students interested in working with the community. “That would be wonderful if they (college students) would come and volunteer. They can also, while they’re here, pick out a couple pair of jeans that they might be interested in. [We] especially [need] Spanish-speaking college students; we could use someone to help us translate. We do have a problem, especially on Wednesdays…. We have a hard time, (with speaking Spanish) because… we don’t…. We can also use any students that are good with data entry so we could make a file of our clients. There’s a lot of opportunity for volunteers,” said Seidel. The Clothes Closet is located in the basement of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church on South Franklin Street in Wilkes-Barre across the street from Boscov’s. It is open Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 12 noon, and also takes appointments throughout the week. The Beacon/Cara Koster Two women browse through the racks of free clothing at the Clothes Closet in the basement of the St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Wilkes-Barre. The Clothes Closet is operated by Dawn Seidel, Director of the Luzerne County Commission for Women. The facility is open from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m. on Wednesdays. If you would like to volunteer please contact Seidel at (570) 970-9248. �LIFESTYLES 10 SEPTEMBER 18, 2007 Rockin’ the campus: new psychology class breaks the mold BY CHRISTINE ZAVASKAS Beacon Asst. Lifestyles Editor On Thursday evenings in the Dorothy Dixon Darte Center, it is likely that passersby will hear the beat of rock and roll music coming from room 325. However, inside there is no concert or rave going on--just an innovative class offered for the first time at Wilkes University. The three-credit course, “The Psychology of Rock & Roll,” was developed and is taught by Dr. Dennis Gold, an adjunct professor at Wilkes University. Gold, who received his Ph.D in clinical psychology at the University of Missouri at Columbia, said about the class, “I’m looking at the loop between the culture affecting the music and the music affecting the culture, and that goes around and around…” Gold became interested in rock and roll while growing up in the sixties and seventies at a time when many classic rock bands were forming. Since he lived in New York City, he got to see many of them. “I’m passionate about rock and roll and I’m passionate about teaching. So I decided to combine the two,” he explained. Gold first taught this course for two semesters at Misericordia University. Later, he spoke to Dr. Carl Charnetski of the Wilkes psychology department and subsequently brought the class to the university for the first time this semester. “In thinking about a curriculum, it’s always nice to have something a little different,” said Charnetski about why he thought the class would make a positive addition to the department’s offerings. The course is broken up into the exploration of a few major themes found in rock music like love and relationships, protest and anti-war, sex, and drugs. For each theme students listen to songs and analyze lyrics that correspond to the subject matter. The lesson plan also delves into both the history of rock music and the economics of the industry. Stacy Fimmano, a senior psychology major, said, “I think the course is great. Very interesting.” In order to teach this unconventional class, Gold tries to use as many different types of media as possible. In addition to playing music, he employs videos, pictures, and books. A group presentation on a major influence of rock music and a paper about how rock and roll has affected a student’s life are the two major projects in the class. “It’s amazing what people write, how powerful it is…” commented Gold about the paper. A midterm and final are also part of each student’s grade, and Gold is trying to arrange for at least part of one of these tests to take place on the air. He has been in contact with a local radio station, 102.3 FM The Mountain, and wants the station to broadcast a section of the test where students will hear a song and then have to identify the title and artist. However, the station has not been as receptive to the concept initially as he hoped. While most teachers are concerned about how much knowledge of an academic topic students take away from a class, Gold has a somewhat different aspiration in mind for his students. “I would like them to walk away with a greater sense of who they are as a person as a result of the class, and have fun doing it.” Does this class sound intriguing? Then you may be in luck. When asked if he planned to teach the course again Gold replied, “I hope so. My goal is to make the class at least an annual feature, as long as the students respond to it.” The Beacon/Gino Troiani Dr. Dennis Gold teaches the innovative class he designed, “The Psychology of Rock & Roll.” ~ ~ q]Xi®llmfb(iJffl] 165 North Wilkes-Barre Blvd Wilkes-Barre, PA (570) 825-8459 T DE TH FO H 2rst CENTURY Sunday Home-style dinner specials $1.50 Miller Lite cans Monday Dozen clams/ wings for $4.99 $1.50 Miller Lite cans Tuesday (College Night) $1 Yuengling Lager Drafts $3.95 Bar Pizza Wednesday (Mexican Night) $1 off Coronas & Corona Lights ½ Off Mexican Apps 5 p.m. - 9p.m. Thursday Dozen clams for $4.99 Featured Beer Night Friday Martini specials "After Work" Happy Hour Monday - Friday 5 - 7 p.m. $ 1.00 off all Mixers & Import Drafts $1.50 Domestic Drafts �SEPTEMBER 18, 2007 LIFESTYLES 11 Student of the Week: Stacie Gogo BY CHRISTA SGOBBA Beacon Asst. Lifestyles Editor Stacie Gogo, a senior musical theater major, spent the summer interning with the Weathervane Repertory Theater, a professional company in Whitefield, New Hampshire. After auditioning in New York City, Gogo was chosen as one of ten interns from around the country. From June 17-September 2, they performed seven mainstage shows and four children’s shows. Gogo, who has been performing since she was two years old, is actively involved with theatrical productions at Wilkes. She can be seen next as Carmen in the Wilkes production of “Sweet Charity,” opening in November. The Beacon recently had the opportunity to sit down and learn more about Gogo’s experiences and has named her “Student of the Week” as a result. “People say if you can survive at Weathervane, you can survive anywhere.” The Beacon: How were you chosen for the internship? Gogo: I applied to Strawhat auditions in New York City, where 50 theatre companies watched us audition. We had 90 seconds to sing part of a song and perform part of a monologue. If a specific company liked what they saw, they called you back the next day to dance. I was chosen by the Weathervane Repertory Theatre. The Beacon: What was a typical day for you during the internship? Gogo: If we had a children’s show that day, we’d get up around 6 a.m. to travel. Then we’d set up for it. We made the props ourselves. The shows were an hour long. Once we finished and returned to Whitefield, we rehearsed for mainstage shows until 6 p.m. Then we had a performance each night. We had 13-hour days. We worked our butts off. The Beacon: What was the most difficult part of working there? Gogo: The most stressful part was having five days to put up a full-length show. We have about a month to do that here. You learn a song one day, and the next, you’d have to be off-book. The Beacon: What was the best part of the internship? Gogo: The best part was being able to work with professional Equity actors. You got to see how these actors worked in the real world. The Beacon/Cara Koster The Beacon How did what you learned affect your future career plans? Gogo: Being there made me realize this is what I really want to do. People say if you can survive at Weathervane, you can survive anywhere. Courtesy of Stacie Gogo Stacie Gogo, as Tinkerbell, with other castmembers of Weathervane’s production of “Peter Pan”. If you would like to nominate someone for Student of the Week, please email beacon.lifestyles@ gmail.com. �A&E SEPTEMBER 18, 2007 12 Downtown Deli Showdown “Too Bad It’s Poetry” Movie Review Crossword/Website Tony Thomas Deli and Catering vs. Carol’s Deli and Bakery 12 13 13 14 14 15 15 BY MARISSA PHILLIPS Beacon A&E Editor Tony Thomas Deli and Catering courtesy dacharts.org In terms of dining, Wilkes-Barre offers plenty of choices and competition. Regardless of what you prefer, you can almost always find at least two businesses with the same offerings. Two chain sub shops are located right across the street from one another. The city is strewn with pizza places, and surprisingly, you can even find two restaurants offering Middle-eastern cuisine within a few blocks from one another. So with all of these businesses offering similar options, the question is, which ones fare better in comparison? Since Wilkes-Barre has more of them than you can keep track of, it seemed fitting to start of with two delis in the area, specifically Tony Thomas Deli and Catering and Carol’s Deli and Bakery. These are both businesses that open in the early morning hours and are closed by early afternoon; therefore, the expectations would be that they both must have something impressive to offer. After all, an eatery can’t be sustained by early-morning coffee drinkers alone. Whether or not it comes as a surprise, a lot of people are unaware that Tony Thomas’ even exists. This could be because it closes at 3 p.m. every day, and the exterior facade looks as though it hasn’t changed since the 1940s, which might lead people to believe that it’s another long-dead business on Main Street left be replaced. Despite the outward appearance, this business stays consistently busy during the early hours of the morning. While the sign states “deli,” it feels a lot more like a diner. Granted, Tony Thomas’ specializes in sandwiches, but the deli offer things that extend beyond hot and cold subs, for example, pizza (although only on Wednesdays and Fridays), entrée salads, soups, spaghetti, and even Middle-Eastern options, including spinach pie and hummus. The sandwich list is extensive, and offers them on sliced bread, hoagie rolls, and pita bread, a somewhat unusual option. The good thing is that mostly any sandwich on the menu will likely come in under $5 - even a steak sandwich is inexpensive. In terms of breakfast, all the meals are in the $3 range, and in addition to the standard meat and egg combo, Tony Thomas’ also offers pancakes and French toast. It would have been nice if the quality of the food matched the quality of the menu. Granted, I got an endless cup of coffee for only 95 cents and the bacon was, well, bacon (it’s hard to mess that up). But the second the pancakes were placed in front of me, the issue at hand was hard to ignore. To put it plainly, they smelled like everything else that had been fried on the grill that day and the day before, and they tasted a bit like it, too. When I took the first bite there were definite undertones of either French fries, pork, or fried egg. On the upside, the generous supply of syrup worked to counteract that. The deli does have a very welcoming atmosphere, though. The waitress was friendly enough that I wish I could overlook the aftertaste of my pancakes. So, in this case, taste took a backseat to everything else the business had to offer. Carol’s Deli and Bakery Tony Thomas Deli and Catering Food Quality = ~ Selection = ~ Atmosphere = ~ Service = ~ Prices = ~ Overall = ~ Carol’s Deli and Bakery Food Quality = ~ Selection =~ Atmosphere = ~ Service = ~ Prices = ~ Overall = -trl'rlt *AA = ■ all around <i$saPQintin~ deCMt, but lmprovemer11 need~d ~ = a d e quate, bul not impr95~lve ~; good qualily -little irnJ]rovement needed ~ = e, cellMt - no eom~lalnt~ The visit to this deli, located just footsteps away from Tony Thomas’ on Main Street, began with confusion. From the outside, it appeared like it was going to be an upgrade. The facade of Carol’s is bright, new looking, and inviting. Of course, then I stepped inside… The menu was taped down on the front counter. Looking at the number of choices, I assumed there was a backside to the menu, but I was wrong. While Carol’s offers breakfast, pizza, cold sandwiches, and hoagies, the menu selection is pretty meager. The breakfast selection includes a handful of options, each basically consist of eggs (eggs and bacon, eggs and toast, eggs and a roll…). The sandwich choices are a bit more extensive. But tuna and bologna sandwiches and vegetable and Italian subs, suggests that Carol’s makes little effort to offer anything beyond the standards. Basically, the deli doesn’t offer much of anything you couldn’t go home and cook up yourself in a matter of minutes. And then there’s the fact that the sign states “deli and bakery.” It’s worth noting that I went close to closing time, which could be an explanation, but the fact is, Carol’s selection of baked goods was less than impressive. A couple of danishes, one type of muffin, and one kind of cookie was all they offered, but as I said, they may just cater more to the early crowd. So, all in all, this place didn’t offer much that impressed, but it fared a bit better than Tony Thomas’ in terms of the food itself. The restaurant is not without its positive points, though. Like Tony Thomas’, Carol’s is quite affordable. With the exception of an entire pizza, absolutely nothing on the menu is above the $4 price range, which is a rarity. And while Carol’s menu selection feels rather meager, the food is well-made and served in a matter of minutes. Their vegetable hoagie was fresh and filling and was definitely worth the few dollars it cost. courtesy www.recipes4us.co.uk �SEPTEMBER 18, 2007 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 13 Jim Warner releases book of poetry BY SHANNON CURTIN Beacon Staff Writer The poetry world owes a lot to an escalator in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. Assistant director of the creative writing program, Jim Warner started writing poetry after an escalator-related accident left his arm in a cast when he was twelve. Now, Warner is intensely involved in the local poetry scene, and more importantly, is anticipating the release of his first book of poetry, Too Bad It’s Poetry. Too Bad It’s Poetry received its intriguing title when Warner was pitching a separate book idea featuring a collection of works relating to autism. “Jack Scovil (an advisory board member) told me, ‘It’s a great idea. Too bad it’s poetry.’ Poetry doesn’t sell,” stated Warner. The remark stuck with Warner and when he recounted the story to publishers Jennifer HillKaucher and Dan Waber they suggested he make it the title for this collection. The poems featured in Warner’s book stem from two different influences, one of which can be observed from the format and cover art of the book. Too Bad It’s Poetry features a 45 record on the cover and requires the reader to flip the book over to continue to read the other half, or “side” of the book. “The first part of the book, side A, is influenced by music, especially (the band) The Hold Steady. The second part of the book, side B, is about exploring my personal identity as a Philipino American.” Side B of Warner’s book was written with his mentor, Toi Derricotte, during his last semester in the Wilkes MA program. The last poem in the collection, “East/West” is a “must read,” according to Derricotte, one in which Warner “fuses references to music, spirituality, psychology, pop culture and literature as he explores themes of exile and identity.” A few lines from the poem, “I/tore out the pages of my/ancestry, and chose black ink for blue feelings,” express Warner’s poetic journey of self exploration beautifully. Paper Kite Press, which published Too Bad It’s Poetry, worked closely with Warner throughout the process. Hill-Kaucher said the “publication of the work depends on the manuscript. We let the work inform the design of the book, and we work from there with various printers to make the final product, one that the author and editors are happy with.” The small, local printing company has released nine books thus far and though small press poetry books “fly well below the radar of big box bookstores,” authors get a voice in the design and form of the manuscript. Paper Kite Press works primarily with poets and the publication of poetry, “Poetry That Needs to Be Published” is its mission and any profits made from the sales of authors like Warner allow The Beacon/Cara Koster future poets to publish Warner’s book of poetry will be released on September 21 their work. “It’s great to at Paper Kite Press & Studio in Kingston. know that my book will let others in the genre be published. That’s continuing to revise his thesis. what it’s about, poetry and readings. I’m Too Bad It’s Poetry will be released on looking forward to being able to read from September 21 at 8:30 p.m. at Paper Kite my own book at and hopefully this will al- Press & Studio on 443 Main Street in Kingslow me more opportunity to do readings at ton and will be followed by an open mic. different venues.” The book can be purchased from Paper Kite Warner is currently involved in virtually Press studio or online at www.wordpaintevery poetry reading in the Wilkes-Barre ing.com and at the downtown Barnes and area. He will be hosting an open mic series Noble in Wilkes-Barre. Warner will also at the downtown Barnes and Noble in the be participating in a book reading/signing end of September, and is also scheduled session on October 25 at 7:00 p.m. at the to host the AWP Poetry Slam Series at the Barnes and Noble College Bookstore. 2008 Conference in Manhattan. He is currently working on a small chapbook and Front page photo courtesy of H.Caprari theme of Collegetown Carnival. Various carnival activities such as caricatures, tarot card readings and a fashion show sponsored by the Weekender will be offered for the college students. Bridget Giunta, Wilkes-Barre city administrator and coordinator for the Party on the Square explained, “The theme of Collegetown Carnival will set the event apart from previous years. We are offering the traditional favorites but also new events like the Weekender Walk-Off Fashion Show and more participation from area businesses.” Students must present their college ID from one of the five local universities, which include King’s Col- lege, Luzerne County Community College, Misericordia University, Penn State WilkesBarre and Wilkes University. All students with a valid college ID will receive a free t-shirt, a student discount card for thirteen local businesses and tickets for food and amusements at Party on the Square. The student discount card can also be shown the night of the event at Movies 14 for a discounted ticket of $6. According to Guinta, the event will begin at 5:00 p.m. with all five schools participating in a student walk into Public Square. The idea of a student walk to Party on the Square was created during a joint student government meeting between Wilkes and King’s College, according to Guinta. Guinta then proposed the idea to the other three participating colleges, who all agreed to participate. The student walk to Party on the Square is open to as many students as would like to join. A kickoff ceremony will take place at 5:15 p.m. Present at the ceremony will be Marilyn Santarelli, Chair of Diamond City Partnership, Todd Vonderheid, CEO of Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Industry, JJ Murphy, Wilkes-Barre City Administrator, Tom Leary, Interim President for Student Development at Lu- Party on the Square to create Collegetown carnival BY ALISSA LINDNER Beacon Asst. A&E Editor The fourth annual Party on the Square will take place on Wilkes-Barre’s Public Square this Thursday, September 20, from 5:00-9:00 p.m. The event offers student discounts and live entertainment to the students of five local colleges. This year, Party on the Square, offers a 09.20.01 Graphic courtesy of Bridget Guinta zerne County Community College and Matt Brown, Wilkes Student Government President, who will represent the student bodies of the five colleges. The entertainment begins at 5:30 p.m. with live music from the local band The Five Percent. At 6:30 p.m. the traditional Domino’s Pizza eating contest will be held and at 7:15 p.m. Go Go Gadget will take the stage. New to the Party on the Square this year is the Weekender Walk-Off Fashion Show, which will be held at 8:00 p.m. The fashion show will feature styles from area boutiques, salons and college bookstores. The downtown Barnes & Noble store will stay open late the night of the event for more live music from “Middleport Wednesday” and to raffle off the apparel from Wilkes, King’s and Edun Live featured in the fashion show. Junior criminology major Vashty Vazquez plans to attend this year’s Party on the Square. She explained, “Me and a bunch of friends are going [to Party on the Square]. I am really looking forward to going since I haven’t been able to go in the past.” Vazquez continued, “I’m looking forward to everything from the music to Domino’s Pizza.” �14 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Movie Review: Halloween BY MIKE WILLIAMS Beacon Staff Writer In 1978, director John Carpenter gave horror fans everywhere a reason to rush to the theater with the release of his classic Halloween. With it’s great cast, expert mix of horror and suspense and its incredibly memorable score (thanks to Carpenter), the film set the bar for slasher films, not to mention introducing us to Jamie Lee Curtis, and of course everyone’s favorite, white-faced, butcher-knife wielding killer, Michael Myers (the psychopath, not Austin Powers). Over the course of nearly 30 years, the franchise spawned eight sequels, some good, some bad, but none as magnificent as the first. Now, we find ourselves in 2007, and the film that started it all is back in theaters, with a new director, a new cast and a veritable army of fans with their fingers crossed, hoping that this remake will do the original justice. Stepping into Carpenter’s large, bloody shoes to retell this classic is rocker/director/horror fanatic Rob Zombie, creator of House of a Thousand Corpses, The Devil’s Rejects. As soon as fans heard about plans for the remake, the rumblings and questions began. “What if Zombie changes the story?” “What if he changes the characters?” “What if he turns a suspense-fest like Halloween into a bloodbath?” But as is with all remakes, the only way to see if it does the original justice/injustice is to see it yourself. But in case you still have some doubts and trepidations; here’s a quick overview of what Rob Zombie’s Halloween has to offer. Opening in similar fashion to the 1978 version, Zombie’s begins in the early 1960s, where we find a young Michael Myers, prepping for another year of trick-or-treating in Haddonfield, IL. However, unlike the original which spends only a few minutes with young Michael before jumping directly to his legendary All Hallows Eve massacre, this version spends over half the movie giving the viewer insight into what led the young Michael commit his first violent crimes, as well as his life inside the mental institution which housed him for seventeen years. It is this particular section of the film which separates the remake from the original, showing fans aspects of Myer’s life never touched by the original. The viewer gets to see Michael meeting and interacting with the film’s hero, Dr. Loomis, played by SEPTEMBER 18, 2007 Malcom McDowell (Gangster No.1), and Wallace (The Howling), and basically the also how exactly Myer’s escapes the insti- entire cast of House of A Thousand Corpses and The Devil’s Rejects. tutionalization. Rated R for strong, brutal violence along Once out, Myers heads straight back to his home town, and you can just guess what day with your run-of-the-mill slasher flick sexit is. It is here where we meet our heroine uality, Halloween certainly earns its rating, Laurie Strode, played by newcomer Scout making the blood and gore of the original Taylor-Compton, which is a nice touch by look tame by comparison. This is not a film Zombie, considering that the role of Laurie for kids or anyone who can’t get a kick was her predecessor, Curtis’, debut role as out of a good arterial spray every now and then. So be forewarned: this is a slasher well. As night falls over Haddonfield and the movie, people are going to die, and in this kiddies are filling the streets looking for a case, when they bite it, they don’t go out few Halloween treats, fans will begin to see pretty, clean, or quietly. several familiar happenings that seem to be When all is said and done, there are realtaken directly from the Carpenter’s 1978 ly only two ways to view this: an excellent version. However, it is the viewers’ knowl- retelling/companion piece of a classic or edge of the original that allows Zombie borderline cinematic sacrilege. Eventually to manipulate them, giving you one scare all horror fans will have to decide on which Photo courtesy Cathy Alaimo when you’re expecting another. side of the line they want to stand. RememOnce this pattern becomes apparent, it is ber, this is not a remake, it is a retelling. If clear to see that you can’t predict what is go- you want to see John Carpenter’s Hallowing to happen next, which may be the films een don’t go see this movie, stay home and greatest asset. On the other hand, for the watch the original. However, if you think real horror buffs, the biggest thrill may be you’re up for a good scare, a lot of blood, seeing the sheer number of cameos Zombie, and a new spin on a familiar story, head out a well known splatter hound, packed into to the theaters, because Rob Zombie’s Halhis film including, just to name a few, Ken loween is a flick just itching to satisfy all of Foree (Dawn Of The Dead), Brad Douriff your sick, bloodthirsty needs. (the voice of Child’s Play’s Chucky), Dee Grade: B + Schedule of Events Tuesday 18 -Alice Cooper performing at the Kirby Center at 7:30 p.m. •""SaabM-e oight .. /1VeJ!'f Tuesday night from 7:00-8;30(1.lDl Wednesday 19 • "',U.rv~ Acru.u,tic Ml!l.-s il' ~cy Wodm:~day .nigh.rt m OU!r caf.c~ - Film:Once showing at the Kirby Center at 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. - Echoburn performing at the Woodlands at 10 p.m. Tim week 4Dealers in ~ 6:30-8:;30pm Thursday 20 • "'Uw· A ous:tk: Mus:i.c"'· .featur.lng "'M:liddleport Wedne'Sday'" !liter -Party on the Square at Public Square at 5:30 p.m. ' tb.e .. th ADiluil P:uty on the: S.qu:u-e' 1hw:5da:y, Sept m:b .I 20th -Sham 69, Reisitance Culture, The Cutters and Cunnilingus performing at Backstage at from 8;00- H:OOpm in OtEr Surbu.cb cm, 6 p.m. • "'Third Frlday Art \Val - Fnda:y, Sepkmhcr 21:st funm -Write Now! Writer’s discussion group at the Tudor Book Shop at 7 p.m. Friday 21 5:00- &OOpm featuring Je111 Adams .a Wilk.es. Rive'l"Jity - Renoir Exhibit bus trip - bus leaves the Wymong Valley Mall at 7 a.m. p0ttt1"'f :IJ1uttu •ror, She will b-.e displaying rand Mlling - Strawberry Jam performing at the Jazz Cafe he'r hmd thr011m pott~IJ, - Third Friday Art Walk in downtown Wilkes-Barre from 5-8 p.m. Stm-y 'll'ime ev~.ry S: ru:mdaymorning from 11:00-1~00 - Municipal Waste, Skeleton Whitch, Toxic Holocauast and 1428 performing at Back stage at 6 p.m. -39 Mariner performing at the Woodlands at 10 p.m. SA:rn AND SPECIALS Saturday 22 - Raw Food class at Arts Youniverse at 3 p.m. "fMowe GMn Sptdd from 6:00pm to close -. c:ry evcmng... - Tripping on Nothing and Gongzilla performing at the Jazz Café pre.sen.it yotrr movie sruh from. ~ovi~:. 14"' aml gt:t·.Zs:% off all - Sordoni opening reception from 5-7 p.m. - The Sw!ms, Dr. Horsemachine and the Moneynotes, The New Motels and TBA per itemJ -in our Stadm ' call, forming at Café Metropolis at 7 p.m. Sunday 23 Dorlt ·forget tQ, pi,dl;: wp a .iFn;q_u_cnit: Hu~r Card,; today! -Xclisive & the Soul Revival performing at the Woodlands Streamside Bandstand. The area’s favorite show bands perform on stage from 10:00 " - 1&111\: ~ tu me yoo:r fl.EX DOLLARS :m: The -. here :in ,our. stclre! . Beacon/Nick Zmijewski p.m. to 2:00 a.m. �15 Kudracross BY CHRISTOPHER KUDRAK Beacon Staff Writer ACROSS 1 Buzzing nuisances 6 Rear of a boat 9 Clumsy people 13 Best 14 Small version of 14 down 15 Left side of a boat 16 A daring bet 17 Read hastily 18 ABC, XYZ or 123 19 Theaters with many screens 22 X 23 People of common descent 24 Angry Speech 26 Cattle call* 29 Discontinue 30 Blackbeards milieu 31 Acorn producer 32 Crestfallen 33 Commence 37 Beale ____, Memphis 39 Music source 40 Common sedimentary rock 41 Airline schedule abbreviation 42 Bar account 43 Hallucinogenic drug (abbr.) 45 Quarter of four 46 Cunning 47 Miniature tree 50 Between microwave and gamma 52 ____ de Janeiro 53 Saying on the first day of school SEPTEMBER 18, 2007 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 59 Medicinal plant 61 Greenish blue 62 A flick 63 Common Vegas game 64 England nobility title 65 High society 66 Biblical garden 67 Harmful pesticide, for short 68 Belly button DOWN 1 Suds 2 Comic character “Little ____ Moppet” 3 “____ cost you” 4 Revise 5 Boom variety 6 Climb 7 Natural fiber 8 Beliefs 9 Choose 10 Main artery 11 The “F” in KFC 12 Excalibur holder 14 Gilligan’s home 20 Clothing fold 21 Afternoon nap 25 26 27 28 32 34 35 36 38 39 Degree of speed Bryophyte Hippocratic ____ Popular southern US pod Playground item Bachelor of ____ Authentic Country music star _____ Keith Pipe bends Type of boat 41 44 45 47 48 49 51 54 55 56 57 58 60 Join up Ate conservatively Bovine powered vehicle Decelerate Lubricated Lack of people Saudi Arabia neighbor Bullet metal Cattle catching device Tel-____ Refer to Hull part Long time BY ANDEE SCARANTINO Beacon Editor-in-chief First of all, just starting this review was difficult. When I typed in “SugarDaddyForMe.com” into my Firefox browser, I felt dirty. I mean, who am I? I’m 21, female, single, editor of a newspaper… Wow… That fits (the stereotype of nerd, maybe.) What was even worse was when I had to tell the website what I was. My choices for “gender,” a drop down list, included: SugarDaddy, SugarBaby, SugarMomma, SugarBaby (male), Gay SugarDaddy, Woman for Extramarital, and Man for Extramarital. Yikes. Entering The Beacon’s email address and listing myself as a “SugarMomma,” I was on my way to experiencing the world of sugary goodness. I also listed myself as “very cuddly” under “Body Type,” just because I found the choice amusing. Following, I moved forward into the site. Deciding to browse who was online at 12:40 AM, I found an interesting selection… All right, I didn’t. I found a meat market. Who are these people?! Maybe I’m wrong, but I find the whole concept of the site to be sick. As far as I can tell it’s set up for people seeking sexual relationships, and pretty much redefining the notion of ‘dating.’ They don’t date. They list themselves as if they were a Craig’s List ad. Listen to this one. *** SugarBaby, 23, Single Looking for: 26 - 60 SugarDaddy Toronto, Ontario, Canada I am a 23yrs old Tasty Caramel Candy and very very adventurous and intelligent lady who has a great sense of humor. I am very out going and open-minded and knows exactly what I want. *** What the heck is that? How could anyone feel good about calling themselves a “tasty caramel candy?” Yes, I get itSUGARDADDY… But come on. Who are you? My inner feminist is screaming! Please… You’re 23 and you post that you want someone 26-60? I mean, I’ve dated older men, sweetheart, but you don’t need someone who is going to excrete evaporated milk! Here’s another one for the scrapbook: *** SugarDaddy, 42, Married but Looking Looking for: 18 - 30 SugarBaby Courtesy Lackawanna County Library System SugarDaddyForMe.com Manhattan, New York I am a tall, slim, fit, attractive, sensual professional,early 40s, financially secure, 5’11, 185 who is passionate, down to earth, somewhat kinky and looking for someone open minded. *** Yes, everyone, you read correctly. SugarDaddyForMe. com specifically aides the progression of extramarital affairs. These men and women purposely pitch their “’til death do us parts” and essentially place themselves on the market. In six months, after the onset of inevitable emotional attachment the “I want to slap him/her in the face” reality will set in, and the site’s goal of pleasure will turn to pain, sorrow, and possibly a nasty divorce and the dreaded “spousal support.” How can a site support and help aide something so awful? I just don’t understand what happened to dating. I don’t understand what happened to love and marriage. I mean, I guess I’m no better, because I just wasted a half hour of my life browsing these hyper-sexual beings’ profiles. I don’t support this site. I give it an “S,” for “S”hut it down before “S”omeone gets an “S”TD. �16 SPORTS SEPTEMBER 18, 2007 Field hockey team falls to Widener, but boosts numbers BY CARLTON HOLMES Beacon Sports Editor The head coach who once led the Lady Royals from Scranton University to a conference championship bout is now back for another season--with the Lady Colonels. Sara Myers, 2005 Freedom Conference Coach of the Year, has begun her third season as the Lady Colonels head coach and believes this is the best team she’s had as a coach at Wilkes University. “We have a strong returning group that came back from last year,” said Myers. “We have 19 returners. We have a talented group and it’s a good group to work with. Game to game we’re making steps of improvement every time we step on the field.” The Lady Colonels went on the road to face Widener University for their fourth game of the season on September 13. They entered the game with a 2-1 record against Widener who was sitting on a record of 30 at the time. The clear 70-degree weather made it the perfect day for both teams to grab their sticks in front of an estimated 135 fans in Chester, PA. Widener’s Jaime Carr would strike first at the 05:08 mark hitting the ball past Lady Colonels goalie Julia Smith off an assist from teammate Erica Rose. It took Wilkes nearly forty minutes to respond to tie the game at one goal apiece. With 43:34 remaining on the clock, Wilkes sophomore Jennifer Keegan slammed one past goalie Katie Jensen who had five saves on the day for Widener. Unfortunately for the Lady Colonels, Widener only needed approximately twelve minutes before Carr would get her second goal putting the score at 2-1. Five minutes later, Widener’s Mallory Meyer would score off a pass from Colleen Guille putting the game out of the Lady Colonels reach. “[The game against Widener] was the most intense game we played all year,” said Myers. “I think people stepped up and had their best game against Widener.” Smith gathered 18 of her season total 47 saves against Widener. Unfortunately, the Lady Colonels were held in check offensively attempting only eight shots and scoring on two. If they’d had the opportunity at a couple more shots, they may have won. Junior Devan McKay scored the final goal of the game with eight minutes left in the game. The Lady Colonels are now 2-3 after losing two goals to one on the road Saturday against 13th-ranked Montclair State (NJ). Keegan tied the game at one during the 38:09 mark off a rebound, but Montclair’s Megan Pietrunti would score nearly ten minutes later. Both teams remained scoreless in the final twenty-two minutes leaving the final score 2-1 Montclair. Two of the Lady Colonels’ three losses have been on the road. With 14 games left on the schedule, the Lady Colonels still have a chance to improve on their 9-9 record from a season ago. The Lady Colonels go on the road to matchup against Elizabethtown Tuesday at 4:30 and another non-conference game will be played at home for the Lady Colonels against Marywood. Last season the Lady Colonels beat up on both Elizabethtown (5-1) and Marywood (4-0) within the first five games of the season. Senior Lindsay Thomas and the rest off the Wilkes team remembers the days of 2005 when they reached the semi-final playoff game against Kings and believes that they will make it back. “I think we have a lot of potential,” said Thomas. “We just need to work a little harder and practice. Couple more games, I’d say we’ll be one of the teams to look out for in the conference.” BY CARLTON HOLMES Beacon Sports Editor Losing seven of his players after expecting to drop only two graduating seniors doesn’t seem to bother the sixth-year women’s soccer head coach, John Sumoski. Ultimately, if chemistry isn’t happening, changes, even unexpected ones, can be a gift. Last year, Lady Colonels bowed out of the playoffs in the first round. This was a surprise after being crowned conference champions in 2005, and some have speculated that the early departure happened because of a lack of team chemistry. Team chemistry may also be the reason why some Lady Colonels decided to retire their jerseys prematurely from last year. Whatever the case may be, Sumoski has set his sights on the kind of teamwork that builds championships for the 2007-08 season. With an even split of 11 veterans and 11 freshmen on his roster, Sumoski and the Lady Colonels believe they can return to the glorious days of the 2005 women’s conference championship soccer season. “Everyone is very confident that if we work hard and I do my job of putting the right team on the field, we have a very good shot at winning the conference,” said Sumoski. “But everything has to fall together nicely as far as organizing all the newcomers with the returning players.” Senior forward Rebecca Duttry also believes her team can return to the days of 2005 but possibly further. “This year I think we can go to the Sweet Sixteen,” said Duttry, “very easily.” ball down field completing a brilliant pass to sophomore forward Julissa Reed. Freshman Melissa Polchinski, finished the play kicking the ball through the net off a pass from Reed. Wilkes has won three of its last four games against Scranton. Now the team is 3-20 all- The Lady Colonels first conference game will be Saturday Oct. 6 against Mahattanville College. The Beacon/Todd Weibel Sophomore Jennifer Keegan leads the Lady Colonels in the scoring department with four goals on twelve attempts. Keegan has started all five games this season. Lady Colonels soccer looks to rebuild and develop “Everyone is very confident that if we work hard and I do my job of putting the right team on the field, we have a very good shot at winning the conference.” -John Sumoski So far, the Lady Colonels are one game above .500 with a 3-2 non-conference record. Their first conference battle will be at home against FDU-Florham (NJ) on Oct. 6. All of the Lady Colonels’ first five games have concluded in shutouts including their 1-0 “moral victory” over former conference rival Scranton University in overtime. Senior forward Georgina Robertson forced one of Scranton’s players to move backwards with the ball allowing Catherine Simone to apply pressure and strip it away. Simone, a junior forward, then kicked the time against the Lady Royals. The other two wins for the Wilkes women have also been 1-0 shutouts to both Cortland University (NY) and Lebanon Valley College (PA). The Lady Colonels last line of defense lies in the hands of senior goalie Liz Pauly. Pauly has caught a total of 14 saves, while giving up five goals in the initial five games. Junior Jessica Berkey has also filled in at the goalie position. Although the Lady Colonels have enjoyed holding their opponents scoreless, they have had their share being on the other side of the fence. On September 6, the Lady Colonels hosted nationally ranked (3rd) Messiah College. Messiah held the Lady Colonels to only one goal shot while scoring five goals on thirteen shots of their own. Wilkes gave up three goals during a nine minute span that began at the 26:53 mark. “Messiah plays a beautiful game of soccer and it really showed us where we are at compared to the best in the country,” said Sumoski. “It means a lot to the players just to have the opportunity to play them. Every year we can look at our progress based on how we do against them.” In 2006, the Lady Colonels lost to Messiah 6-0. This week, the Lady Colonels match up against two other prestigious soccer programs in New York University and Stevens Institute of Technology (NJ). Stevens is ranked 15th in the nation while N.Y.U. is 7th in their region. Today the Lady Colonels go on the road to square off against Stevens at 7 p.m. Both teams have a history that dates back to Nov. 12, 2005 when Stevens shut out the Lady Colonels in NJ 5-0 during the D3 women’s soccer national tournament. The Lady Colonels take on NYU Sunday at Ralston Field at 1 p.m. �SEPTEMBER 18, 2007 FOOTBALL from PAGE 20 “This loss is hard for me and it’s hard for our football team,” said Sheptock. “When we started playing Rowan, we think, ‘they’re one of the premier programs in the east.’ And now on two consecutive occasions we’re toe-to-toe with one of the premier programs in the eastern half of the United States. We’re right there and to be so close stings a little bit.” “But (the team’s loss) also reveals how close we are to getting to that level and that’s the positive I take from this,” Sheptock added. The first three Wilkes games of the season have been home against teams from the NJAC conference including William Paterson (NJ) and Montclair State (NJ) for a combined total of three losses by a mere nine points. Despite being sent to the turf six times on sacks, Karaffa displayed his best offensive performance of the season against Rowan. Karaffa threw for two touchdowns after leaving the first two games empty handed against William Paterson and Montclair SPORTS State. He also put up a season-high 249 yards, 173 of those in the second half on a total of 25 completions to 11 different receivers. Zangardi led all receivers with 86 yards on six catches. Prushinsky followed with six catches of his own for a total of 60 yards. The Wilkes name who was called only six times for 14 rushing yards against William Paterson in the first game and zero against Montclair State. Against Rowan, sophomore Sean Madden led the Colonels in rushing with 30 yards on 15 attempts. Sophomore Corey Carter got only three touches against Rowan compared to 30 carries between the Colonels first two games. All four of the Colonels running backs including senior Ryan Gallagher and freshman Jamar Beverly, combined for only 39 rushing yards. Rowan’s running backs came away with 92 rushing yards. Senior All-American Kyle Follweiler was the beast on the defensive side of the pigskin for the Colonels at the middle linebacker position. Follweiler had a career-high 20 tackles, 14 of which were unassisted. He also grabbed an interception at Rowan’s 31- yard line in the beginning of the second quarter and a sack for a loss of four yards. Junior Corey Tucker followed with eight tackles and one forced fumble. Although the outcomes of games are not solely determined on either side of the ball, Sheptock believes his special teams unit needs to be solid in order to propel his team forward. “Our blackshirt (special teams) unit will determine how successful our season is,” said Sheptock. “Through the first three games you see that. That’s where we go to get better to start winning football games.” Not only could the Colonels have potentially gone into over-time in their game against Rowan on Saturday had they made the extra point on their first touchdown, but they also missed an extra point attempt in their first game of the season against William Paterson resulting in a 17-16 loss. The Colonels have a bye this week and get the chance to fix what has gone wrong before their seven game stretch in the MAC Freedom conference that begins with Lebanon Valley on Saturday, September 29 in Annville, PA. “Those first couple they were a great test and we had some great teams we played 17 against,” said Karaffa. “We fell a little short with that one point loss, but we’re all loooking up. We’re all getting fired up for the MAC now.” The Beacon/Gino Troiani Wilkes sophomore running back Corey Carter carries the ball during Saturday’s 14-13 loss against game against Rowan. ~Barioti(6) MOIDllfll'llaRtldla,(J) D:wr Qriidne1 PriPi lldlw ~Cal: ~Ollt 'R!flVs:z........ l2Cal:'IBJ' 110..Tre, 11!1rt. ..,,_, Mlnl'IKIDil(l2) Mini~ Pee 10! (12) Jmpn, Puwen 00 ftMobFffl!lll ~Na& On.laalta,p �SEPTEMBER 18, 2007 SPORTS 18 Commentary American League MVP to be determined in final weeks Alex Rodriguez is primed to walk away with his third Most Valuable Player award BY TIM SEIGFRIED Beacon Asst. Sports Editor When it came to deciding the American League MVP for 2006, it was a close race between the Minnesota Twins’ Justin Morneau and the New York Yankees’ Derek Jeter. This year the race is anything but. Alex Rodriguez, the third baseman for the New York Yankees, has all but won his third MVP award. All he needs now is to tally the votes. A-Rod, quite possibly the greatest player of this generation, is currently in the midst of the best year of his career, one year removed from a season in which he was booed by fans, moved down to the 7th spot in the lineup, and all but nearly run out of town by the notoriously tough New York media. What a difference a year makes. While the Yankees struggled in the first half of the season, Rodriguez was busy trying to keep the team afloat. In an April that saw the perennial contender Bronx Bombers play to a record of 9-14, A-Rod was hitting everything in sight, ending the month with a .355 batting average, 14 homeruns and 34 RBIs. While he was unable to keep pace with those numbers, he has still managed to put up the kind of numbers that one has come to expect from the youngest member of the 500 homerun club. Currently, A-Rod is sitting atop the AL with a comfortable lead in both homeruns (52) and RBIs (141), while maintaining a batting average of .315. More importantly, however, is how pivotal he has been in the clutch. In 2006, A-Rod wasn’t reliable in key situations or in the playoffs, a blemish on an otherwise storied career. This season, he is hitting .328 with 6 homeruns and 19 RBIs in the “close and as the Angels have an 8.5 game lead over the second place Seattle Mariners in the AL West. The next canidate lies in Magglio Ordonez, the Detroit Tigers’ right fielder. Ordonez, who is leading his team in home runs(27) and RBIs(132) is also leading the Americal League in batting average(.356.) Magglio has been key in the Tigers’ success this season, but his work is far from done. With only 13 games left in their season, Detroit is 2.5 games back in the wild card, and 5.5 games back in the AL Central. Also on board for MVP consideration is the most unlikely of players, Mike Lowell, the third basemen for the AL East leading Boston Red Sox. Lowell, a veteran player who was with the Florida Marlins during their 2003 World Series campaign, is having a terrific year for Boston in a season in which perennial slugger Manny Ramirez and newly acquired J.D. Drew and Julio Lugo Photo courtesy msnbc.com aren’t producing. Alex Rodriguez watches a homerun fly ay Yankee Stadium. He has been one of the most consistent players for the Red they are in his rearview mirror. His closest company is Vladimir Guer- Sox, leading the team in RBIs(106) and berero, a former MVP winner himself, and ing one of the team leaders in average(.326), resident right fielder for the Los Angeles while helping them maintain their lead in the AL East over the rival New York YanAngels of Anaheim. Guerrero is arguably one of the most over- kees. As the season winds down, it is going to looked players in the American League, become more and more apparent as to who simply because he has been one of the most will walk away with the MVP award. consistent hitters in recent memory. But, for the sake of things, let’s call it as it In his last ten seasons, Vlad hasn’t hit beis: Alex Rodriguez, your third MVP award low .300, while hitting at least 30 homeruns is waiting. with 100 RBIs 8 times. late”* situations. His monster season couldn’t come at a better time, as he has the choice to opt-out of his contract with the Yankees at season’s end, essentially making him a free agent. It doesn’t hurt that the Yankees have a 2 game lead in the American League Wild Card, either. Despite his numbers, A-Rod does have some company in the MVP race, even if This season is no different, as he leads the Angels in average(.327), homeruns(24), and RBIs(119), while simultaneously being the only power threat in their lineup. His presence is definitely felt, however, *Close and late results in the 7th inning or later with the batting team either ahead by one run, tied or with the potential tying run at least on deck. STATISTICS Thru 9/16 Alex Rodriguez, 3B New York Yankees Average: .315 HR: 52 RBI: 141 Magglio Ordonez, RF Detroit Tigers Average: .356 HR: 27 RBI: 132 Vladimir Guerrero, RF Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Average: .327 HR: 24 RBI: 119 Mike Lowell, 3B Boston Red Sox Average: .326 HR: 18 RBI: 106 AL Batting Title Race: 1. M. Ordonez(DET), .356 2. I. Suzuki(SEA), .350 3. P. Polanco(DET), 341 4. J. Posada(NYY), 338 5. V. Guerrero(LAA), .327 6. D. Ortiz(BOS), .326 7. M. Lowell(BOS), .326 8. D. Pedroia(BOS), .324 9. J. Vidro(SEA), .318 10. C. Crawford(TB), .315 �SEPTEMBER 18, 2007 Athlete of the Week: Alison McDonald BY MEGAN SMITH Beacon Staff Writer Last season, the women’s tennis team reached new levels of success. The team battled tirelessly to overcome some tough opponents and are working to maintain the same level of excellence this year. Last year, the Lady Colonels beat DeSales to gain a seat at the 2006 national tournament. A key component to that victory came from the then sophomore Alison McDonald. McDonald was named to both the MASCAC Academic Honor Roll as well as the All-Freedom Conference team. With her stunning doubles 8-1 win over the FDU-Florham first doubles team of Leslie Johnson and Jill Horn, and her equally commanding singles win 6-3, 6-0 on Saturday, McDonald’s steady leadership and athletic skill led to The Beacon’s naming her Athlete of the Week. McDonald, a junior, began playing tennis at the age of thirteen and always works to better herself. Because many established tennis players acknowledge they pick up a racket as soon as they can walk, it might appear that starting as late as the age of 13 could put a player at a disadvantage; this is not the case for McDonald. She possesses unmatched ambition. Her drive is evident in her individual participation in several United States Tennis Association tournaments. Even now she finds areas in her game that need tuning up. “Personally, I would like to become a little more consistent and also improve my net game,” said McDonald. This season has already proven to be prosperous for both McDonald and the Wilkes team. In addition to the Lady Colonels 90 sweep of FDU Florham this weekend, McDonald had striking victories against Marywood and Misericordia. In her match against Marywood’s Samantha Miller, McDonald was able to win easily in two sets 20 Number of tackles by senior middle linebacker Kyle Follweiller in the Wilkes home game against Rowan on Saturday. Twenty stands as his career-high. SPORTS both 6-0. In the team’s first game on August 31 against Misericordia, she was able to obtain two 6-2 victories over Sarah Golis. In doubles matches, the powerhouse combination of McDonald and Xiaoqiao Zhangbeat Marywood and Misericordia, 8-1, 8-3, respectively. The team holds a current 3-1 record with only one loss to the Division II team from Bloomsburg University. At this match McDonald lost 4-6, 3-6 and, with Zhang, fell short in a 6-8 set. With her self motivation and determination, McDonald will certainly continue to be a force on the courts. She maintains a goal of individual and team success. McDonald is looking ahead even in the earliest matches of this season. She said, “I would love for our team to make it further this year at the national level. I think we definitely have the ability.” McFacts * In 2006, McDonald posted a record of 17-3 before losing in the first round of the D3 national playoffs against Hunter College (NY). *In her sophomore season, McDonald was named to the Middle Atlantic States Collegiate Athletic Corporation Honor Roll, as well as being named to the Intercollegiate Tennis Coaches Association’s All-Academic Team for 20062007 19 TheBeacon/James Rosato Wilkes junior Alison McDonald is one of the aces on head coach Chris Leicht’s roster. McDonald won three out of four tennis matches and was named Freedom Conference Player of the Week for the week of September 3. WEEKLY RECAPS Men’s Tennis Bloomsburg University notched an 8-1 win over Wilkes University in a men’s tennis match on Thursday night. The Division II Huskies and the Colonels were both playing their first dual match of the season. Women’s Soccer Tracy Fitzpatrick scored with just 6:40 remaining to provide Moravian College with a 1-0 non-conference women’s soccer win over Wilkes University on Saturday afternoon. The win improved the Greyhounds to 5-1 overall, while the Lady Colonels saw their record move to 3-3 overall. . Volleyball For the second straight day the Wilkes University volleyball team split two matches to finish 2-2 at the University of Scranton Invitational. The Lady Colonels posted a 30-18, 3019, 30-18 win over Centenary College, before falling to St. Lawrence University, 30-25, 30-18, 30-20. The Lady Colonels moved their record to 5-7 overall. NUMBERS OF THE WEEK 9 84 Total number of assists Collectively, the Lady Colonels gathered by sophomore setter tennis team shut out FDU (NJ) LeeAnn Searfoss over a four on the road. Six different Lady Colonels won in singles matches. game stretch during the Scranton Tournament. Later they would pair for doubles and win all three matches. 3 Number of goals scored last week by senior Andy Curry in the Colonels soccer contests against Misericordia (2) on Sept. 8 and Widener (1) on Sept. 12. �Sports SEPTEMBER 18, 2007 20 Key Stats *Thirteen of the Colonels 16 first downs were off pass completions. *Rowan racked up 80 yards on the ground compared to the Colonels 8. The Colonels lost 33 yds on 6 sacks. *Both teams totaled 257 yds throughout the game. *Rowan coughed up the ball 3 times and recovered it each time. *The Colonels used 11:25 off the clock to score all of their 13 points in the third quarter. The Beacon/Gino Troiani Close, But No Cigar Colonels fall one point short in classic battle v. Rowan University BY CARLTON HOLMES Beacon Sports Editor The Wilkes football team entered halftime tied at zero. The Colonels offense needed to find a breath of fresh air somewhere in a locker room filled with sweaty men. All were looking to avenge last year’s devastating 21-14 loss against Rowan University (NJ) in another classic home battle. But this time the conditions were a little more bearable for each team. It wasn’t a national tournament game as in 2006. Instead, this match-up served as the third in a series of pre-conference games for the Colonels aimed at warming them up for the season ahead. It was Rowan’s second game of the season. And something certainly must have happened in the locker room at the half. It would only take senior quarterback Al Karaffa and his offense four minutes to do in the second half what they couldn’t do in 13 minutes of possession in the first: put points on the board. “We went out there today in the third quarter with a simple game plan as you can have,” said head coach Frank Sheptock. “What you saw was that the offense, because they were out there for awhile together and there wasn’t a lot of personnel changes, they got into some rhythm.” Smelling Rowan’s territory from their own 40-yard line, Karaffa completed the first of two gamechanging passes to junior wide receiver Gennaro Zangardi for the thirteen yards. The very next play, Karaffa floated another one to Zangardi, but this time the pass was complete for a total of 40 yards down to Rowan’s seven yard line. Two plays later, on Rowan’s three yard line, Karaffa hit senior wideout Rocky D’Aconti on a fade to the left for six points. That gave D’Anconti his first touchdown reception of his college career. The Wilkes special team unit took the field and kicker Mario Della Fortuna missed the extra point that would come back and haunt the Colonels later in the game. On the ensuing offensive drive for the Colonels, the team snatched nearly six minutes off the clock before completing a fifteen yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Jason Prushinsky from Karaffa. The Colonels made the extra point putting the game at 13-0. Later in the third quarter with 00:22 on the clock, Rowan freshman quarterback Tim Hagerty completed a 26-yard touchdown pass to sophomore quarterback Val Terebizh. After completing the extra point, Rowan closed their losing margin to just six points. Only a minute and 48 seconds into the fourth quarter, Karaffa was picked off by Kevin Bellamy to set Rowan up with the ball at the Colonels 37-yard line. Rowan would later score on a one yard run by Hagerty and complete the extra point to lead the game 14-13 with 10:17 remaining in the fourth. The Colonels had opportunities but none of them would prove to be a success and the score stood as the final for the game. After waiting nearly a whole year to beat a team that broke their hearts last year in the second round of the national tournament, the Colonels fell one point short of revenge and their first win of the season in front of 1,700 fans. See Football 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 Beacon2007 September 18th Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2007 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/f89f28370864656ecd947b4da3266c4c.pdf 0d300cf394237325168aa5224e81672d PDF Text Text Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA The THE NEWS OF TODAY REPORTED BY THE JOURNALISTS OF TOMORROW SEPTEMBER 11, 2007 In This Issue... Pepsi v. Coke www.wilkesbeacon.com Volume 60 Issue 1 Investigation yields departure of Wilkes Financial Aid Specialist BY ANDEE SCARANTINO Beacon Editor-in-Chief ANDREW SEAMAN Beacon News Editor page 7 Third Time’s a Charm... Hopefully page 20 Spotlight: Wilkes Students Bands page 12 Inside News................................1-5 Opinion.............................6-8 Features.........................9-11 Arts & Entertainment....12-15 Sports...........................16-20 On August 27, The Beacon questioned Wilkes University officials about allegations regarding the previous employment of Leo J. Danylak, Wilkes University Financial Aid Specialist, who came to work at the university in November 2006. The allegations were unrelated to his performance in his role at at Wilkes. Two days later, The Beacon learned that Danylak would not be returning to the employ of Wilkes University. Danylak, who was previously employed by Marywood University for nearly 30 years, the last last six years of which as the Vice President for Business Affairs and Treasurer, denied the allegations prior to his departure. “I heard these allegations, and I was very much surprised by them… I can certainly tell you, they are not true.” said Danylak. Because of confidentiality issues at both universities, sources could not and would not confirm the allegations on the record. When asked if he was previously aware of any allegations regarding Danylak, Mike Frantz, Vice President for Enrollment and Marketing Communications at Wilkes University stated, “Absolutely not.” He added that it is the administration’s obligation to investigate any allegations that concern the well being of Wilkes University students. “Everybody’s entitled to a full and fair investigation,” said Frantz. “If the allegations turn out to be unfounded, obviously there would be no impact. If the investigation turns up any issues of impropriety, for instance in the application process, that could lead to any number of disciplinary actions, up to and including termination of employment.” Danylak’s departure from Wilkes was “a result of [administration] listening very carefully to… questions and conducting our own internal investigation,” said Frantz. When The Beacon contacted Danylak for The Beacon/Cara Koster Wilkes officials are currently searching for a Financial Aid Specialist after Leo Danylak left the position August 29. The Financial Aid Office is located in the University Center on Main. comment, after learning of his departure from Wilkes, he said he was “very surprised the student newspaper would be interested in this… That’s an issue between the employee and the employer.” “People come to jobs and people leave jobs. It’s part of life.” said Danylak. “I left Marywood twice in my career. I left in 1999. I took a leave, and I left in August for personal reasons…. And I left Marywood. I was not terminated by Marywood, and HR cannot confirm or deny that.” When The Beacon attempted to contact several offices at Marywood University, including Human resources, Security, the President’s office, and members of the Board of Trustees, all calls were deferred to the Public Relations office. Representatives in the PR office at Marywood University stated that Danylak resigned from the institution on “good terms.” As Financial Aid Specialist for Wilkes University, Danylak helped to manage over $20 million in financial aid funds. Maggie Lund, Vice President for Human Re- sources and Organizational Development, told The Beacon that the application process is the best defense an institution has to protect itself. Administration cannot share information regarding any employee with any other person or organization. When asked how an administration could possibly investigate allegations regarding a previous employer of a prospective employee, and obtain information regarding their record, Lund answered, “I don’t know that you would.” “We do a background check,” said Lund. “And the background check is done as a condition of employment and the candidate has to sign a complete release form saying ‘I am allowing you to do this.’” The background check goes back seven years, is a two county search and includes the county of residence of the prospective employee. However, a prospective employer can only learn what a previous employer is willing and legally bound to share. See DEPARTURE page 3 �NEWS SEPTEMBER 11, 2007 2 Computer Woes Departure Masters of Fine Arts 3 3 4 Search planned for educator to lead law school development BY ANDREW SEAMAN Beacon News Editor Wilkes University plans to create a search committee to hire a legal educator, moving the university one step closer toward the establishment of a law school, said Dr. Reynold Verret, Wilkes University’s Provost. “We are now in the process of recruiting the leader to actually put together a plan and the program for this new law school.” said Verret. A search committee made up of a chair, members of the Board of Trustees, alumni and members of the local Bar Association, will endeavor to find the person who may lead the University to the creation of a law school. Verret added that an academic search firm would aid in the search for the legal educator. The educator will be vital in the creation of the law school right through the accreditation process which is handled by the American Bar Association (ABA). “Essentially the accreditation goes through the American Bar Association. Standards looked at include the number of faculty, the ratio of faculty to student, the library facilities, the LSAT scores of the class, whether the students are competitive, whether the studies say that there is a market where these students will be employable.” said Verret. He also added that the key element in accreditation is the school’s curriculum. The point at which the law school’s first class takes their seats determines when the school will receive accreditation. The ABA’s rules and regulations dictate that, “A law school is granted full approval if it establishes that it is in full compliance with the Standards and it has been provision- ally approved for not fewer than two years.” The ABA also requires a law school to be headed by a full-time dean that in most cases is a tenured member of the faculty. Verret said that the first students could attend class in 2009, but he added that it might take another year pushing the start date to 2010. According to the American Bar Association, Wilkes Univesity’s law school will be in competition with 196 other accredited institutions. Verret does not believe that the Wilkes community should worry though. “I think the admissions will be competitive not unlike our admissions to the pharmacy programs.” Verret said that it is still undecided whether current Wilkes students will receive preferential treatment during the admissions process, but he said that some students in the law school could certainly be Wilkes alumni. Verret estimates the first class would be comprised of no more than 80 students. As for the law school’s location, Verret dispelled rumors that the law school would be housed in the Max Roth Center. He acknowledged, “We have not made a commitment as to where the law school will be.” Wilkes University President, Dr. Tim Gilmour said that the law school would benefit the Wilkes community in many ways. “First it will add a significant professional education program to Wilkes’ array of programs and help us reach our enrollment growth goals in graduate and continuing studies. Second, it will enhance Wilkes prestige and over time develop an alumni base that will serve as a powerful advocate for Wilkes. And finally, it will continue our tradition of offering higher educa(BELOW) Students were able to sign up for various clubs and organizations at Wilkes University’s annual Club Day held on September 6, 2007. The Beacon/ Andrew Seaman tion programs Northeastern Pennsylvania needs to develop as a region.” (RIGHT) The Max Roth Center, located on the corner opposite the Farley Library, is under renovation but is not committed as the location of the new law school. The Beacon/ Jenna Stephens BEACON Serving the community through fair and accurate reporting while supporting the views and opinions of our readers. Editorial Staff Editor-in-Chief: Andee Scarantino Email: wilkesbeacon@gmail.com Managin Editor: Nick Podolak Email: wilkesbeacon@gmail.com News Editor: Andrew Seaman Email: news.beacon@gmail.com Op/Ed Editor: Mark Congdon Email: thebeacon.oped@gmail.com Lifestyles Editor: Alison Woody Email: beacon.lifestyles@gmail.com A&E Editor: Marissa Phillips Email: thebeaconae@gmail.com Sports Editor: Carlton Holmes Email: beaconsports@gmail.com Photo Editor: Cara Koster Advertising Managers: Stephanie Yachim Dana Zlotucha Email: thebeacon.ads@gmail.com Advisor: Dr. Andrea Breemer Frantz Established in 1936 PA Newspaper Association Member Printed on Mondays during the academic school year. 130 S. River St. First Floor, Conyngham Hall, Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 (570) 408-5903 wilkesbeacon@gmail.com www.wilkesbeacon.com �NEWS SEPTEMBER 11, 2007 3 New location of computers signals shift in IT services BY NICOLE FRAIL Beacon Asst. News Editor Over the summer the Information Technology Services (IT) donated 33 of the 40 old computers from Breiseth 006 to Wilkes University’s Upward Bound program. Administrators of Upward Bound decided to utilize the donation by giving the computers directly to their students. Peggy Espada, Director of Upward Bound, said that the majority of the computers were going to be taken by UB students who recently graduated from both high school and the program and were headed off to college. Following their reconfiguration, students who had never before experienced having a computer in the comfort of their own homes, would indeed depart campus with the goal of setting them up in their dorms or bedrooms. The donation is just one more example of the sea change in technology that Wilkes has experienced in the past 18 months or so. Within the past year, 1150 new Apple computers have replaced the old, clunky Dells across campus. Approximately 220 of them are strictly for student use. “We switched over to these new Apple systems that have an Intel chip in them and they can run both Windows and Macintosh LS,” said Mike Salem, Chief Information Officer of IT. Having both systems on one computer allows the user to choose which platform they’re more comfortable with. Along with new student computers, all of the offices and also some classrooms were enhanced. “We upgraded a couple locations to one touch control systems so that it’s easier for faculty to set up their computers and save time,” Salem said. The new systems include computers, projectors, Smart Boards and also a couple of podiums. “I’m sure there will be times when professors will become frustrated with the equipment because they may not know exactly how to use it... But IT has made a reasonable effort to try to bring people up to speed on them,” Chris Bailey, Director of Campus Support Services said. IT is offering training to students, faculty, and staff if there is confusion regarding any of the new equipment. Along with a directions on the new Wilkes portal, IT will also provide additional training for anyone who may require more assistance. While the computers on campus are new, their locations have also gone through some changes. Since Breiseth 006 is no longer being used as a 24-hour a computer lab, the new machines have been spread out across campus. Even though all of the computers have been replaced in the library and classrooms like Breiseth 105 and 108 and also in department labs, these rooms are not considered to be open access. The only remaining 24-hour open access labs on campus at the moment are Stark’s lobby and Breiseth 210. While Breiseth’s new miniature lab is comfortable and complete, Stark’s is still missing a few necessities; chairs that are high enough to reach the desk, for example. “The stools got ordered late in the summer and there was unfortunately a back order on that product. They’ll hopefully be in [soon],” Bailey explained. The lack of furniture in Stark isn’t the only concern about the new computer labs. “The basement Breiseth lab was convenient - people could meet for group work, and there were still numerous open computers for everyone else. Now, a group might conquer one of the new smaller labs and others will have to relocate. And when it’s colder, this could be really inconvenient... One bigger lab might still be the better option,” said Samantha Bartolomei, sophomore English major. In addition to the issue of lab location and the use of overturned tables and chairs for seating, there is also one more thing that may pose a problem in the future. According to Salem, despite the high number of new computers, the university is ten computers short of the total number on campus last year. Bailey remains optimistic about the loss. “The fact that we’re missing computers probably won’t have a major impact due to the fact that most students are coming to campus with their own machines... There are certain times of the year when students may have an issue with finding an open public machine, but I think that was the case years before and I think a lot of campuses have that same challenge.” “We’ll just have to wait and see,” Salem added. It’ll be another three years until the computers on campus now will be replaced, but there’s still more in The Beacon/Jenna Stephens store for the advancement of Wilkes’ tech- Students sit on tables in the Stark Lobby while they use the new nology. The MyWil- computers and await proper seating, which is back ordered. kes Web Portal is up and running and will now act as the new computers they’re seated at, but also the project for the IT department as they work main website they’re using the computers to get everyone used to not only the new to access. ' Ell IN S- URE . DEPARTURE from FRONT PAGE Lund also said that while Pennsylvania is an “at-will” state, and an employer or employee may terminate employment at any time with or without cause, any departure from the university must run through Human Resources. Lund added that Wilkes University takes departures very seriously, especially termination. When a person is terminated, if it is without cause, despite Pennsylvania’s “at-will” status, the person can seek legal action against the university. A good example of this would a person in a “protected age group,” meaning a person over forty years of age. According to Wilkes University officials, the investigation regarding the allegations against Danylak is closed. “As far as I am concerned, and Wilkes University is concerned, it’s over,” said Frantz. r mu ER s .RB.I. BEVE .· Im! ·. BEEN PiRINllNB EMBROm ·.Y PIil . Dffllll . A'L, T 1 ~ . · ,...,.,,. M �SEPTEMBER 11, 2007 NEWS 4 Wilkes receives approval for MFA in creative writing BY NICOLE FRAIL Beacon Asst. News Editor In 2005, Wilkes University began a graduate program for a Masters of Arts in creative writing. Two classes have graduated since and from those classes came published short stories, articles, and even books from Jim Warner, Marlon James, Donora Hillard. According to Dr. Bonnie Culver, Director of Graduate Programs in Creative Writing, due to the proven success of the MA program, the State of Pennsylvania granted full approval this summer for the new Masters in Fine Arts (MFA) in creative writing at Wilkes University. “The MFA is considered a terminal degree equivalent to a PhD in writing programs or in arts programs,” Culver explained. It’s considered to be the final degree in areas in fine arts such as dancing, sculpting, writing, or theatre. The new program will prepare graduate students to either pursue a career in teaching or work in publishing. Before applying for admission into the MFA program, students need to complete thirty credit hours for the MA. “In the first thirty hours, they study the life, business, and craft of writing. We include editors and agents in all of our on-campus activities. We actually make the students talk to them as they would approach them in a business way,” said Culver. While still in the MA progam, students also need to pick a concentration area which is similar to a picking a major for a Bachelor’s degree. Concentrations offered include poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, play writing, and screenwriting. “We’re one of the few in the country that do that,” Culver noted. If accepted into the MFA, the students attend one more year worth eighteen credits. All together, the MA and MFA can be completed in two and a half years with five residencies and five online semesters. The first semester of the MFA is a literature semester and the second consists of either a publishing internship with publishers, agents, and editors or an arts and education internship which includes adjuncting at a college level, working in a high school, or working in a library. Though many schools offer a Masters of Arts in English with a concentration in Creative Writing, there are very few that offer the MA in Creative Writing nationally. Because of the new program, Wilkes already stood out to aspiring writers from 22 different states and the MFA Courtesy Creative Writing Office brings in many more qualities that The second class of the Masters of Fine Arts program graduated on Sunday, September 9. First row: make the program Aleksander Djordjevic, Lauren Kwaitkowski, Sarah Traver, Stephen Wignot, Gary Frisch, Colin Gaunique. bler, Nancy Slowikowski, Laurie Moyer. Second row: Nicole DePolo, Erin Delaney, Cindy Taren, Albert “The neat thing Difilippantonio, Judy Shandler. Wignot and DePolo will return to Wilkes for their MFA (missing: David about the program Blum) is that you don’t have to have your undergraduate degree on-one relationships between students and meeting with the director and in the audience are producers and at least one agent in English or Creative Writing. The admis- faculty mentors. “All of them are working writers, not aca- there to hear it and respond to them.” sion to the program is based on the writing Screenwriters also go through a simisamples you provide,” Nicole DePolo said. demics,” Culver explained. “It brings about DePolo, who has already had a short story a very different way to look at literature. lar process. For those in the fiction, crepublished and is currently working on a They have to turn in what they’re working ative nonfiction, and poetry areas, the capstone is not unlike a book signing. A novel through the program, graduated with on each year.” A total of eleven books are scheduled to twenty minute reading of their work is her Masters of Arts in Creative Writing on Sunday and expects to attain her MFA in come out between both faculty and students followed by a question and answer period. this coming year. June of 2008. Jim Warner, the Assistant Director of Finally, the capstone for the MA that leads A writing related undergraduate degree is not necessary because both the MA and into the MFA makes the program stand out the Creative Writing Programs and authe MFA are “not English degrees,” Culver among the rest. “Our capstones are thesis thor of an upcoming collection of poetry stressed. “It’s [about] learning how to be a projects. They actually have to go through entitled Too Bad It’s Poetry, graduated professional writer.” the experience of what it would be like in with his MA in 2006 and plans to start The department’s faculty also add some their area. For example, if they are play- his MFA work in January of 2008. “For me, the most important part is the individuality to the program. The program writing, they get a play read in New York… places a high level of importance on one- They go to New York and hear it read after sense of community that’s established. Bringing the [low residency] program to campus twice a year gives the program some soul… You spend six months interfacing with email and discussion boards and any kind of writing that you do is a lonely process. It’s just you and your work at the end of the day… To have the ability to come here and talk to people about writing who understand that and all the distractions that go with it - you don’t get that from day to day.” He added, “Coming to a program like this is emotional.” There are currently 92 active students in both the MA and the MFA. Listen to The Beacon online ... �NEWS SEPTEMBER 11, 2007 5 Beacon News Briefs Local (Kirby Park) Police are investigating an alleged sexual assault that happened on Tuesday August 28, 2007, in the afternoon at Kirby Park near the tennis courts. The victim was a King’s College student who was jogging in the park at approximately 4:30 p.m. Following the report, Wilkes University officials posted fliers around campus urging students to be cautious and walk in groups. In addition, Wilkes activated its emergency notification system sending cell phone text messages to those who had signed up for the service. The assault Courtesy of Marketing Communications is one of several in the Wilkes-Barre in Former Mexican President Vincente Fox the past two months and police continue to search for the man fitting the victim’s (Wilkes University) Wilkes University description in this case. announced that former Mexican president, Vincente Fox, will be the guest (Wilkes University) Fifty-four people speaker at the Outstanding Leaders Forecieved citations for underage drink- rum. Fox, who will speak about “Bringing on Friday, September 7, 2006. The ing the New Economy to Latin Amerbusts were managed by the Wilkes- ica” will be at the F.M. Kirby Center Barre Police Department’s Underage on November 5, 2007. Tickets for the Drinking Deterrence Patrol. The patrol event are $25 and can be purchased at spotted several people walking around the F.M. Kirby Center Box Office or with open beverage countainers at two through Ticketmaster. addresses on Ross and Main Street. A (Wilkes University) Bells will ring out group of 16 students recieved citations over Wilkes University on September at 11:04pm at 248 North Main Street, 11, 2007 to commemorate the victims of while another 38 people were cited at the nation’s worst terrorist attacks that 11:16pm at 110 West Ross Street. occurred on the same date in 2001. The bells will chime for one minute, at each of the times of the four plane crashes that occurred in New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington D.C. There will also be a service to commemorate September 11, 2001 at the bell tower, near Kirby Hall. The program is at 12:15. National (Washington, DC.) On September 8, 2007, First Lady Laura Bush went through a successful surgery to relieve pinched nerves, which caused pain in her neck. The surgery lasted about two and a half hours and she was allowed to return home that afternoon. She was said to be resting comfortably. (Durham, NC) The former Prosecutor for Durham County, Mike Nifong, completed a 24-hour jail sentence for lying about evidence during the Duke lacrosse rape case. Nifong earned national headlines when he brought rape charges against Duke lacrosse players, only for the court to find no crime was commited. Nifong, was also disbarred for his actions during the trial. who have been asking exemption from the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act, allowing them to kill five whales a year. International (Modena, Italy) On Saturday September 8, 2007, Luciano Pavaratti, the famous Italian tenor was laid to rest in his hometown in Modena, Italy. Attending the service were heads of state, music icons and thousands of loyal fans. Pavaratti was 71, and died after a battle with pancreatic cancer. (Tel Aviv, Israel) Syria accused Israel of invading its airspace on Thursday September 6, 2007. Syria’s military said they fired on the aircraft, and added that they reserve the right to retaliate. (Geneva, Switzerland) The United States has agreed to take North Korea off its list of “terrorist” countries as long as North Korea agrees to completely give up their nuclear weapons program. The Unites States will also remove sanctions against North Korea. (Neah Bay, WA) A California gray whale was shot with a .50-caliber machine gun in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The whale was seen heading back to sea and the coast guard has created a 1,000yard safety zone around the injured animal. The Coast Guard says, the whale was shot by members of Makah Tribe, SG Notes September 5, 2007 Treasurer’s Report results will be taken into consideration when determining giveaways. Club Day - Club Day will be September 6, 2007 and SG will have a table Fall Elections - Fall elections will be held on September 19, 2007 Homecoming - The theme for this years homecoming will be Harvest Ball Party on the Square - Wilkes is trying to organize the area colleges to march into Public Square with their college to show school spirit All College: $23,700 General: $7,648.75 Special Projects: $3,500 Spirit: $2,000 Leadership: $5,000 Conferences: $12,500 Start-Up: $1,500 SG Pepsi Products: $500 Events Club Reports Programing Board - first event went well, and many more events planned for future New Business (I! - . -H1LKtS llNtvtRSITY- SG Committee Binders - members to update after committee meeting Publicity - SG concerned students don’t know much about Student Government Pepsi Activities - SG took hand votes on possible Pepsi giveaways for the year and those Club Day - September 6, 2007, 11am - 1pm SG Interest Day - September 11, 2007, 11:30am - 12:15pm 9/11 Memorial Service - September 11, 2007, 12:15pm - 1pm PPD Scavenger Hunt - September 11, 2007, 11am - 1pm Fall Elections - September 19 - 21, 2007 Council of Clubs - September 20, 2007, 11am - 2pm Party on the Square - September 20, 2007, 5pm - 9pm Homecoming - October 4 - 7, 2007 �Opinion Cafeteria too small? Pepsi v. Coke Backpack Justice? SEPTEMBER 11, 2007 7 7 8 6 ‘Family values’ no longer strong argument for Republicans The risk of discovered hypocrisy not worth it in the end BY THE BEACON EDITORIAL BOARD The concept of “family values” has been an important element of the political landscape in the United States over the past few decades. But is it possible that the 1950s understanding of “family values” just doesn’t quite fit Americans in the 21st century? With the recent scandal of Senator Larry Craig from Idaho, who was charged with soliciting men for sex in a bathroom, the issue of family values has been brought into the forefront again. Craig, a Republican, campaigned and voted on issues that represented and supported more “traditional” family values, in keeping with his party. In a June 21, 2001 Time magazine column, Lance Morrow wrote: “The Republican meaning of family values tends to point toward a cultural ideal (two-parent heterosexual households, hard work, no pornography, a minimal tolerance of the aberrant). Says David Blankenhorn, president of the Institute for American Values: ‘Republicans really do want to argue about the culture. They want to argue about morality, what’s right and wrong, standards of private behavior. They really do want to argue about sexuality, procreation and marriage.’” However, the recent charges that the married Idaho Senator attempted to solicit sex in a bathroom suggest that his behavior may not reflect his campaign rhetoric. In other words, if the allegations are true, Craig didn’t always practice what he preached. Media attention to the incident led to public backlash, which ultimately forced his resignation, though at this writing, he is waffling on that resignation saying he may have been too hasty. But is this as important as we make it out to be, or as important as other issues such as the environment, the war in Iraq, social security, education, the economy, taxes and so on? Will knowing and prying into our political leaders’ private lives help get issues like these voted on and passed? Most likely not. By focusing on and expecting our leaders to be perfect or near perfect family-oriented people, we place unrealistic expectations on them. Experience tells most educated people that that there is no such thing as the perfect family. Every family has hardships, dysfunctions and struggles. Why then is “family values” even an issue for those campaigning for office? The former mayor of NYC, and current Republican candidate for President, Rudy Giuliani, is twice divorced. He has taken some heat from those within his own political party arguing that he isn’t as family oriented or morally responsible as those who haven’t been divorced. Will his being divorced make him any less of a president if elected? At the least, it may offer him better insight to the majority of Americans who have endured that same pain. Americans need to reevaluate what issues they rely upon to elect our political leaders. We need to have more practical expectations for them. We also need to look at and better prioritize what issues are important to improving our country’s communities. It is not for the American people to judge the morality or immorality of Craig’s alleged behavior. If he is to be judged, perhaps the more relevant criticism is the fact that he, like so many of his colleagues, relied too heavily on the party-line advocacy of family values that can no longer serve as a reasonable guide for electing leaders. It is reasonable to hold our leaders accountable for taking stances on issues that they don’t actually understand or live. Americans should elect leaders on issues that focus on improving the country. Let’s re-prioritize. ?\ e,o. Q_ •.. ~e" a-.\or (;~o-.•J ? ( ~o,• · '°Jjj I ii' A Sight for Sore Eyes by: Aleksander Lapinski YOUR VOICES Dear Editor, The extent of the hypocrisy permeating the Wilkes University campus this semester is nauseating. In previous years, the beginning of the semester speech concerning alcohol was, seemingly, mostly for show. This semester, the rules have changed, and that speech now means something serious. Many students are wishing they had a warning that the rules would actually be enforced this time around. Drinking underage has been part and parcel of the college experience here at Wilkes since most of the upperclassman enrolled. In previous semesters, student to-do lists included such items as study, drink booze, eat, sleep, and maybe not in that order. This semester, however, the people that many students have seen drunk and been drunk with, are the students who J are now writing people up for being in possession of alcohol. Most traditional students on campus grew up with MTV, cable television, and a president that smoked pot, but ‘did not inhale.’ The idea of drugs, alcohol and sex are not new and are not taboo for a great majority of college students. This generation grew up with people such as Keith Richards and Whitney Houston spouting antidrug sentiments! The hypocrisy continues now as college students, previously drunk and newly on the bandwagon of sobriety and power abuse, are telling their peers not to drink, and punishing them when they do. The so-called ‘underaged’ people were never consulted when the drinking age law was written and put into effect. Somehow, it was deemed logical to allow persons of 18 years of age to go to war, get married, have babies, go to college, get full-time jobs, buy homes, rent apartments, and generally have all of the responsibilities of living as an adult human being, but not to be able to have a beer after a rough week. Putting the ridiculousness of this law aside, and focusing only on Wilkes University and its representatives, it has to be said that it is an abomination to human decency how some of the underage drinking situations have been handled. Power hungry people who will actually brag about how many people they will write up in a given weekend are allowed to enter a private dwelling and take down names in order to punish everyone present, regardless of whether or not all the people present have consumed alcohol. Last year, a warning to quiet down and a good amount of re- spect for your RA could accomplish the same thing as a trip to Resident Life and hefty fine. This year, RAs look for trouble; they don’t wait for it to be reported. And the places where most students actually end up in trouble are the places that the RAs will not venture. So, from now on, students will have to go off campus to wind down and have a beer and hope and pray it isn’t spiked with something that will later leave them without memories or underwear. Drinking with a few friends in the confines of a dorm room or apartment is now more difficult, and in some ways more dangerous, than drinking in off campus, uncontrolled environments. And that is a true shame. Sincerely, Tabitha Hapeman junior, nursing major �OPINION SEPTEMBER 11, 2007 7 It’s getting HOT in here: cafeteria becomes overcrowded Is Wilkes outgrowing its public spaces? BY MARK CONGDON JR. Beacon Opinion Editor Imagine standing in the sandwich line at the cafeteria for 20 minutes. The line is all the way backed up to the registers. You are ravenously hungry and you have class in 40 minutes. Now, once you have your food, imagine not being able to find a place to sit, and when you eventually do, you only have 15 minutes to eat your food before class starts. Well, if the first two weeks of school are any indication, this is very much the situation at our Wilkes cafeteria. For those who have eaten lunch in the cafeteria around noon, there is no denying how packed full of students it is. In fact, it almost seems like the numbers of bodies exceed its capacity. According to Zena Miller, Catering Director, the cafeteria can hold between 575-600 people. With the number of freshmen climbing each year (632 this year!) and a potential law school, it will not be long before the cafeteria will not be able to sustain the students, faculty and staff. Considering only the boom in freshmen, and that most The Beacon/Mark Congdon Jr. Students stand shoulder to shoulder during the noon hour. live on campus and are required to obtain a meal plan, there isn’t even enough room for all the freshmen, let alone the upperclassmen, graduate students and faculty and staff as it is. Currently, the lines are very long, the tables are very crowded and compact and it’s hard to find a place to sit at the hub hours. There isn’t much room to move The Beacon/Mark Congdon Jr. around when finding a seat and the conveyer belt Trays pack the conveyor belt at peak hours in the Henry where diners put their Student Center cafeteria. control over the seating arrangements or the trays is almost always number of tables that are available. They overflowing. My friends and I have eaten at the cafeteria can’t help that there are many more students every weekday since school has started, and eating in the café, but the administration it seems like the busiest time is on Mondays, of Wilkes is eventually going to have to Wednesdays and Fridays around noon. We address this issue soon, especially if the have waited for almost 20 minutes in line student body population is continuously to get a deli sandwich, and we only have growing, and if a law school is instituted. Officials on campus need to discuss this an hour to eat lunch. I am sure that there matter and consider alternate policies or are many more students, faculty and staff space. In spite of the addition to the cafeteria, who have experienced the same problem as it makes sense to begin planning now for I have. other spaces and/or a liberal carry-out I am not saying the cafeteria staff is doing policy. It’s defi nitely something that needs anything wrong. The cafeteria staff keeps to be discussed and worth considering. up with the food supply, but they have no Pepsi v. Coke: Wilkes makes the switch BY STEPHANIE GERCHMAN Beacon Asst. Opinion Editor As most on campus may have noticed, this year Wilkes University underwent a major change. This change is evident in the cafeteria, the first floor of the Student Center, the UCOM, dorm buildings, and in Stark Learning Center, to name just a few heavy traffic areas. Over the summer, Wilkes made the switch from the old empty Coke machines across campus to bright, new (and yes, filled) Pepsi dispensers. The switch is indicative and one more chapter in the seemingly endless American dispute over which soda is better. Pepsi cola and Coca-cola are undeniably similar. They are both dark in color, fizzy and both come in diet or regular. Personally, I like Coke better, but that’s all based on preference. But, one could say that cola is cola no matter what the label. Though at first glance one could be led to believe that the switch offers many new beverage choices, they are just versions of the same drinks we had last year with different names. This year we have Wild Cherry Pepsi, Sierra Mist, and Twister Orange Soda. Last year, when Wilkes was still with Coke, we had Cherry Coke, Sprite, and Minute Maid Orange Soda. The only new options as a result of the switch to Pepsi products are Mountain Dew, Dr. Pepper and Diet Dr. Pepper. This is exciting to me because as a diet soda drinker it is nice to have a calorie free option other than a straight diet cola. The addition of Mountain Dew is another reason is why Pepsi products are better than Coke products. For college students caffeine makes procrastinating possible. Without it many papers would go either unfinished or actually be completed early…what a novel idea. Mountain Dew is a great new alternative on campus to plain old coffee or the mediocre amount caffeine in our old beverage selection. Pepsi is also a better choice because the company has historically had far better commercials. While no one could resist the whole “I’d like to buy the world a Coke” song, Pepsi commercials have not only had songs about Pepsi but celebrities singing songs about Pepsi or dancing around to songs about it. Pepsi commercials have starred such celebrities as Pink, Jimmy Fallon, Parker Posey, Shakira, The Spice Girls, Britney Spears and that cute little Pepsi girl. Okay, I used the term celebrities very loosely. Nonetheless, the Pepsi commercials have upstaged Coke’s commercials starring Elton John, Paula Abdul, and The White Stripes. Pepsi also has more modern can designs. With a contest to design the new Pepsi can, the company put the creativity into the hands of the people who drink Pepsi. The outcome is a more aesthetically appealing can to people our age. The Coke can still looks like a traditional Coke can. There hasn’t been much updating to the label at all. The new Pepsi can looks like a page out of a notebook that has been doodled all over with pen. Personally, even though I am a fan of the taste of Coca-cola, I’d be more likely to pick up a Pepsi because of the cool looking can. The addition of a high caffeine beverage, another diet soda option, better commercials and more aesthetic packaging make Pepsi products a better choice than Coke. �SEPTEMBER 11, 2007 OPINION 8 Date rape a serious concern in first few weeks of semester BY ANDEE SCARANTINO Beacon Editor-in-chief I said, “Watch my drink, while I go to the bathroom.” I am always very cautious about such things. A friend of mine was slipped some type of date rape drug, and I went with her to the hospital as she reacted to it. I’ve had friends who have been victims of acquaintance rapes. I’m not stupid. So, I was careful to make sure someone was babysitting my drink when I left the table. But, the friend who was supposedly watching the drink was distracted, so at some point something happened. Three hours later, I was waking up dizzy, nauseous, and completely disoriented in my friend’s car outside of the Mohegan Sun casino! Well, I suppose I got my summer dose of gamma-Hydroxybutyric acid (GHB), a common date-rape drug that makes a person feel lethargic, lose consciousness, and suffer amnesia. In the worst case scanarios, victims of GHB wake up in unfamiliar settings, having been raped by their attacker. Thankfully, I was not one of those. However, I began this piece that way because I think it’s essential for everyone to understand that yes, it can happen to you. Date rape and acquaintance rape are quite common on college campuses. According to an article “Acquaintance Rape on College and University Campuses” by Felicia F. Romeo in College Student Journal, “A survey from the United States Bureau of Justice reported that in three-quarters of all rapes and sexual assaults against women, the perpetrator is known to the victim.” A college survey conducted by the National Victim Center reported that one in four college women have been raped or suffered attempted rape (Bureau of Justice). In another college survey, half of the college men reported that they engaged in some form of sexual aggression on a date (Bureau of Justice). These reports indicate that young people are at considerable risk of becoming a victim of an acquaintance rapist. An acquaintance rape occurs when the rapist is known to the victim. So, why college campuses? Well, for starters, college students often leave their families and the lives they’ve known previously for 17 to 18 years. Often they’re seeking social inclusion, and without the confines of the “parents’ approval,” students, often because they think it is the “right” thing to do, will engage in sexual intercourse with someone with whom they do not feel comfortable. Alcohol also has a lot to do with it. Parties are breeding grounds for sexual predators, as young people regularly consume too much alcohol and lose inhibition and even awareness of actions. Sometimes, when an acquaintance says, “Oh, come on, come on,” someone under the influence of alcohol will willingly go along with the sex, as they are too intoxicated to firmly resist the rapist. But what many do not realize is that when an individual is drunk he or she is no longer able to offer legal consent. I had a friend call me once, wondering if she was raped. She gave the rapist her consent to sexual intercourse, but she was so heavily under the influence, that she attested she would not have done so were she sober. Another place to find these offenders is the bar, also often a hyper-sexual environment. Because bars tend to be loud, and their spaces are limited, people often need to become very close in proximity to have a conversation. Also, if someone is trying to touch you, it’s quite difficult to just get up and run away. I work at a bar, so often I get the opportunity to watch people who are heavily under the influence, while I remain sober. Their mannerisms completely change, and often they are more affectionate, even with people that seem to just be platonic friends. I have been the person that the “drunk guy” will come up to and eye lasciviously or try to touch. Often it’s hard as a sober individual to shake off the “drunk guy” with five or six “no’s,” so for someone heavily under the influence of alcohol, it would be extremely difficult. Acquaintance and date rape are very serious things, especially within the first eight weeks of the semester, when the stress and pressure of the semester is still manageable. Protect yourself by using the buddy system. Always have a friend with you, preferably two. Ideally, one should stay sober Bags pose a threat to Movies 14? BY MARISSA PHILLIPS Beacon A&E Editor As I recently discovered, it’s sometimes all about fashion over function. During my last trip to the movie theater, my backpack was confiscated, and surprisingly, the situation left me pretty upset. There are just some instances enforced rules really have no solid explanation, and you just have to wonder whether anyone actually stops and thinks about why the policy is in place. Maybe my complaint seems a bit juvenile, but just hear me out for a moment and see if you can understand where I’m coming from. As I was handing in my ticket for the movie, the theater’s manager pulled me aside and told me that the backpack I was wearing wasn’t allowed in the theater. Of course, I had nowhere to put it. I had walked to the theater from campus, and unfortunately for me I didn’t happen to have a personal lockbox right outside, so I wasn’t quite sure what he expected. “Well, how about if you just search it?” I suggested. Of course, the answer was no. And of course, he offered no explanation. The thing that bothers me isn’t that they have a no bag policy, because they don’t. I go there with a huge pocketbook weekly, and no one searches it, and no one cares. I’m bothered by the fact that they don’t mention this specifically anti-backpack policy anywhere. I’m also confused by the notion that only one specific style of bag is a threat . I can understand the logic of a no bag policy. Obviously, I could conceal a weapon, or some sort of illegal candy stash. But the thing is, I can stash just as many, if not more, illegal items in a women’s handbag as in any backpack. Pocketbooks come in all shapes and sizes, and the only difference between them and a backpack is the fact that pocketbooks are not carried on the back, throughout the night, either to be a designated driver, or simply to have unaltered perceptions about the characteristics of others. Watch your drinks. Don’t leave them. Don’t let anyone near them. If your drink magically changes color, it isn’t a sign from God. Chuck the thing. Try to drink from bottles as opposed to glasses, as they are harder to tamper with. Also, if you go to a party with a group of friends, make certain that you know the location of everyone and how they are to safely arrive home, before you decide to leave the party. And please, never leave a drink on a bar and ask a friend who happens to be addicted to Photohunt to watch it. You may end up barely conscious in a car outside of Mohegan Sun as well. GHB and Rohypnol, the drugs of choice most common among date-rapists, may lead to loss of consciousness, and in some cases, amnesia. and they are probably a heck of a lot more stylish. So, sue me for being a sucker for function. And what about messenger bags? Surely that must blow the manager’s mind, as he tries to gauge the level of threat that they deliver. So the bottom line is, while I realize this isn’t a truly significant issue, the logic behind this “no backpack” rule really has no basis. And if I’m going to have a manager approach me and make me appear like a shady character to onlookers, I’d like to know he at least has a sound argument. It needs to be all or nothing; no bags or all bags. Stop picking on the girl with a binder and a sweater in her bag which she willingly offers up to be searched, and start singling out the mother with her five children smuggling the five canisters of Pringles in her pleather Gucci ripoff. �LIFESTYLES SEPTEMBER 11, 2007 9 Student Jobs Student of the Week Energy Drinks 10 11 11 ‘Connecting the Dots’ to bring successful alumni back to Wilkes BY ALISON WOODY Beacon Lifestyles Editor “On paper a degree is a degree, but a reputable education is what truly matters. That’s the value of being a Wilkes graduate.” - Gabrielle Lamb, ‘04 Economic Development, Wilkes-Barre Chamber “I could never say enough about the communications department at Wilkes... it allowed me to be fully prepared for a real public relations job.” - Bridget O’Connor, ‘07 Public Relations and Marketing Coordinator, The Lion Brewery “Earning a degree from Wilkes University was a springboard to pursuing graduate studies in history... the history department had a small, dedicated faculty from which I received a good deal of personal attention.” - Brian Kaschak, ‘98 History Instructor, Wyoming Seminary “A degree from Wilkes University tells me that I received an excellent education. My degree has proved beneficial in both graduate school and my career.” - Richard Albrecht ‘95 Correctional Treatment Specialist, Franklin County Jail On September 13, the Wilkes University Alumni Association, along with Career Services, will host “Connecting the Dots: From Student to Professional the Wilkes Way”. Lauren Pluskey, manager of alumni relations and annual giving, explained, “The idea originally came from Career Services. They wanted to have an event where students could talk to someone in the field that they are majoring in... [the alumni office] came up with a way to connect students with successful people in their field and with past students who are now successful alumni.” The event will begin at 6 p.m., where students will receive a t-shirt and a folder of information on each alumni in attendence. “After each alumni introduces themselves, the students will have the opportunity to speak with them on a one on one level. Each alum will be seated at a separate table where the students can sit with them and chat about their Wilkes experience and how they transitioned into the working world,” said Pluskey. There will be alumni from a wide variety of fields. Some include a TV news reporter, public relations executive, small business owner, caseworker, nurse and more. Carol Bosak, director of Career Services, said, “We chose people from a wide range of careers... They are really friendly, bright, and fun people. Many are fairly recent grads, so the students will find them easy to relate to.” “This event is great for all students. First year students clarifying their career goals can see what they can do with a specific major, older students can get advice on the activities, classes and intern opportunities alumni found really helpful and seniors can even talk about what the hiring picture looks like for their profession or organization,” said Bosak. “My degree has given me the education to conquer obstacles in both my personal and professional growth.” - Cara Cacioppo, ‘07 Regional Account Manager, The Lion Brewery “Along with the knowledge gained from my four years of higher education, the Wilkes name brings a lot of credibility.” - Andy Mehalshick, ‘83 TV News Anchor, WBRE “My four years at Wilkes thoroughly prepared me for my current career in communications. This support didn’t stop after graduation, either - many of my closest professional connections have resulted from my background there.” - Bridget Giunta, ‘05 Administrative Coordinator, The City of Wilkes-Barre “My degree from Wilkes University means that I am prepared for the challenges ahead.” - Kristen Hake, ‘04 Community Relations Coordinator, Northeast Regional Cancer Institute �LIFESTYLES 10 SEPTEMBER 11, 2007 Students weigh environment, hours and wages among job options BY CHRISTINE ZAVASKAS Beacon Asst. Lifestyles Editor With the price of college tuition constantly rising, more and more students are looking for employment in order to help pay the bills. In fact, as of 2006, 79% of undergraduate students were employed and working an average of 25 hours per week, according to the journal Review of Educational Research. However, when it comes to finding work, not all jobs are created equal. While there is no universal “best job,” certain kinds of work may be more suited to your specific lifestyle. With that thought in mind, this article rates four common jobs held by college students. The first job is from the world of retail and is the position of cashier. “It’s not bad. It’s really enjoyable when customers treat you well,” said Matt Watkins, a freshman earth and environmental sciences major, about his cashier job at Dick’s Sporting Goods. Representatives from Target, Sears, and JC Penney confirmed that the responsibilities of cashiers include ringing up customer sales, providing customer assistance, and helping to organize/clean the sales floor. The length of shifts at these three stores ranged from 4-8 hours, and the average salary paid to this position in Pennsylvania in 2006 was $7.92 per hour according to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics website. The restaurant industry is another common choice for students who need some extra money. Specifically, managers were asked about the position of servers at Januzzi’s Pizza & Subs, Olive Garden, and Smokey Bones Barbeque & Grill. “Providing a great guest experience,” is the main responsibility of a server according to Bob Flannery, the General Manager of Smokey Bones Barbeque & Grill. More specifically, the tasks assigned to this job can include waiting on tables, cleaning duties, and filling condiments. The average shift length varies from about 4-6 hours among these three restaurants. Wilfredo Mercado, a senior communications studies major, works as a waiter at Logan’s Roadhouse. When asked how he liked his job, Mercado answered, “I don’t exactly like my job, but out of the three I’ve had it’s my favorite.” Mercado’s other jobs were at Blockbuster and Target. The Bureau of Labor Statistics website lists the average salary for a server in 2006 as $7.34 per hour in Pennsylvania. It is important to note, however, that some server positions offer a below minimum wage salary with the guarantee of gratuity, which could push the overall wage higher. Another employment opportunity that students can take advantage of is the work-study program. “It is a really nice job; everyone there is very friendly,” says James Welch, a senior history major, who does work-study at the library. According to Pam Hoffman, Director of Student Services, the duties for this job vary widely depending . N S edalt:3 . ' . on which department students work for, but those in the position of student aid typically perform office-type work. Scheduling and length of shifts also vary from department to department, and salary ranges from $7.50-$10.00 per hour depending on a department’s budget. Some students choose to earn money by working in factories, especially over the summer. Ken Getz, the Personnel Manager of Offset Paperback Manufacturers in Dallas, explained that Offset only hires full-time employees at its factory in Dallas so college students work there mainly in the summer. Students do a variety of work ranging from packing cartons of books, takings things off the press, and even some cleaning and maintenance. Shifts are 7 1/2 hours long, and schedules are set from week to week. Heather Chulick, a junior communications studies major, works at Offset during school breaks and says about her job, “Generally the job stinks because it’s a lot of hard labor.” However this job does have other benefits including a salary that starts at $9.65 per hour, paid vacation, and health insurance. Although many college students find employment in one of these four areas, plenty of other options exist. Lisa Mulvey, Career Development Coordinator at Wilkes advises that students looking for employment log on to the career services website at www.collegecentral.com/wilkesu. E 2 :Large Pizzas + iu.cket 30 Wmgs $24.99 2 La.rge,P 'zzu $ 5_99 ~~ l · :e Pizza ,.. l Dozen Wit 1g5., .· t 95 (ibl~ ~t<t! t · ty md I Larg¢ Pizza ~ 16 Wmgs 1 2 Liter . ··· da ~,7_99 ~ i~edl) In-House Specials llcp n up to nt 665 t a B (570 82~- ma · dy+ nt ! In . 9 Monday Tu sd ry 35 umt Wmgs . t .a $] sllec t a pw-cli. R . oh, 5oda pw;ma.se f ,5od:a: \\1'edne3d . uy bW',g ertdti6~ .· cl ·m .$4J)5 w/ a purcms ' of ::Ii sou ~ �LIFESTYLES BY ALISON WOODY Beacon Lifestyles Editor In her words: Excerpt from Zuckero’s journal Thursday, August 16 5:25 p.m. “Today we had a Children’s Day at Kilometer 16... Me and Scott (who plays the guitar) sang two Spanish hymns, and the band from my church played a couple of songs. The people there really enjoyed it, most of them had never seen or heard instruments like that before... There were many songs and a game with the kids. Myself and a few others did a short puppet show. Clothes and groceries were given out to the people there, who were extremely grateful. The children were really great and very responsive, though a bit shy of our group... The ride there and back was a lot of fun. It is a journey of about an hour on a highway (one of the few paved roads). I was in the back of a pickup truck along with six other people and a lot of stuff. There were 10 or 11 people in the truck altogether...” The Beacon/Cara Koster Student of the Week: Laura Zuckero Laura Zuckero, senior history and Spanish double major, recently spent three and a half weeks of August in Concepcion, Paraguay, with a group from the Grace Reformed Episcopal Church in Scranton, Pennsylvania, teaching children and youth ministry. At Wilkes, Zuckero serves as the President of Communter Council and also is heavily involved in community service, previously helping with organizations such as the Red Cross and PennSERVE. The Beacon sat down with Zuckero to discuss her experience and has named her the Student of the Week. The Beacon: Explain a daily routine in Paraguay for you. Zuckero: We got up in the morning around 7. And then we had a devotional time at 8, where we sang songs and prayed. We then split up into groups where some were doing painting, building or children and youth ministry... which is where I did most of my work with the kids. The Beacon: What was the culture and environment of Paraguay like? Zuckero: The one really big difference is that in America everything had to be done last week. In Paraguay, it’ll get done when it gets done. Every day stores closed from 12 until 2 because they had their lunch break the siesta... There is a lot of poverty there and the economy is very poor. Most of the people live around the capital city... There is also a lot of corruption in the government and things haven’t been getting done. Most have clothing, shoes and food, but live in really small houses. There is one set of traffic lights and a few paved streets. There was garbage everywhere and ditches that had open sewage in them and animals just running around. The Beacon: What do you feel you learned from your experience in Paraguay? Zuckero: One of the things that struck me the most was just seeing all the poverty and the need. It made me kind of really look at my own life. The people were also really friendly and welcoming and within a couple days I had a whole new family. The Beacon: Why do you think other students should go abroad and outside of what they know? Zuckero: You test yourself and it helps you to find out something you’d like to do on a regular basis. I know for me that I want to join the Peace Corps and eventually do missionary work. Also, there’s a lot of need out there and it is really rewarding to go and help. Whether you see your accomplishments or not, it’s just good to know you’re doing something for the sake of helping. If you would like to nominate someone for Student of the Week, please e-mail beacon.lifestyles@gmail.com. 11 All bottled up: the hidden effects of energy drinks BY CHRISTA SGOBBA Beacon Asst. Lifestyles Editor Wouldn’t it be great if you could buy energy in a bottle? Over the last few years, numerous bigname companies have begun to market just that. Coca-Cola and Pepsi, among other brands, rolled out energy drinks packed with caffeine and other legal stimulants to a young-adult audience. But how safe is that over-the-counter jolt? “I wouldn’t recommend daily use of it,” said Diane O’Brien, the Director of Health Services at Wilkes University and a licensed nurse practitioner. “It’s almost like an adrenaline rush. You become more awake and jittery, more restless.” Sophomore Adam Burke, a secondary education major, started drinking energy drinks when he started college a year ago. Now, he drinks one every day before class. “It makes you feel a little more alert,” Burke said. “If I drink one on my way to school, I won’t fall asleep.” Popular energy drinks Monster and Full Throttle contain 160 milligrams of caffeine per 16 ounce bottle. That’s double the amount of caffeine found in a cup of brewed coffee. The high dose of caffeine can cause effects other than just a quick energy boost. According to O’Brien, that amount of caffeine can elevate blood pressure and increase heart rate, and may even cause palpitations in some individuals. Those most vulnerable to the adverse effects are students with hypertension or cardiac problems. Even healthy students run the risk of severe health problems when they mix energy drinks with alcohol. Over the last few years, energy drinks mixed with vodka or other types of alcohol have soared in popularity because they make the drinkers feel more energetic. “It’s not safe to mix alcohol with drinks like that,” said O’Brien. “The alcohol content of what you drank is the same. But with energy drinks, you get the sense that you’re more awake and less drunk.” The false feeling of sobriety can be harmful because it can encourage students to keep drinking, since the caffeine masks how drunk they really are. It can also affect the way they behave, making them overconfident or aggressive. “You think you can get behind the wheel of a car, or make logical decisions,” O’Brien explained. “But your decision-making ability is already impaired.” Energy drinks are a booming business, and are marketed to appeal to everyone from the frazzled, overworked student to the talente athlete looking for an edge. According to Consumerreports.org, Americans spent $744 million on energy drinks last year, up 34% from the previous year. In order to appeal to athletes, energy drinks often tout their natural ingredients, including ginseng and amino acids, as well as their added vitamins. But O’Brien cautions athletes from depending on them for refueling. She says their high sugar content leaves athletes in an unhealthy peak-andcrash cycle. Many students experience the mid-afternoon crash, and reach for an energy drink to stave off the drowsiness. Instead, proper planning throughout the day can help students feel awake and alert. O’Brien suggests a regular sleep schedule with seven to nine hours of shut-eye each night. She believes regular exercise and a balanced diet, emphasizing small meals throughout the day with lots of protein, can help as well. “Kids will skip breakfast and have a candy bar at lunch, and their blood sugar fluctuates,” she said. “Their energy goes up and down in peaks and valleys.” For Burke, the lack of time in the morning is one reason why energy drinks are so attractive: they provide a quick wake-me-up. However, Burke plans on cutting energy drinks and soda from his diet and replacing them with more healthful choices. “Eating breakfast gives me more energy than an energy drink does,” he said. While a balanced diet and adequate sleep provide the best sources of energy, O’Brien believes that an occasional energy drink won’t hurt if the student is in good health and is not dependent on the beverage. “Use them infrequently and in a minimal amount,” she recommended. “Moderation is key.” The Beacon/Cara Koster SEPTEMBER 11, 2007 �A&E SEPTEMBER 11, 2007 12 Listen Up A sampling of Wilkes student talent Band Feature Band Feature Cont. West Side Story Q&A 12 12 13 13 14 14 15 15 BY MARISSA PHILLIPS Beacon A&E Editor Wilkes-Barre residents and those living in the surrounding areas have the opportunity to boast about a fairly lively and diverse music scene. Depending on the venue of choice, residents can spend nights downing a couple of beers while listening to a Guns N’ Roses cover band, tapping their toes to some dancey pop, or spin kicking and floor punching to their hearts content. The fact is, a good number of bands originate from, or at least pass through this area, so it’s nearly impossible to keep up with them all. Because of this, Wilkes students may not realize that they sit next to the vocalist of a thrash punk band in English class, or that two fellow students currently have their hopes set high in terms of having their band picked up by a record label in the near future. Here’s an introduction to just some of the musical projects certain Wilkes students are involved in, in case you’ve managed to stay out of the loop this long… The Dinosores Whether you’d call them thrash punk, screamo, or as vocalist Patrick Austin puts it, “aggressively charged energetic punk,” one thing’s for sure: the Dinosores have a rather distinctive and memorable stage presence. “We’re all kind of dorky guys who have some sort of anger inside of us. Everyone has some sort of anger in them, but we just let ours out at shows. It ends up being a kind of intense experience,” said Austin, who is an English graduate student. The band is comprised of Austin on bass and vocals, Lee Ellis on guitar and vocals, Joshua Wysocki on keyboard, and Corey Ciresi on drums. The band was formed after Austin left his previous band, Manaconda, and ran into Ellis (who split from Monarch) at a Sheetz, and simply asked if he would be interested in starting a new musical project. Then they picked up the two other members and the Dinosores were formed. When they were originally trying to come up with band names, one of the possibilities was Molly Ringworm, except that the person who had thought of it wouldn’t allow them to take it. They then decided to go with a play on words, and finally crafted their name. A dinosaur plus a sore on the body…get it? The band has played a number of shows in the area, and on October 19 they’ll host a record release show at Café Metropolis. Before that, the Dinosores have a September 30 show at Metro, as well as a show on October 12 at the Tucson Café in Warwick, New York. You can also give them a listen by going to their site at www.myspace.com/dinosoresmusic. Torment Ridden Carl Grunwald, fifth year biology major describes his band as experimental and technical metal. He said, “There’s a lot of metal to it, not just chunk, chunk, chunk, but there is some good chunk, chunk, you know, because you need that.” While that may not mean much to everyone, it’s a good summation for any fans of the genre. Torment Ridden was formed in 2003 after Grunwald graduated from high school and it inclues Eric Reiter on bass, Ethan Reiter on rhythm guitar, Mike McClintok on lead guitar, and Phil McClintok on drums. Some of the members met through high school, while the rest came together through church. This is turns out to be rather fitting considering that their music is Christ-centered. “All the songs we’ve made so far are worship songs,” says Grunwald who writes all of their lyrics. Not every member has the exact same beliefs, but each one was at least brought up in a Christian household. And unlike numerous other bands who mask their Christian undertones to retain neutrality, Grunwald keeps the lyrics straightforward and says that “It’s not very convoluted in any way.” The band recently finished recording a demo, which you can get directly through them at www.myspace.com/tormentridden. While they have only played one show at this point, they are currently looking to get some performances under their belt. Grunwald sends out a request saying, “We’re currently looking for shows to play, so if people can help us out, that would be pretty nice.” �SEPTEMBER 11, 2007 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 13 The SilenTreatment On the first of January, 2007, The SilenTreatment dropped a “T” (thus making them the SilenTreatment), a drummer, a bass player, and picked up a keyboardist, and transitioned from a technical modern rock band to a new and improved “sex rock” band. Senior English major Sam Chiarelli was involved with the band since the original lineup and plays lead guitar and contributed back vocals. Senior elementary education major Mike Sharkey recently joined to contribute his keyboarding skills and backing vocals as well. Other members include Anthony Giamusso on vocals, rhythm guitar, Joe Consagra on drums and Donald Montini on bass. With the new lineup and sound The SilenTreatment is striving to get audiences dancing to their “dancey, groovey, Maroon 5” type sound, as Sharkey described it. Chiarelli noted that there was a definite need for a change and explained that they “were just sick of playing what everyone else was playing. There was just not enough variation to it. We were like, ‘let’s have fun, and let’s make people have fun.’” Chiarelli and Sharkey take their music seriously and want to make it their lives. They’re currently working on a CD to send out to record labels but those curious about their sound can check out their Myspace at www. myspace.com/thesilentreatment. The only show lined up at the moment is on April 23, at Concert for a Cause, but they are looking to get more dates set up. They’d like to eventually have themed shows, with one example being a prom theme, where everyone would come decked out in formalwear. Sharkey ended the interview by stating that “It’s like we’re giving this area the silent treatment because no one knows who we are, but I just have this feeling we’re just going to come out of nowhere and be somewhere, and people are going to be like ‘wow, where did they come from’ and that to me is almost like the silent treatment; coming out of nowhere, being silent, and all of a sudden being at the top.” Astorian Stigmata Yr ' ·co~ . I (\Q~ ', \\ V ss ~r£i\ ~ ~\ --... AU\OA <ri. ' (' . , Dennis Condusta, a junior communication studies major, has broken numerous bones and pulled ligaments in both of his legs due to two BMX-related incidents, but in a way, the injuries turned out to be beneficial. While recovering from the first injury he picked up the drums, and during the second injury, he picked up a guitar and started writing songs. Now he’s the vocalist and rhythm guitar player in the band Astorian Stigmata. His other band members include Maximilian Aladar on finger-picked guitar, Mini Maximilian Aladar on drums, Alexia Navataria on pitch-shifting, and Antalayna Salamandarian on bass guitar, all of whom happen to be dolls. And if you ask him what’s with the dolls he’ll tell you that “they replied to my classified ad.” Condusta came up with the band name by putting together his two favorite words. “I’m really big into letters in certain orders and pronunciations of certain syllables. I like Arabic and Spanish pronunciations.” In terms of sound, Condusta says he’s influenced by Middle Eastern sounds and “straight American rock and roll.” He also explains that “I just happen to sing with a country style, though I don’t consider that an influence. So it sounds like a country boy hanging out in the Middle East.” There are currently three Astorian Stigmata CDs out, Antalayna, Antraliana, and his most recent Black Dye On White Sheep. All of his CDs are available through his website at www.astorianstigmata.net or myspace.com/astorianstigmata. Being the only human member in his band, he doesn’t perform live, but you can check out some of his songs on his Myspace. . t-4-\~'t.L All photos courtesy of the bands �ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 14 SEPTEMBER 11, 2007 West Side Story to feature 2007 alumn, Adam Orseck Wilkes and Little Theater partner to offer free student tickets BY ALISSA LINDNER Beacon Asst. A&E Editor Students planning a first date, or even just wanting to get off campus for something a little different this weekend may want to look north on Main Street for their entertainment. Wilkes University is offering free admission to performances of West Side Story at Little Theater on North Main Street in Wilkes-Barre. The classic musical opened on September 8 and future performances will be held on September 14 and 15 at 8:00 p.m. and September 16 at 3:00 p.m. The tragedy is full of exciting dancing, acrobatics, music according to Director David Baloga, and also features 2007 Wilkes alumnus, Adam Orseck. West Side Story was first opened in 1961. Baloga explained, “The show is unique in that it is a modern re-telling of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. It is the timeless story of love versus hate.” West Side Story features a conflict between two rival gangs, one of Puerto Rican immigrants and one of white Americans, similar to the conflict within our local community. Baloga said, “We have the same tension between different races and ethnicity in the show as we do in our local community.” The live performance of West Side Story at Little Theater allows the passion and excitement of the show to come through. Orseck explained, “With real people on stage, you seem to get more of a connection.” The show is also male-oriented because of the street gangs, acrobatics and the fighting according to Baloga. Orseck believes all performances at Little Theater and any community theater are different from other forms of entertainment. “It’s entertainment at a very pure level. It is local people doing what they love and there is a lot of passion on stage because these people aren’t getting paid. We are here because we love to do it.” According to Phil Ruthkosky, Director of Student Development at Wilkes, university officials decided to offer Wilkes students free admission to shows at Little Theater . AT YOUR . THIS'\ .. •· "'.Sen'bMo-nightlli ~Tm::~tug'.E11t from i :00--8:30r · . ~o. tic !k11o ~ WC'lin.egy · ·!Jlll' io om c~! ~ wc:i=k 4nwtin Swi~ 6:;J.0-S.3.0pm .. Wyom:ing·Vallcy. 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Frcqm:nt B. yer Card." at, too ; Doll!\: fm:gct ta iW!iC yow: Fl.EX :OOLI.J\RS The Beacon/Nick Zmijewski anywhcn: in ,o ur stntil!! to allow students to “develop an appreciation for the fine arts.” He added, “There are a lot of cultural opportunities in this area.” Following West Side Story, the next performances at Little Theater will be The Diary of Anne Frank on November 10, 11, 16 and 18. Wilkes students must show Photo courtesy Cathy Alaimo their ID at the door, Orseck and fellow castmates rehearse for upcoming performance of but are encouraged West Side Story. The show will be running until September 16. to make reservations first. The university is willing to set October 13, “An Evening with Colin Moup a shuttle service to Little Theater if the chrie and Brad Sherwood” on October 26, and Julius Caesar on November 15. Visit need arises. Wilkes is also offering discounted tick- the information desk at the Henry Student ets to the Kirby Center. Upcoming perfor- Center for more information. mances include George Orwell’s 1984 on Schedule of Events Tuesday, September 11 - Scrabble night at the Barnes & Noble College Bookstore at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, September 12 - Away from Her showing at the Kirby Theater at 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. - I Am the Avalanche, Four Year Strong, You Me and Everyone We Know, Dagger mouth and The Holy Mess performing at Café Metropolis at 7 p.m. Thursday, September 13 - “Connecting the Dots” Career Services program in the Henry Student Center Ball room--All Day - James Ellsworth book signing at Barnes & Noble College Bookstore at 11:30 a.m. Friday, September 14 - West Side Story performance at the Little Theater - $3.00 Fun Show Weekend w/ Lost in Greenpoint, Wetwork Agenda, Under the Wave and TBA at Backstage at 6 p.m. - The Mother Daughter Team, Capillary Action, Stay Six and Bourse performing at Café Metropolis at 8 p.m. - Dub is a Weapon performing at the River St. Jazz Cafe Saturday, September 15 -West Side Story performance at the Little Theater - $3 Fun Show Weekend w/ TPOR, General Zaroff, The Perks, Wings of Eros and TBA at Backstage at 6 p.m. - Bigger Thomas, The Big Greem, Spider Nick and the Maddogs and The Backflip Journeymen performing at Café Metropolis at 8 p.m. - Mike Mizwinski Band performing at the River St. Jazz Café Sunday, September 16 -West Side Story performance at the Little Theater Monday, September 17 - “Dancing in the Mirror (a Latina play)” performance at King’s College at 6 p.m. �15 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT SEPTEMBER 11, 2007 Q&A with Lauren Weisberger, author of The Devil Wears Prada r rg e be We is r en Courtesy Lackawanna County Library System Lauren Weisberger, author of the now infamous novel The Devil Wears Prada returned to her hometown on September 6 to speak at the Scranton Cultural Center as part of the Lackawanna County Library System speaker series. Weisberger was born in Scranton and lived in the area until she was 11, when she eventually moved to Allentown. She attended Cornell University and, after graduation, took a job at Vogue as an assistant to Anna Wintour, the hard-headed, stern editor-in-chief of the magazine. In 2003, Weisberger authored The Devil Wears Prada, her first book, after an editor at Departures magazine sent her to a creative writing class. It was there that her professor encouraged her to submit her work as a novel and it was sold within two weeks. The Devils Wears Prada spent six months on The New York Times Bestseller list and was released as a feature film in 2006 starring Anne Hathoway and Meryl Streep. Weisberger chose an informal interview session rather than a standard speech for her visit. Below is a portion of the Q&A that occurred at the event. Q: Can you tell us what you remember about growing up here? A: It’s great to be back, but this has been my first trip back in a long time... I was a young child here and I have a lot of great memories. It’s the nicest place in the world to be from. Q: How much of The Devil Wears Prada was true and how much was exaggerated? A: I would say it’s skewed more towards the truth. I’m not supposed to admit that all the time... I definitely saw a lot [at Vogue] that inspired that novel. It was intense in a lot of ways. It was a really neat place for a first job, but a shocking place, also. There was a lot of craziness that went on there. I wrote a lot about it, but it was probably even more intense than that. To see all the girls walking around and they are six feet tall and 110 pounds, wearing fur bousties to work and six inch heels... It felt like the longest 11 months of my life. Q: We all know how Andy Sachs got the job, but how did you get the job? A: I may have gotten it in the exact same way. It was very similar. I had just graduated college... I sent out my resume to all the publishing houses in New York and the very first call I got was from Conde Nast... It unfolded in a very similar fashion where they asked if I read Vogue or knew the name of the editor-in-chief and we sort of went through that until I interviewed there. At the end of this very long day, I remember getting a phone call late that night saying we’re pleased to offer you the job as Anna [Wintour]’s assistant. I said, ‘Definitely, I’m on board,’ And they told me to be there at 7 on Monday. I was like, ‘That isn’t going to work for me...’ and they were like, ‘See you at 7,’ and hung up. That was my very first inkling of what was to come. Q: We certainly know that in the novel you had the boss from hell. How much of that was what you experienced? A: Anna was a great editor, but she was really, really tough. She demands the best and I think she produces the best as a result... Anna is similar in a lot of ways to the year’s time. One wants to be less monogamous, one wants character in the book. to find a husband, and the third, who appears to have evQ: What did your job actually entail? A: Absolutely anything that she asked me to do at any erything perfectly in line, is really having the worst time hour of the day. There was a lot of the usual assistant of all. Her life is a complete disaster. I haven’t written the things that aren’t so interesting such as the faxing, filing ending yet. It’s the same feel as the other two books, but a and Starbucks fetching six times a day. But, there was also little bit different. Q: Has success changed you? model lineups... everyday always felt different. It was reA: I don’t think so. I grew up in a small town and I think ally glamorous and exciting. The girls that worked there looked like the girls in the magazine. There’s something it was what I value most about my upbringing. To not have about working at Vogue that was such a once in a lifetime, grown up in New York and the crazy value that are associated with it was really nice. There’s a more hectic schedbizarre, weird, but really kind of cool experience. ule, neater chances for travel... things like that. I feel really Q: What did it do for your fashion sense? A: Not much. It made me more aware of how bad it lucky. Q: What is your advice for young journalists getting was... The main difference between myself and the character in the book is that she made this complete transforma- ready to enter the workforce, especially in New York tion and redid herself, looked phenomenal, like she lost a City? A: Find a friend with a couch first of all. There is no bet100 pounds and grew six inches, but that didn’t happen to me. There was the occassional swag floating around the ter place in the world to start your career than New York. magazine and I could pick up a lot of that... One of my It is filled with young people from all over. I would say favorite parts of the movie is when Anne Hathaway is on just get out there. It’s not revolutionary, but I find that a lot the phone and she says, ‘Can you spell Gabana?’ That was of people don’t take the time to actually write, not type, very similar to me. I still can’t pronounce names of a lot personal notes. I have had so many people comment on of the designers and that was not well tolerated... Overall that the only thing that gets read is hand-written note, raththough, it has certainly heightened my awareness of fash- er than just another computer-generated resume that gets tossed to the side. Anything that you can come up with that ion, but not remedied it. Q: How did you feel about the process and transfor- is a little bit clever, little bit different. The reason I think I got the call at Conde Nast, because I had no experience, mation of your book into a feature film? A: Considering I didn’t have to do it, I thought it was was that my resume was layed out as a magazine. I’m sure fantastic... I think [Fox] went through six screenwritiers. it offended some people, but some others liked it. Anything They tried five men, all of whom failed. Finally, it bril- you can do to distinguish yourself and not go by the book liantly occurred to someone to hire a female to do it and will get you noticed. that was the one that worked... [The first time I read the h er sp e e c h l ast T script] I literally laughed out loud and wished I would have llo w in g hurs o f s day fa n thought of some of it first. I watched the movie so many . r e h fo r times when it first came out and now it has been on HBO s ok and I find myself constantly stopping and rewinding it. The bo s part where Meryl Streep says, ‘I thought I would hire the ign s smart, fat girl’ really got it dead on. I loved the movie. Q: Since so much of what you have written is based on personal knowledge, do you spend alot of time doing research? A: The truthful answer is no. I spend a lot of time talking about doing research, but I really don’t do a lot of research. I read a ton of magazines and a lot of books... I’m not really a big people person. There are defintely times I’ll be out at night or at lunch with someone and you overhear something and it’s too good not to use somewhere. For the most part, though, it’s kind of what I think about. Q: Tell us about your third book. Where are you in the process and what can we expect? A: I am deadline late, but we have a tentative publication date set for October of next year. I am just submitting it now and we are about to start the edits. I don’t have a title yet... It’s the first book that I haven’t written in the first person. It’s equally about three characters and I switch every chapter. All are right around 30, still living in New York, but they make a pact... that everything is going to be different in one Lau BY ALISON WOODY Beacon Lifestyles Editor �SPORTS 16 FOOTBALL from PAGE 20 gling to get a win in their first two games against William Paterson and Montclair State. Both teams share the NJAC conference with Rowan. During the Colonels first home outing against William Paterson, the team came close but no cigar. The Colonels seemed to be in control prior to a controversial call on special teams in the second quarter that favored William Paterson. The referee kept a close eye on senior wide receiver Gil Flores and stated that he touched the ball after calling a fair catch. The ball rolled into the end zone. William Paterson’s Brian Stone fell on the ball for a touchdown during the closing minutes of the second half making the score 16-14 Colonels. William Paterson would score later in the game on a 27 yard field goal attempt by Ricky Krautman with 01:29 remaining in the third quarter to put them up 17-16. The Colonels could never respond after that. On Saturday, the Colonels were at home once again but fell short 14-7 to Montclair State. The Colonels were held scoreless until the fourth quarter after approxiametly an hour wait due to a lightning delay. The Colonels would return to the field at the Rowan’s 5 Everyone on the offense got set in their positions. Karaffa tucked his hands under the center’s bottom to snap the ball on the first play of the series. Fumble. Rowan’s Robert Niszczak would pick up the loose change and their offense would cash in a touchdown 22 yards later on only five plays in 01:23. The Colonels took the field with 00:59 remaining but only made it to their own 45 yard line before turning the ball over on downs to Rowan with 00:06 on the clock. Rowan’s quarterback Mike Orihel would take a knee. Game Over. The score, 21-14 Rowan. After that heart-breaking loss following an undefeated season, Coach Sheptock enjoyed every bit of last season despite such a sudden ending. “I had a group of players that really bought into our philosophy”, said Sheptock. “Our senior class last year was a special group. It was a bond there. I felt so proud to be the leader of that football team and to be able to interact with those players.” After going undefeated just a season ago, the Colonels have found themselves strug- SEPTEMBER 11, 2007 yard line and tied the game at seven on a 2yard run by Al Karaffa with 05:53 remaining. Three plays later, Montclair State drove 38 yards and ended the Colonels hope of winning with a touchdown putting them up 14-7. The Colonels held the ball for 04:17 before quarterback Al Karaffa threw an interception down field on Montclair’s 3 yard line. During the first two games the Colonels have scored a total of 23 points. At this point last season, they combined for 54 points. The first game was a blowout against William Paterson 31-3. Next stop for the Colonels is Rowan University. The Colonels take on Rowan at home this Saturday at 1 pm for their third shot at revenge against the team coach Sheptock believes is supposed to be “the beast of the east.” Let’s just hope this time there aren’t any fumbles. “All you do is try to keep your head out of last year”, said Karaffa. “You can’t think about the fumble. You just got to come out and think it’s a new season. We have a new team and we’re ready to play.” The Beacon/James Rosato Wilkes senior quarterback Al Karaffa takes snaps during practice. Their next game is at home on September 15 against Rowan. A E• -TION LKES NIVERSITY S .T .. DENTS! 1 • ai ·-•1 _·~es-Barre· 7 ·2 S ,o ·u c 1 • · m -8 - ~ Qu znos M - · -_ -- • · ay & SatJ , S nd.ay I. 2p (570) 2 .OaiDii-lOpl!D 1 8-SUBS �SEPTEMBER 11, 2007 SPORTS 17 Hahn brings Wilkes records, experience to volleyball team as coach BY CARLTON HOLMES Beacon Sports Editor One of the greatest players in Wilkes University’s volleyball history returns to the floor this season for the Lady Colonels. Nicole Hahn, a huge athlete stuffed into a 5’4 frame, has proved to be an integral part of the Lady Colonels overall team performance in recent years leaving nothing small about her game except, well, her height. For the 2006 season, Hahn accounted for 770 of the team’s 852 assists. That’s 90.3% of the team’s assists at the setter position. Their opponents totaled 1,015 assists. With 3,671 career assists under her belt, Hahn holds the Lady Colonels all-time record in that department. But it doesn’t stop there. She also holds Wilkes University’s all-time record for digs with 1,232. Plus, in 2004 and 2005, Hahn was named to the All-Freedom Conference team. Hahn was also named to ESPN The Maga- zine College Division Academic All-American Second Team conducted by the College Sports Information Directors of America last season. She is a three-time member of the Middle Atlantic Conference’s Academic Honor Roll because of her flawless 4.0 grade point average. After starting all 30 games just a year ago, Hahn will be suiting up to help lift her team to victory at the Scranton Tournament this weekend. Except this time Hahn’s not serving as the team’s setter but rather as the assistant coach. “It’s different”, said Hahn. “It’s hard to know that you can’t go out there. You can’t help them and can’t do it [play] for them.” After playing on thin ice last season with a seven women roster in a sport that requires six players on the floor, head coach Alicia Orlowski’s squad features ten bodies for her second go-round as the team’s head coach. Orlowski, who played Division-I volleyball at Coastal Carolina, believes this time around should be better than the Lady Colonels 6-24 record of last season. “We have a lot of potential this year,” said Orlowski. “We definitely have potential to go into the playoffs for the Freedom Con- “It’s hard to know that you can’t go out there. You can’t help them and can’t do it [play] for them.”-Nicole Hahn ference. That’s our goal.” Last September, the short staffed Lady Colonels spent two days at the Scranton Tournament and lost all four of their contests against Montclair State (NJ) 3-2, St. Lawrence (NY) 3-2, York (PA) 3-0 and Mt. Aloysius (PA) 3-0. This year, the Lady Colonels return five players including seniors Katherine Simons and Kristen Linhart with the addition of five freshmen to help chip in this weekend. The Lady Colonels tip off the tournament against John Hopkins (MD) on Friday at 4 p.m. Later that evening they will face Rowan University (NJ). Depending on how the Lady Colonels perform in the first two games will determine who their opponents will be the following day. Conference rivals King’s College and Scranton University will also be in action. The Lady Colonels were fortunate to have a player of Hahn’s caliber for the past four years and now the torch has been passed to sophomore setter LeeAnn Searfoss. Searfoss has already dished out 174 assists during the initial six games for the lady Colonels in which they posted a 2-4 record “To follow Nikki (Hahn), it’s a big challenge because she was such a great player,” said Searfoss. “Then you got me. I’m the rookie. But, she’s still here as the assistant coach. We go in early and we work together. I’m filling her void by keeping her running and cheating off her a little bit.” Hahn won’t be handing out any assists this weekend, but rather handing out answers to the Lady Colonels on how to snatch some much needed victories this weekend. Tennis standout aims for sophomore year ace BY ALISSA LINDNER Beacon Asst. A&E Editor Last season, tennis standout Xiaoqiao Zhang dominated the Freedom Conference in her freshman campaign. This season, Zhang returns with hopes of dominating once again. As a freshman, Zhang came to Wilkes University with hopes of being one of the top three singles players on the team. She quickly emerged as the number one singles player and the number one doubles player with partner Alison McDonald. Throughout the 2006-07 season, Zhang dominated the court leading to a 19-2 first year record. She was also the MASCAC player of the year, the Freedom Conference Player of the Year and the number one Singles Champion in the Freedom Conference Tournament. However, Zhang’s tennis career began long before last year. Zhang was born and raised in China where she began playing tennis at 10-years old. She came by her skills naturally, though, as both of her parents are pro ping-pong players and Zhang learned that game before she picked up a tennis racket. For her senior year of high school, Zhang participated in an exchange program which sent her to Warren Hills Regional High School in New Jersey where she played tennis and was named 1st Team All Conference and All State Singles Team. Having only been in the United States for a year, Zhang chose a small Division-III university in Wilkes over a larger Division-I school. One may question if the Freedom Conference is too easy for a player at Zhang’s level. She disagrees. “They all have good players, and good teams.” Zhang said. “Last year I had hard matches, but I think I did good.” After a successful freshman season, there is a certain amount of pressure for Zhang to compete at an even higher level than last season. Head women’s tennis coach Chris Leicht explained, “She definitely has high expectations. I think a lot of people do for her. I don’t think it will affect her negatively. She is a very hard worker.” He also added Zhang is very competitive and gives 100% on the court, which makes her a dependable player. Although Zhang succeeds as an individual, she also puts a significant emphasis on the whole team’s success. She believes a single person can only succeed if the entire team works together and does well. Leicht agreed, “She knows how important it is for the team to do well and she contributes in as many ways as she can to help her teammates out.” He added Zhang is always cheering on teammates, always willing to work extra with teammates and enjoys the team aspect of tennis. Zhang knows the importance of practice, explaining practice makes perfect, and al- though you are not necessarily perfect, there is always the ability to get better. She also offered, “I think tennis depends on that day. Some days you have really bad days. It’s awful and you can’t really hit. But some days you put the ball wherever you want.” For now, Zhang is concentrating on working hard and doing her best. After suffering an injury over the summer, Zhang is back in action currently competing on the number one doubles team with McDonald and in the number one or two singles match. The Lady Colonels tennis team will be in action this week at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 13, at Bloomsburg University. The Beacon/Gino Troioni Xiaoqiao Zhang shut down Miscericordia University’s Mangabang and Marywood University’s Aubrey Klesh in two sets, 6-0, in Zhang’s return from last season’s conference championship appearance. �SPORTS 18 SEPTEMBER 11, 2007 Commentary GAME OF THE WEEK New York Yankees v. Boston Red Sox American League Rivals Square off at Fenway Double Take BY TIM SEIGFRIED Beacon Asst. Sports Editor It’s nearly the end of the baseball season again, so that must mean it’s time for a pivotal series between the Red Sox and the Yankees. Last August, the two teams played in a five game series at Fenway Park in Boston, a series which essentially ended the season for the Red Sox as the Yankees won all five games by a combined score of 49-26. The Yankees would go on to win the American League East division, while the Red Sox finished in third place; their lowest placing in nearly a decade. This season, however, things are much different: The Red Sox have a commanding lead in their division, while the Yankees are still far from being a lock to make the playoffs, despite their current lead in the American League Wild Card standings. Things could be much different next weekend, as the teams square off with a three game series at Fenway Park on Friday, September 13. So far this season, the Yankees are 8-7 against the Red Sox, including a three game sweep at Yankee Stadium last month. If New York is going to make a run at the AL East or stay in the lead in the Wild Card, the team will to need to have similar success in its last series of the season with Boston. The Yanks should have no problem on the offensive side of the ball. Their offense has been the most productive in the majors this season, due in part to the terrific season that Alex Rodriguez is having. A-Rod, who was much maligned last year by the fans for his inability to hit in the clutch in the playoffs, has exploded this season in a big way. In April, he had record-tying 14 home runs, including game-winners. On August 4, he became the youngest player in major league history to hit 500 homeruns, when he connected in the Bronx against the Kansas City Royals. That isn’t the only big story for the Bronx Bombers this season, as they have had their own share of problems with the rest of their team this season. After losing Jason Giambi for most of the first half, the Yankees have had to deal with the ineffectiveness of pitcher Mike Mussina, the recent struggles of Roger Clemens, while simultaneously having to groom two rookie pitchers, Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy, to be the starters of the future. Despite the shortcomings in their starting rotation, the Yankees have seen the emergence of Joba Chamberlain, a hard throwing relief pitcher who has yet to allow a run in 11 games, while striking out 18. On the other side, the Red Sox have had their own fair share of struggles this season, including an early visit to the disabled list by pitcher Curt Schilling, a struggling and injured Manny Ramirez and poor performance by shortstop Julio Lugo and right fielder J.D. Drew, both expensive off-season acquisitions. Even in the midst of those problems, the Red Sox have managed to put together a good season, while maintaining their lead in the AL East since early April. Credit has to be given to some of the lesser known Sox, including third baseman Mike Lowell, rookie second baseman Dustin Pedroia and veteran pitcher Tim Wakefield, all three of whom are having great seasons. Lowell has turned into an offensive force for the team by leading the Red Sox with his .326 batting average and 101 RBIs while providing great defense at third base. Pedroia, in his first full season, has turned himself into a Rookie of the Year candidate with his .324 batting average, 45 RBIs and 75 runs. Not to be overlooked, however, is Tim Wakefield, the 41-year old knuckle-ball Steph examines the stats that truly matter... BY STEPHANIE GERCHMAN Beacon Asst. Opinion Editor pitcher who has been with the Sox since 1995. Wakefield is among the league leaders in wins with 16, while providing a veteran presence to an increasingly younger Red Sox rotation, including Josh Beckett, a strong candidate for the AL Cy Young. The strength of the Red Sox lies in its pitching, as they’ve assembled one of the best bullpens in the American League, leading in ERA(3.05) and saves(41). With a bullpen that includes set-up man Hideki Okajima, recently acquired Eric Gagne veteran reliever Mike Timlin, and closing pitcher Jonathan Papelbon, the Red Sox have proved to be one of the hardest bullpens to beat. Ultimately, it all comes down to starting pitching. Despite the Yankees recent struggles with their rotation, Andy Pettitte and Chien-Ming Wang have proven to be clutch performers, especially late in the season. The Red Sox have clutch performers of their own, both with experience against New York: In the 2003 World Series, Josh Beckett mastered the Yankees when he was with the Florida Marlins. One year later, Curt Schilling would experience similar success in Yankee Stadium during the 2004 ALCS. While this series won’t make or break the playoff hopes of either of these teams, it will certainly provide the fans with yet another memorable Yankees and Red Sox series. The pick: Game 1: Yankees 5, Red Sox 3 Game 2: Red Sox 7, Yankees 2 Game 3: Red Sox 3, Yankees 1 I’ve been told that the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox are rival baseball teams. But I find it hard to believe that the Red Sox could be considered to be on the same level as the Yankees. The Yankees clearly have the stronger team name. Why would anyone possibly name a team after an article of clothing in a particular hue? Let’s take a look back at history. During the American Civil War, Yankees supported the Union Soldiers. As anyone who has taken a history class should know, the Union Soldiers came out victorious. On the other hand, all that red sox are historically famous for is turning a load of white laundry pink. If a ridiculous team name isn’t enough to prove that the Red Sox will lose, how about an outfielder with a deliciously odd name? Try this name on for size, Coco Crisp. I kid you not. His name is Coco Crisp. Sorry, I had to say that twice to drive that point home. Honestly, who is cruel enough to name their son Coco, knowing that his last name would be Crisp? Maybe his parents were workers at the Post cereal company. I’m suprised that the Red Sox didn’t sign Cap’n Crunch or Count Chocula. The Yankees have no team players named after cereal. They have manly names like Roger and Doug. Coco is hardly intimidating. With a pathetic team name and a team player named after something children eat for breakfast, the Yankees should have this one in the bag. �SEPTEMBER 11, 2007 Athlete of the Week: Corey Tucker BY CARLTON HOLMES Beacon Sports Editor During the 03:27 mark of the fourth quarter, the Colonels were down 17-16 to William Paterson (NJ). The Colonels defense ran on the field knowing they needed a huge defensive series to give their desperate offense the ball back for one more shot at winning the first game of the season. The defense lined up and senior AllAmerican middle linebacker Kyle Follweiler looked over at first time junior starter Corey Tucker and said, “You want to be in this spot (OLB), you got to make a play.” He certainly did. “The first play was a sweep. I seen the hole open up, shot the hole and made a tackle in the backfield,” said Tucker. That tackle forced William Paterson into second down and fourteen yards. They never made it to see another first down during that series thanks to Corey Tucker and the Colonels defense. Although the Colonels lost 17-16, Tucker put on an outstanding defensive show flexing every time he sent a William Paterson player to the ground with one of his 7 tackles, 2.5 of which went for losses of 7 yards. At 5’7, 193 pounds, Tucker has bounced around positions on the Colonels roster throughout his career. He has suited up as a CB, RB and SS before finding a home at the OLB position. Although he finds taking on 300 pound lineman difficult, his speed and versatility allows him to read plays and react quicker to the ball. Plus, his parents were always in his ear giving him words of encouragement. “I always been a small dude my whole life,” said Tucker. “A small person playing big positions. Mom and Dad always told me ‘don’t let nobody tell you what you can and cannot do. If you want to do something make it happen yourself.’” Tucker looks to continue making it hap- 145 Number of passing yards by Wilkes senior Al Karaffa in the 14-7 loss to Montclair State on Saturday. SPORTS 19 pen at the OLB position and senior DE Jason Acquaye believes he will. “It’s a great time playing out there with Corey,” said Acquaye. “This year, with him finally getting the opportunity to start, he The Beacon/Gino Troioni Wilkes junior Alison McDonald gets ready to return a serve against Marywood University’s Samantha Miller on September 6. McDonald would go on to win in two sets; 6-0, 6-0. WEEKEND RECAPS Football The Wilkes University football team saw their season record go to 0-2 after a 14-7 loss to Montclair State on Saturday. Ryan McCoach rushed for 102 yards and scored both of The Red Hawks’ touchdowns to win their season debut. Wilkes senior Al Karaffa passed for 145 yards with 2 interceptions, while being sacked 4 times. The Beacon/Cara Koster took that opportunity and ran with it. I see big things happening with Corey Tucker.” Women’s Soccer Wilkes sophomore Julissa Reed scored her first collegiate goal after 5:36 seconds into the first overtime on Saturday to lead The Lady Colonels to a non-conference win over Lebanon Valley College to bring their record to 2-2. Wilkes senior goalie Liz Pauly had two saves on the day to earn her second shutout win of the season. Men’s Soccer The Wilkes Univerrsity men’s soccer team scored their first win of the season on Saturday aftertoon with a 3-2 win over Misericordia University. The win moved the Colonels record to 1-3, while dropping the Cougars to 2-2. The Colonels trailed 2-1 in the second stanza before scoring consecutive goals to gain the win. Bret Osswald tied the match at 2-2 with an unassisted goal. Wilkes senior Jimmy Thomas would provide Wilkes with the gamewinning tally when he struck net off an assist from Greg Miller. NUMBERS OF THE WEEK 3 Number of goals scored by the men’s soccer team in the 3-2 win over Misericordia University on September 5. 2 Number of goals by Wilkes senior Lauren Risser in the 3-0 win over Goucher on September 8. 113 Total number of defensive digs by the Wilkes volleyball team in their 3-2 loss against Misericordia University on September 6. �Sports SEPTEMBER 11, 2007 Colonel’s Schedule 20 9/15 vs. Rowan 9/29 @ Lebanon Valley 10/6 vs. FDU-Florham 10/13 @ Lycoming 10/20 vs. Albright 10/27 @ King’s 11/3 @ Del. Val. 11/10 vs. Widener The Beacon/James Rosato One More Shot at Revenge Al Karaffa and the Colonels look to make up for last year’s mishap BY CARLTON HOLMES Beacon Sports Editor November 25, 2006 is a day the Colonels may never forget. It was a beautiful fall day at Ralston Field and the Colonels were fired up after beating Washington & Lee at home the weekend before 42-0. That game would mark the Colonels first postseason victory in the history of the program. The undefeated (11-0) Colonels were now ready to expand and add another game to the history books against Rowan University (NJ), the team that embarrassed them a year before in the first round at Glassboro, NJ 42-3. But this time it was the second round and the Colonels had one thing on their mind. Revenge. Both sides of the field were packed with fans rooting for their respective teams. Rowan’s entourage proudly wearing their brown and yellow apparel, while Wilkes fans were sporting navy and gold. Both crowds screaming inspirational chants hoping they will get a chance to cheer next weekend for the third round of the D3 national tournament. After scoring six touchdowns the year before to the Colonels none, both teams were dead even at one touchdown a piece entering the fourth quarter. The quarter would begin with a 33 yard punt by Rowan’s Charles Bupp from their on 7 yard line to the Colonels senior wide receiver Jim Jordan. Jordan returned the punt for 1 yard to Rowan’s 39 yard line putting junior quarterback Al Karaffa and his offense in position to take the lead and leave the rest to the Colonels stingy defense that allowed only 7.5 points a game prior to. The Colonels did just that. They scored. Karaffa completed two passes for 34 yards putting the Colonels at the 5 yard line. Senior running back Tom Andreopolous would pick up the garbage on a 5 yard run that put the Colonels up 14-7 with 13:52 left in the game. Now it was up to the Colonels defense to hold up and send their team into the next round and three games away from a shot at the national championship. The Colonels shut down Rowan for two series before giving up a touchdown with exactly 03:00 remaining. Eager to take the lead, Rowan went for a two point conversion that resulted in an incomplete pass leaving the score 14-13 Colonels. Revenge was now officially in the air and the ecstatic Colonel fans were breathing in every ounce. At this point, all the Colonels needed to do is run the ball to take time of the clock and begin dancing into the next round. Not so fast. Rowan’s Matias Spahn kicked the ball 50 yards to Jordan for a 7 yard gain putting the Colonels on their own 22 yard line. Karaffa and the rest of the Colonels anxious offense would take the field with 2:47 remaining on the clock. See Football page 16 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon Newspaper Collection, 1947-present Description An account of the resource <p>This is Wilkes University's <em>Beacon</em> Newspaper collection, 1947-present. We also have digitized copies of the <em>Beacon's</em> predecessors, <em>The Bucknell Bison Stampede</em>, 1934-1935 and <em>The Bucknell Beacon</em>, 1936-1947 June. It should be noted that Wilkes University does not have a complete set of issues for the Bucknell Bison Stampede and Bucknell Beacon. For researchers who are interested in seeing the complete issues for these publications, please contact <a href="https://researchbysubject.bucknell.edu/scua">Bucknell University's Special Collections Department</a>.</p> <p></p> <p>Missing Issues:</p> <p>1947 August 8th<br />1947 September 5th<br />1947 October 3rd<br />1947 October 17th<br />1947 October 31st<br />1947 November 21st<br />1947 December 19th<br />1948 September 9th<br />1950 April 28th<br />1953 April 10th<br />1962 February 2nd</p> Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Beacon staff is comprised of Wilkes University students who are advised by a full-time faculty member of the Communication Studies Department. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1934-present Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright of the Wilkes Beacons is retained by Wilkes University. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Professor Emeritus Harold Cox digitized the collection from 1934-1970 and created a <a href="https://beaconarchives2.wilkes.edu/">legacy website</a>. Digital Archives student John Jenkins digitized the collection from 1970-present. Special thanks goes to Communication Studies Professor Dr. Kalen Churcher, Editor-in-Chief Kirsten Peters, Beacon staff member, Emily Cherkauskas, and other Beacon staff for their help in acquiring digitized copies of the Beacons from 2006 onward. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon 2007 September 11th Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2007 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/8ad73091905611d9364dccebcfdd94aa.pdf c7b465b42b825014c4108519a4ece7ea PDF Text Text Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA THE NEWS OF TODAY REPORTED BY THE JOURNALISTS OF TOMORROW MAY In This Issue... '---------------1 (. "'!! ' ·1#1.trr /4t11i Page6 • • • • • • • •• Page 9 Rosenn lecture focuses on the Sudan crisis BY ANDREW SEAMAN Beacon Asst. News Editor Film can do many things. It can make you cry, laugh, scream in terror and think. A good film will make you do all four, and the audience of the 26th Annual Max Rosenn Lecture saw such a film Sunday evening. In an unusual move for the annual lecture, the evening included both the screening of an award-winning film, God Grew Tired of Us and lectures delivered by two individuals associated with it, director Christopher Dillon Quinn, and one of the subjects of the film, John Bui Dau. The film won two awards at the Sundance Film Festival. The movie focuses on three "Lost Boys" of Sudan, their escape from a civil war and their relocation in the United States. Dau was one of the "lost boys." The film, which was screened before the lecture, depicted the compelling story of the Lost Boys who fled their homes when the northern Sudanese government tried to kill them. The group of 27,000 fled to neighboring Ethiopia and arrived emaciated and near death. The group's stay in Ethiopia was short; they were then forced to flee again when civil war broke out there. The group, reduced by starvation, drowning See ROSENN page The Beacon/Cara Koster Christopher Dillon Quinn, lecturer of the 26th annual Max Rosenn Lecture, stands with one of The Lost Boys of Sudan, John Dau (left). Dau is featured in the movie that was screened at the lecture, God Grew Tired of Us. 4 Text notification ••••••••• system planned BY MARK CONGDON JR. Beacon Staff Writer Retention rate of diverse students dips BY NICOLE FRAIL Beacon Staff Writer The Virginia Tech massacre caught the country by surprise, though it appears that even local universities were already in discussions about how to best inform campus constituents about emergencies using the latest technologies. Before the Virginia Tech tragedy, Wilkes University officials were already investigating how best to inform students and faculty in the event of an emergency. Thus, Public Safety officials acknowledge that they are now in the process of implementing a phone-based, text messaging notification system for both communication and emergen- - - - - - - - - - - - - . Icy purposes weeks ahead of the nationwide trend in reaction to the tragedy. Wilkes students, faculty and staff should be able to enroll next week, said Christopher Bailey, Director of Campus Support Services. "A few News .. ...... ............ ..... ....... 1-5 departments have been investigating a text based messaging system, Opinion .............................6-8 both for emergency and non-emergency communications, for the past Features .... ..................... 9-11 year or so. Page 13 Inside: Arts & Entertainment.. .. 12-15 Sports ........................... 16-20 Volume 59 Issue 21 www.wilkesbeacon.com 1, 2007 See TEXT page 4 Twenty-three full- and part-time students of culturally diverse and international backgrounds chose not to return to Wilkes University at the end of the fall semester in December 2006. According to Brian Bogert, Assistant Director for Institutional Research, those 23 students accounted for a combined 12.2% of the university's multicultural students. Mark Al Jen, Dean of Student Affairs, noted that there could be a number of reasons for the retention drop-off among minority students. "Regardless of ethnicity, the reason why a student would leave would be a lack of academic success, changes in financial circumstances or they just don't care for the environment," he said. Homesickness may also play a key role, according to Alberto Prado, Interim Director of the Multicultural Student Coalition (MSC). Along with the Diversity Ambassadors, the Indian Culture Association and the Islamic Interest Society, MSC has sponsored a number of events this year to See RETENTION page 2 �., NEWS MAY 2 1, 2007 RETENTION from FRONT PAGE try to help students feel more at home and accepted among the Wilkes community. Even though events are scheduled, and multicultural and ethnic clubs and organizations are offered on campus, some note that students don't appear to utilize what's available to them. Yohanna De Los Santos, a transfer student from the Dominican Republic, admitted that she noticed the missing students on campus when she returned for the spring semester and considered applying to different schools for the upcoming 2007-08 year. "I thought of applying somewhere else like New York or Miami, you know, like a big city where it's more diverse with different people," the sophomore said. Having never heard of groups like MSC, she wasn't aware that there were places she could go to feel closer to home while she worked on adapting to an incredibly dif- SG Notes At the April 25, 2007 Student Government (SG) meeting: Treasurer's Report The remaining SG funds exist in the following lines: All ~ollege: $2,406.21 General: $4,034.73 Special Projects: $131 Spirit: $3,405.15 Leadership: $4,540 Conferences: $7,469.10 Start-up: $3,200 New Business Matt Brown accepted his position as SG President, Sherri Homanko accepted her position as Off Campus Council President and Kate Baas accepted her position as Inter Residence Hall Council President. The next SG meeting will be managed by both the current president, Jenna Strzelecki and incoming president, Matt Brown. ferent culture and school. Though there may be many explanations as to why the number of ethnic students attending Wilkes University has fallen off, Allen said that it's difficult to pinpoint one specific reason. "In what we've looked at between semesters in terms of students leaving, we've not been able to identify any single factor that's raised a flag that says we really need to focus and do a better job on this particular aspect in order to improve retention," he said. If a student doesn't inform the university that they don't plan on returning for the upcoming semester, then there is no way of identifying the cause for why he/she has left. If a student formally withdraws from the school, then there is an exit process so that they can provide a reason for leaving. It is still unclear whether the percentage of ethnic or diverse students who left Wilkes mid-year will affect the decisions of minority students to come to the university next year. In response to this, Charles Siarkowski and Andy York presented a song that they wrote to commemorate the SG's year. Emerging Leaders asked for a donation to clean up Charles Street Park and hold a grand re-opening. The total project cost is $605 and the request was for $300. The money will go to food, cooking, ice and serving utensils for the re-opening. The money will also go towards the revitalization with the purchase of paint, flowers and mulch. SG allocated the $300 to Emerging Leaders with a vote of 34 for, 0 against and 5 abstaining. A tentative SG budget was presented with four clubs taken off of the budget for next year because of concerns that they do not help all the students or that they did not hand in the proper forms in time. The clubs excluded from the budget include: Concert and Lecture, Crew Club, Speech and Debate and Lacrosse. Allen said that the university is always interested in building a more diverse population. "The Diversity Task Force is taking the lead role in identifying a lot of issues on campus so we can see where we can do a better job, not just with students from underrepresented populations but also from the staff and faculty standpoint so we can have a more healthy population with respect to diversity," said Allen. The Diversity Task Force was formed at the end of the first semester and is comprised of faculty, staff, students, Board of Trustees members and community members. The group is engaged in evaluating Diversity Survey results as well as interviewing constituent groups about their perspectives on needs in the diversity arena at Wilkes. Prado noted that once finals are over and the stress of the semester is lifted, the student leaders of MSC, Diversity Ambassadors and other organizations will meet to make plans that will hopefully draw more students of every culture together for the fall semester. 2 2 3 4 .</', ✓-_ :r",, -¥=,/ ·•""·' . . The Beacon/ Cara Koster Tiny wooden crosses adorn the lawn across from Kirby Hall with an "Our Future?" banner hanging in the background. The display sponsored by S.A.V.E brings attention to endangered species. BEACON Serving the community through fair and accurate reporting while supporting the views and opinions of our readers. Editorial Staff Editor-in-Chief: Curran Dobson Email: wilkesbeacon@gmail.com News Editor: Nick Podolak Email: news.beacon@gmail.com Op/Ed Editor: Kristyn Ostman Email: thebeacon.oped@gmail.com Features Editor: Nora Jurasits Email: thebeaconfeatures@gmail.com A&E Editor: Stephanie Debalko Email: thebeaconae@gmail.com Sports Editor: Ariel Cohen Email: beaconsports@gmail.com Photo Editor: Nick Zmijewski Advertising Managers: Stephanie Yachim Dana Zlotucha Email: thebeacon.ads@gmail.com Advisor: Dr. Andrea Breemer Frantz Jonathan McClave presented a proposal to buy their own tables for casino night. They will be personalized with Wilkes logos and the total project will cost $15,067.80 to $15,567.80. It will take seven casino nights to pay for the purchase and passed with a vote of 36 in favor and 1 opposed. There was a presentation to trade in SG's current vans and purchase two used models. The money will come out of the buffer fund. The vans are 2007 Chevy Uplanders with an extended wheel base. The vans will seat seven and have dual climate control. The purchase will cost $39,998 and passed with 31 in favor, 4 opposed and 2 abstained. Leaving Town Student Goverment Notes Summer Renovations Rosenn Lecture 2007 ■ ■ ■ Established in 1936 PA Newspaper Association Member Printed on Mondays during the academic school year. 130 S. · River St. First Floor, Conyngham Hall, wTikes University Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 (570) 408-5903 ·141tKES llNIVERS/TY· wilkesbeacon@gmail.com www.wilkesbeacon.com �MAY NEWS 1, 2007 3 University Towers to undergo renovations for 'life safety' Though residents have long complained that the elevators in University Towers are painstakingly slow, it is still uncer@ tain whether or not a full upi grade will be completed by the end of the summer. "A full upgrade would digitize the elevators, increasing the speed," Pesta said. "But that depends on if it fits in the budget or not. That's a pretty big chunk of work to try and do all in one summer." Due to the renovations, however, political science major Karyn Perestam was informed by Residence Life that all oncampus students living in the Towers must not only vacate their apartments for the sum= - - - - - - ' - - ' mer, but move out all of their The Beacon/Cara Koster furniture as well. BY NICK PODOLAK Beacon News Editor Several renovations for life safety will take place over the summ"er at University Towers on South Main, including new fire suppression systems, smoke detectors, a clean-down of the elevators and an upgrade in the voice data system. "Our engineers are working on the specifications and final documentation of the life safety issues, and have completed the specifications for the voice data upgrade," said John Pesta, Director of Capital Projects. The building, which was constructed in 1977, does not have any detectors according to Pesta. Just last semester, a student became incapacitated due to smoke inhalation after she left something cooking on the stove and it caught fire. Public Safety officers had to step in and pull the student from the smoke-filled room. "Early intervention in a fire is the best. When you' re able to quickly contain and put out a fire prior to the fire department arriving on the scene, you're ahead of the game," said Chris Bailey, Director of Campus Support Operations. A fire extinguisher stands next to of fire hose in U niver"This is a huge burden placed sity Towers on South Main Steet. Renovations for the on students who thought they summer will include a new sprinkler system, smoke were moving into apartments, detectors and an elevator clean-up. which would allow them to avoid the annoyance of moving in and out of a dorm every year," Perestam said. However, a contract that on-campus students must sign clearly states that students must vacate the University Residence Hall within 24 hours after his/her final examination or within 24 hours after the termination of the residence hall contract. Director ofResidence Life Brenda Stanely explained, "The terms of this contract have not changed since the apartment-style living environment was introduced at Wilkes and so we are unclear as to why students living at University Towers would think differently," she said. "On campus students that reside in University Towers sign the same contract as on-campus students that reside in any of our other residence hall and mansions." Aside from the life safety renovati!ns, one of the biggest changes students will notice upon return is that they will have access to the campus networks, giving them access to the H-drive without having to make a secw-e link from off-campus to on-campus. "You could use any campus service as if you were sitting on the campus," said Chief Officer of Informational Technology Services Mike Salem. "We' re making it just like any other dorm." S E X U A L A S S A U L T: PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING TO YOU 5 WAYS TO REDUCE YOUR RISK ■ When you go to a party, go with a group of friends. Arrive together; check in with each ot~er and leave together. Don't be isolated with someone you don't know or trust. ■ Trust your instincts. If a situation feels unsafe or uncomfortable, it probably iJn't the best place to be. ■ Don't feel obligated to do anything you don't want to. "I don't want to" is always a good enough reason not to do something. ■ Practive safe drinking. Don't leave your beverage unattended, pay attention to your drink while it's being prepared and don't accept drinks from someone you don't know well. ■ Make sure your cell phone is with you and charged. Know what parts of campus are well llt and where people hang out. Use a campus shuttle at night and carry cab money when you go out. IN AMERICA. 1 IN 6 WOMEN AND 1 IN 33 MEN HAVE BEEN SEXUALLY ASSAULTED -Sponsored By Health Services Rape Abuse & Incest National Network <www.rainn.org> • �MAY 1, 2007 NEWS 4 ROSENN from FRONT PAGE and war, was left with less than half of the original boys, bringing their numbers to about 12,000. The boys charted their journey to Kenya where they established the Kakuma Refugee Camp in 1992. The Lost Boys formed their own village until the United States agreed to place them in homes and jobs in this country. The movie then begins with the story of John Bui Dau who learned he would be moving to Syracuse, New York. The film followed him and other Lost Boys as they travelled across Africa, Europe and the Atlantic until they reached New York City. The boys then separated and went to either Pittsburgh or Syracuse. The film touched everyone in the audience with its comical elements, including scenes about the boys not knowing how to use things that we take for granted, like a light switch. The boys were given assistance for three months until their visas and Social Security cards were taken care of and then began looking for a job. The film also shows the culture shock the boys experienced, especially because they lacked the interaction they had previously in the camp and because they were alone for long periods of time. There was enough pressure on them to drive one of the boys insane. The community's reaction to the boys was also depicted. Store owners asked that they didn't enter their store in large numbers. Neighbors asked them not to sit or dance outside under the tree near their apartment like The Beacon/Cara Koster Wilkes University President Joseph E. (Tim) Gilmour introduced Christopher Dillon Quinn, award-winning director of God Grew Tired of Us, and John Bui Dau, one of the Lost Boys of Sudan, at the annual Max Rosenn Lecture Series Sunday, April 29th, at the Dorothy Dickson Darte Center. Dau was featured in Quinn's film, and the film was showed to the audience prior to both Quinn and Dau speaking. Quinn stressed the importance of the United States' involvement in the crisis in Sudan, while Dau spoke to the audience about the power of perseverance. they did back in Kenya. The film ends with the Lost Boys either working on graduating from college or trying to get their families to come to the US. Dau was someone who worked and put his education on hold to bring his family to the US and the film showed the reunion. The film did not have a definite ending, because the Lost Boys of Sudan's future is still in question. Many are still in Kenya or are afraid to go back to Kenya in fear that they will be shot or burned along with their village. When the lights came up on the packed Darte Center, many in the audience were wiping their eyes while offering a standing ovation. Quinn began his pa1i of the lecture by making the format very conversational. Neither man stood behind the podium and instead walked around the stage. Quinn spoke about his inspiration for the film, which started in seventh grade when he learned about the holocaust. "I always remember in seventh grade saying 'well at least that will never happen again.' And for me Africa is not only something that is in turmoil but is also something that is being ignored." Quinn also told the story about how hard it was making the film. He had to call around and ask for donations until he finally called enough "friends of friends" to get a screening in Los Angeles where Brad Pitt was in the audience, who decided he wanted to be part of the project. The floor was then turned to Dau who spoke about his experience and his progress. Currently, he has worked to raise $400,000 to build a clinic in his village in Africa, which was completed the day after the lecture, April 30. He also talked about the future of Sudan which, according to him, lies in the hands of the United States, beause "the U.N. is not doing its job." Dau also talked about what he saw in America that could be improved. One thing he mentioned was how students need to persevere. "You are not getting good grades or your mom is not buying jeans or computer games, it's not a big problem. All you have to do is persevere." Dau said that is the key to success. After the speakers concluded, the audience was invited to the lobby for a reception where they could purchase Dau's memoirs and meet the speakers. The gentlemen were immediately swarmed by people who were fascinated by their stories and experience. This lecture is named for the Honorable Judge Max Rosenn who passed away last year. The Beacon corrections In The Beacons April 24 article "Brown wins SG Presidential post with 30% of student vote," the winners of Inter Residence Hall Council (IRHC) President and Off Campus Council (OCC) President were misprinted as Student Government (SG) Vice President and other positions. For clarification, Kate Baas will be the president of IRHC and Sherri Homanko will be president of OCC. Last week, the photo of the SG presidential candidates was printed as being taken by Andrew Seaman. This photo should have been credited to Kathy Dalton. The Beacon/Cara Koster John Bui Dau signed a copy of his book, God Grew Tired of Us, durin·g the meet and greet after the 26th annual Max Rosenn Lecture. Dau is one of the Lost Boys of Sudan whose story is told in the film of the same name as his book. Dau moved to Syracuse, New York with the help of the United States and worked in order to bring his family to the US as well. The film was showed at the lecture and depicted the reunion between Dau and his family. The Beacon strives for accuracy and good sourcing in all of its stories and regrets the errors in the past issue. Editors are grateful for reatiers who take the time to point out inaccuracies. Andrea Breemer-Frantz, Faculty Advisor Curran Dobson, Editor-in-Chief �.. MAY 1, 2007 NEWS TEXT from FRONT PAGE We plan to deploy an enhanced system that will provide both te,rt as well as voice alerts. This system will also allow us to utilize the phones currently located within our classrooms in addition to enrolled cell phones. This would allow us to reach students and faculty while they are in class where they may have switched off or otherwise silenced their cell phones ... The phone and cell phone alert system will have an initial cost of $3,500 plus the cost of minutes which are purchased in blocks of 400 minutes for $500," said Bailey. Bailey added that there are two ways students, faculty and staff can sign up. "There will be two avenues to enroll in this service; a primary method as well as a back-up. The primary method will be a web-based form where community members will provide their last name, their WIN and their phone number. Due to possible technical issues with a large number of individuals trying to access this web form, we will also allow individuals to enroll by sending the same information via email to a specific address; most likely safety@wilkes.edu but I will have to confirm this address," stated Bailey. Danielle Capone, freshman nursing major, believes that this is a great idea for the university. "Considering how safety is more important now than ever before, I believe that this system should protect our campus community if something tragic like the shootings at Virginia Tech ever happen here," she said. Jack Chielli, Executive Director of Marketing Communications, said that the university has other safety features for back-up. "All of the current safety procedures are still in place. These include 14 professional public safety officers who are trained in 5 emergency response procedures and are mobile on bikes. We can visit very building on our campus within 10 to 15 minutes to lock them down in emergencies. We also have 40 to 50 emergency phones on campus that directly hook into the public safety office . which is in constant contact with the police department. Email and other notifications are also available to us and will be employed in the case of an emergency," said Chielli. Chielli added that some of the disadvantages of the proposed addition of text and e-messaging are that, "Some students and faculty will not have their cell phones on or will not opt in to the program. We have to have back up measures in place to reach those individuals." Brooke Barney, freshman elementary education major, feels that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. "With any safety system there are drawbacks, but it seems like this phone-based system has more positives than negatives. That's why we have other safety procedures in place. It's not perfect, but I believe that it's better than what we currently have. I feel safe at Wilkes already, but I know that this will help me feel even safer," noted Barney. Chielli encouraged students to take safety precautions when necessary. "I think it is important to stress that the safety of our campus is everyone's responsibility. The best way to stay safe is to look out for each other. Also, we should use this opportunity to stress ways to prevent the more common threats to students. These can be greatly reduced by conducting oneself in a responsible manner - only drink responsibll' and never drink and drive; always knm~ who you are letting into your dmm; never leave the door to the dorm building propped open; do not walk on campus alone late at night; call security whenever you see or hear something suspicious; and take care of each other. No security system, no matter how good or costly, can guarantee there will not be a crime," said Chielli. Wilkes-Barre t Buy a large pizza at reguA large cheese pizza '.· .· . i lar price and get a. 1 Ope ¥ t + an 8pc Breadsticks, CinnaStix. o.r· Ch . eesybread P @ order of our new warm f brownies 1. I. I $9.99+TAX VAL.ID .12.AM-CL .·. OSE Expires 5/31/076 ;--*-•:•·.W,-~----~ f J 1 FREE Expires 10/8/06 ..... .... I ITV IJ ~~-,;~,~--- 570-829-2900 154 s. Pennsylvania Ave Sun-Thur 11am-2am Fri & Sat 11am-4am t ~-- _ ---··-----~-___________________ ............. -....... -... __ .., _______ ....., ___ ------~- .... ... _...,.. .,_........,. . �7 Angry Rant Too much focus on VT killer 7 6 Senior reflection 8 Cronyism poses a challenge at all levels of government Student govenment policies leave room for corruption BY THE BEACON EDITORIAL BOARD Do we ever really trust our government? All politicians lie--that's the old adage--but we still hold elections and hopeforthe best. Wilkes University's Student Government (SG) is no exception to the rule. SG members have promoted w01thy causes, represented important issues, and also made mistakes. Scandal and redemption are mere inches apart. Recently, it was reported that newly elected SG President, Matthew Brown, was involved in controversy because he allegedly lied to obtain information from a local business. While the exact details of the case remain slightly cloudy, the case occurred just before campuswide elections for SG ExecuBoard positions. Brown was evaluated by his peers in an SG hearing, allowed to remain on SG and continue his quest for the position. He was elected to the top post days later. The scenario is one for which no federal government candidate for office could ever hope: evaluation by peers and friends who determine your fate and a general election in which the majority of the voting body is unaware of the news until after casting their ballots. Some students expressed their displeasure with having the elections open before the news was available. Many even admitted they would have changed their votes. It should be the primary goal of our government to be as We candid as possible, given that this is a much smaller scale than a national election where one must vote with only as much information as is available by a single day. But while the Wilkes SG constitution has been adequately followed, it still seems strange that the election was not postponed. In national elections, this is much more difficult, but the story broke just as elections were opening online and it easily could have been changed, especially since the candidate could have potentially been disqualified after the fact. At least three students approaced Beacon staff members and said that know they would have voted differently. Since we have the unique ability to prevent such scenes by postponing elections or rerunning elections, since we are on a small and private scale, our SG should consider such options in order to take into account a possible change in the sentiment of the student body toward a candidate. The greatest conflict of interest is that our constitution supports the entire SG membership to determine the fate of a fellow member. Aside from the potential for peer pressure, there are few checks and balances built into the system to ensure accountability among representatives. When Hillary Clinton voted for the war in Iraq, it left a mark on --==--.11 her reputation that she is still trying to shake from the reputation for he 1p ing a friend. In fact, such loyalty is usually rewarded socially. As representatives, the default is simply to use one's best judgment, which is complicated by peer pressure and friendships on a small college campus. A Sight for Sore Eyes Aleksander Lapinski Many positions in the university have a code of conduct. Some faculty advisors for clubs and teams warn their students not to have compromising photos of themselves on Facebook or MySpace as a way to keep respectable appearances. When someone slips up, it has resulted in losing a position or leaving a team. Why should our government be different? To Brown's credit, he has offered a full acknowledgment and apology for his actions. Such public mea culpas require fortitude and leadership. It is unlikely that SG members will be asked to account for their votes, however. We must set a standard against cronyism and peer pressure and develop standards with actual consequences. Without them, we leave ourselves open to unethical behavior running rampant. It is not only about being honest and open to the student body, but also about the public appearance of the entire university. Beacon Poll Results The following are results of a poll that The Beacon conducted online this past week. The poll was unscientific, and does not claim to reflect the overall attitudes of students on campus. Results are based on 42 responses. The Beacon asked: What are your summer plans? Work-55% Travel-16% Spend time at the beach-15% Take summer classes -8% Volunteer -2% Nothing special -2% Sleep-2% Visit old friends -0% See summer blockbusters -0% Other-0% �MAY 1, 2007 OPINION 7 Should NBC and other networks have focused on Cho? violence. What should have happened is this: In news accounts of the shooting, news organizations should have offered an What el se can I say about the tragedy that account of what happened but not focused occurred at Virginia Tech? I am sure I could too much on the killer. Instead, more go on and on about gun control laws and focus on the victims might help to prevent how good/bad they are but what will that copycat events. By showing the really accomplish in the long images of Cho holding guns run? and reading his manifesto, other However, I feel the need to people will see this and think, "I write about this topic because can be famous, too." something bothered me today The responsibility for determining what constitutes news generally News organizations need ask as I walked past the news themselves, "Why are we giving o·rganizations in New York City should fall to the trained gatekeepers at the news organizations, but too this to the public and what will on Saturday. They were still this do to the community?" talking about what happened. often it falls into the hands of the company's CEOs. Once this happens, these It is not that I expect to never organizations may earn ~he hear of this again. It is just a respect of the community question of where do audiences again and the news they report draw the line of what we need That package should not have been will be even more accurate. And yes, the regurgitate it to you, the audience . The ideal or want to know? The responsibility for determining what model should operate as one that has the given to every single news company in unwanted materials like the pictures of the constitutes news generally should fall community's best interests that guide such the world. It should have been examined gunman reading his manifesto will surface to the trained gatekeepers at the news choices. In general , news organizations need and given directly to the police involved in through the internet, but the number of organizations, but too often it falls into to more carefully screen news items and the ongoing investigation. Nothing in that people viewing the material will decrease the hands of the company's CEOs. This is check their prominence before presenting it package was necessary for the public to see. tremendously. News organizations need to However, the news organizations contended simply ask, "Ifwe put this out to the public, because the companies are still pursuing the to their audience. Take the package of information created that it did have relevance and importance what is going to happen?" act of scooping other news organizations and unfortunately it can 't be done by the shooter, Mr. Cho, that he mailed to for audiences wanting to better understand accurately. However the companies still NBC apparently between his first and last the madness that had spurred Cho to such BY ANDREW SEAMAN Beacon Asst. News Editor believe that this model equals big money, because to change the model successfully to a more community minded one, all news organizations must act together and in harmony. Currently all news organizations grab at whatever information is available and shootings. The package contained writings and disturbing video in which Cho made his case for how and why he felt compelled to visit such violence on the beautiful campus. At times during the video, Cho raves about the injustices visited upon him. At others, he brandishes weapons and looks menacing. --~ ---- --==~=----~_-_:_---_-__-_-_-_-____-.:::=======--------·-....- ....___ ~.:.:'..'.:::__ __4'. ~, The Angry Rant: Stupid People BY TIM SEIGFRIED Beacon Asst. Sports Editor Let's face it: people are stupid. In a society that exists in a world of logic and reason, we are hard pressed to find much of either one. In other words, common sense isn 't that common. Case in point: I was at Wal-Mart at one in the morning a few weeks ago, and as I was walking in the main entrance I passed a young mother pushing her one-year-old son in the shopping cart. I'll let you think on that for a moment. It was after midnight, and this genius had her infant awake and at Wal-Mart. Not only that, but after she wheeled him out the front door, she started to light a cigarette not six inches from the child's head! Question: When they were accepting enrollments in "Good Parenting" classes, were you sick that day or were you too busy getting your current boyfriend's name tattooed on your neck? Not only that, but parents in general seem confounded by how to take care of their kids, especially the screaming and crying ones. Nothing is more annoying than when a screaming child is left to scream while the parent just stands there like nothing is going on. As far as the younger generation is concerned, how is it that 17- and 18-yearolds are allowed to parade around wearing virtually nothing? Do the parents who raised these kids have any ideas what their daughters or sons are wearing? I was at the librruy some time ago and saw two girls whose shorts began and ended somewhere around their waist. If that's not bad enough, these same girls have the audacity and gall to get defensive when comments are made about how they dress. Mind you, these are the same people who put provocative pictures of themselves on websites like MySpace and Facebook, and are somehow surprised when the emails from 35-year-old men start pouring in. "But I'm just expressing myself and my womanhood! I am not a whore!" That may be true, but as the great Dave Chappelle once said: "You ' re not a whore .. . but you're wearing a whore's uniform, and that is confusing." The lack of common sense isn't an affliction that we normal people own; it also affects celebrities. Case in point: Sheryl Crow. Ms. Crow is one of a recent slew of celebrities who have joined the cause to combat global wanning. Now I'm all for famous people using their star power to draw attention to a cause, and global warming is no exception, but what she is proposing might be one of the worst ideas in the history of bad ideas: One square. That's the idea. Just one square of toilet paper per bathroom visit. Really, l didn't make that up. Apparently, she feels that the excess waste of paper products can be cut down if, as a society, can ban together and use just one square per visit. Really? One square? I don't know about anyone else, but after l down a delicious meal that consists of surf and turf, I'm willing to bet that I'm going to be needing more than one square of toilet paper. Ok, time for the lighting round: GraphicbyKristynOstman Cell phones: People's habits concerning cell phones have become increasingly poor. If you're in a crowded waiting room, then perhaps you should tum your phone on vibrate so no one can hear "Baby Got Back" every time your phone rings. Bad drivers : When did tum signals become a thing of the past? Nothing is worse than when you ' re heading down the turnpike and some fool cuts in front of you without using any sort of signal. Self checkout: If you can't operate a computer, then you shouldn't be using the self checkout, what with all the fancy gizmos and servos. Poor grammar: Like, it's really annoying, when, like, people don't know how to like, speak, and everything, right? It's like, so bad when someone can't complete and entire sentence without, like, saying like, like, every other word. It like, drives me crazy. One more thing: People who are needlessly critical about eve1y little thing ... and irony. Have a great summer. �MAY 1, 2007 OPINION 8 Be every color that you are: a senior's farewell BY KRISTYN OSTMAN Beacon Opinion Editor It is a bittersweet fact that for many of us college is ending. Some have more schooling to look forward to. Others have jobs or prospects ... Then there are people like me. The proud, the few ... the absolutely terrified. It's not that I haven't any thoughts about my future; I have plenty and even a few possible jobs. The sad fact is that my only definite plans are to move back home and watch Spanish telenovelas until I am fluent. A lot of people tell me that it's okay. Everyone moves home and has that uneasy feeling in the pit of their stomachs. But it's cool, kiddo . You'll get a job soon enough and, ya' know, continue working for the next 40+ years. Okay, I get it that being nervous about my uncertain fate is nothing new. Everyone goes through that post-college malaise. Sadly, I have little advice for anyone other than to offer my understanding and a possible seat beside me during Corazon Salvaje. The most frustrating thing is that floating along the river of uncertainty is as much the learning experience as the past four years. I suppose that the only shred of advice I can offer is to be open to change. Whether it's changing your plans, your mind, or your clothes, just try to allow room for yourself to grow. As much as everyone has grown through the course of college, it never truly stops. If my first job turns out to be in an environment I don't like or not exactly what I want to do, I hope I have the courage to nior, was the issue of marriage. It seems like everyone I know is either engaged or planning on it soon. Recently, some divorce lawyers reported that the number one cause of divorce boils down to: "We got married too Courtesy of http://unet.ollusa.edu quit and go somewhere else. Lots of people get stuck in their comfort zones because random career changes make them feel like a flighty college student. Don 't worry about it. Go out and make sure you are who you want to be. Something else I thought was still a long way off, but that came up as I became a se- young." Please think about that before the wedding. Sure, I'm not one to talk, as the idea of getting married before the age of 27 makes me uncomfortable, to say the least. But this is the time people change and it's still okay. Give yourself the room to change and then make sure that the new you still fits with your other half. Sure, it sounds nice to say that we should all be willing to go out there and embrace our dreams. I know I must sound like a cheesy poster about grad school or going abroad, but it's the best advice that few people actually follow. We kind of get stuck in the daily routine of work, school, or in some cases unemployment. It happens. Try to not be satisfied with everything, strive for more, the majority of goals are not unattainable (I say "most" as I have finally come to terms with the fact that I will never be Mrs. Richard Dean Anderson.) My high school history teacher once said to us, this is the only country that guarantees you the right to try to be happy. Go forth and pursue happiness however you can and whatever that means . Without getting overly nostalgic, I would like to say that the past years have been fantastic. Even the really awful parts. At the same time, I'm ready to be done. Granted, I have no job and my parents still wait up for me even though I am approaching age 22. But at least I have a car and that puts me at slightly cooler than the 14-year olds I will be buying beer for as a side business. While it still saddens and frightens me that nothing seems stable or constant right now, I'm kind of glad for that. Sometimes things need to get shaken up so everything can fall into place. Ivy League no guarantee of success for college grads of the Emerson Electric, Inc. He's pursuing his MBA from Wilkes and is off to a tremendous start in a career that he seems set As the semester comes to an end, we all to excel in for many years. Coming out of ~ k forward to catching up with friends high school, Mike also considered attendfrom our hometowns and high schools. ing a number of While some of those friends schools with namay have also wound up at Wiltional prestige inkes, many others moved on to cluding Rochester, other colleges and universities, Johns Hopkins, each with its own unique profile Just because a school requires high SATs or sends tons of kids overseas to study isn 't a Lehigh and Laand mission. When we're catchguarantee that an alumnus will become a success in the working world. fayette. Yet after ing up with the old crowd, some attending Wilkes, of our friends will begin talking Mike is taking off about the schools they attend in his career and and the excellent level of educadoing just as well tion they are receiving there . as graduates from many of those other insuccess in the working world. In my research for this op-ed, I decided At the tail end of Christmas break, I caught .. The responses received lined up perfectly stitutions. up with an old friend of mine who's now in to question the people who are_ often at So when you get together with friends the forefront of promoting their schools' with my long-standing belief that a student her second year at the University of Rochescan excel at whatever school they choose-- and family and the topic of your education ter. One of the first things we discussed was images- admissions directors . I chose six be it a nationally-known scientific institute comes up, don't forget to give Wilkes a nod schools in Pennsylvania that are of similar that Rochester had recently been named one size to Wilkes, and e-mailed the admissions or a locally-based liberal arts school. As of endorsement. The oppo1tunity is here for of 25 "new Ivies" by Newsweek- schools directors at each institution, asking, "Do proof of my theory, I offer the case of my each ofus to follow a similar path to Mike's that receive strong consideration from apgood friend Mike Liberski. A 2004 graduate and succeed at whatever we intend to do, you believe a school's academic reputation plicants who normally look toward the Ivy and prestige leads to a better education for of Wilkes with a degree in mechanical en- just as it would be at nearly any other instiLeague schools. students?" While l only received two re- gineering, Mike is now employed by an in- tution of higher learning. During our conversation, I began to wonsponses, those gentlemen stressed that an ternational company with local roots, Interder how people at schools like that viewed individual can get a quality educational ex- Metro Industries, Incorporated., a division Wilkes and our academic programs. More BY GERARD HETMAN Beacon Correspondent importantly, I wondered if graduates from a small, regional school like Wilkes would face a disadvantage if applying for jobs and other opportunities against applicants from a more nationally-known institution. perience at nearly any college or university- small or large, local or national in scale. Just because a school requires high SATs or sends tons of kids overseas to study isn't a guarantee that an alumnus will become a �FEATURES MAY Baja car Poli-palooza 1, 2007 10 11 9 Wilkes walks for a cure 24-hour Relay for Life event at Ralston Field brings students together From 5 p.m. on April 27 until 5 p.m. on April 28, Wilkes University held its first Relay for Life event at Ralston Field. Team members walked around the track in shifts to keep at least one participant from each team on the track at all times. Students and sponsors purchased luminaries in honor of relatives who have been affected by cancer. Some of the luminaries were placed around the track, and others were used to spell out "hope" on the bleachers around the field. Junior Blaine Madara, above right, read a poem to his aunt and grandmothet; who are both cancer survivors. Many teams stayed overnight, opting to pitch tents for shelter. Other team members stayed for a while after or before their allotted walking time, socializing with other teams, partaking in karaoke, listening to music, and playing soccer and whiffle ball on the adjacent soccer field. Photos:The Beacon/Nick Zmijewski �10 FEATURES MAY 1, 2007 Baj a team places in Florida competition Society ofAutomotive Engineers students build all-terrain car BY MEGAN KRISANDA Beacon Asst. Features Editor Four wheels and a team of dedicated engineering students from the Wilkes' Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) brought success home after a competition in Florida. At the University of Florida on April 13-16, 75 teams from all over the nation competed in designing and building 4-wheeled all-terrain Baja cars that were tested in a variety of events. Wilkes ' SAE placed 3rd in the Mud Bog competition and 30th in the overall competition. Acceleration, strength, water maneuverability, suspension and land maneuverability were among the criteria that were tested. Paul Benulis, team captain and sophomore mechanical engineering major, saw the competition as both exhilarating and challenging. "It was fun just watching the car competing because we worked so hard to get it there . Mud bog was tough. We watched a lot of cars get stuck when were we in line, but our car did great. When we received the trophy at the awards banquet on Sunday, I think we surprised a lot of people," he said. During the endurance race, the car had a close call after taking a turn too E N fast and hitting a tree. Luckily no one was hmt in the crash and the car was ~ u towed and fixed very quickly. "I hit the tree at top speed and I was fine . After it hit, the car spun around and slid about 20 feet down the track, but it's fun c0 u and would've been great to watch," said Benulis. ro Q) Benulis addsed that the team used a safety harness belt system, helmet, aJ Q) neck collar and wrist straps in order to prevent any injuries. ..r:: ..........,_._..........................~-"""'--..__, IMary Opalka, sophomore mechanical engineering major and Baja team member, was in charge of the cost and design reports that each team had to Wilkes students who are a part of the SAE organization travelled to Florida in April to comsubmit in order to gain points for the total score. She was surprised at the pete in the Baja car competition. The team placed 3rd in the Mud Bog competition and 30th in the overall competition. size of the competition. "The competition was so much bigger than I had expected; there were over 70 teams that attended, but it wasn't just them, they also brought spectators. One team had almost 20 members, most of whom were just there to watch. It was astounding," said Opalka. Opalka is the only female member of Wilkes Baja team, but noted that a team from Alabama was entirely female . There were opporunities to meet other teams in between technical inspections. "We met the most people through the borrowing and lending of tools. You had to bring all yours with you, but of course you forget something," said Opalka. Designing and crafting the vehicle to meet competition requirements was a long process but enjoyable, said Benulis. As captain, his responsibilities included purchasing parts, tools, safety gear and anything else needed throughout the year. "Specifically, I built body panels, floatation, water propulsion fenders and safety equipment mounts. I kept a close eye on the rules and design requirements to make sure what we were doing was right," said Benulis. Benulis added that the team learned a lot from the national competition. Members of the team learned they were able to successfully compete with the best schools!. Mr. Mitch Adams served as technical advisor and "helped out the students in every way," said Benulis. Both Benulis and Opalka are excited for next year's competition and are close to finishing the final design of the new vehicle. "We worked great together under pressure. All my expectations were exceeded at the competition and I am proud of our team and am proud to represent the Wilkes Engineering program," said Benulis. The Beacon/Nick Zmijewski Members of the Baja team continue to work on the car in a room near the machine shop in the basement of Stark Learning Center. Some members are also working with technical advisor Mitch Adams to design a car for next year's competition z �MAY 1, 2007 FEATURES 11 *NOT ALL CUSTOMERS WILL QUALIFY. CUSTOMERS RECEIVE $400 FROM TOYOTA TOWARDS LEASING OR FINANCING THE PURCHASE OF NEW UNTITLED TOYOTA MODELS THROUGH PARTICIPATING TOYOTA DEALERS AND TOYOTA FINANCIAL SERVICES. SEE DEALER OR VISIT WWW.TOYOTAFINANCIAL.COM/FINANCE FOR DETAILS. COLLEGE GRADUATE PROGRAM IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR TERMINATION AT ANY TIME. 1NO PURCHASE IS NECESSARY. MAKING APURCHASE DOES NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. TO ENTER YOU MUST BE ALEGAL U.S. RESIDENT AT LEAST 18 YEARS OLD AND YOU MUST HAVE AVALID DRIVER'S LICENSE. VISIT YOUR PARTICIPATING TOYOTA DEALER OR WINAYARISONLINE.COM FOR COMPLETE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS AND SWEEPSTAKES RULES. �A&E MAY 1, 2007 12 CD Review Summer Movies Crossword This Week in History 13 14 15 15 Wilkes chorus joins forces with NEPA Philharmonic seem just as psyched about it as I am is absolutely priceless." Of course, Taber-Miller is not without After experiencing rock show benefits some apprehension about performing with for both SPAFapalooza and Get Loud for the Philharmonic. "Having the opportuLupus, students may find themselves in the nity to work and perform with Maestro mood for a different musical enjoyLoh is, well, exciting and somewhat ment experience. intimidating all at the same time. It is Luckily, Friday, May 4 and Saturday challenging to join so many individuMay 5 will offer an escape back to als together, especially because we all classical music as the Wilkes Universihave our various interpretations of the ty Chorus will be one of several choral piece, but that's half the fun. That's groups joining forces with the Norththe point of participating in an event eastern Pennsylvania Philhaimonic in like this- watching a bunch of people a perfonnance of Beethoven's Symcome together to perform an absophony No. 9. lutely tremendous piece and perform Wilkes University Chorus, as well it well," she said. as the College Misericordia Choral As the members of the Wilkes chorus Society, and the Bloomsburg Univerready themselves for a once in a lifesity Concert Choir, will have the optime performance opportunity, what portunity to sing this famous piece can their audience expect from such with the Northeastern Pennsylvania an interesting orchestral and choral Philharmonic and the Choral Society performance? Taber-Miller promised of Northeast Pennsylvania, thanks in "a lot of sound! There's a ton ofus up large part to the coordination efforts there, plus the NEPA Philharmonic." of Wilkes University's own Dr. Steven And Thomas concurred, Thomas. The Beacon/Nick Zmijewski "Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 is one Dr. T_homas, the Director of Choral The Wilkes University Chorus, seen here rehearsing with director Dr. Steven Thomas, will be of the great masterworks of westem Activities and th e Coo rd mator of Mu- performing with the NEPA Philharmonic, along with other area choirs this weekend. music. Hearing it live is an experience sic at Wilkes is also the Chorus Master not to be missed!" for this performance. As Chorus MasFriday's performance will be held at ter, Thomas is responsible for a variety cians hold dear. pects." However, the Wilkes singers have the Kirby Center in Wilkes-Barre, while of activities including recruiting the parCombine the performance of a we! I-loved been working on this piece since the be- Saturday's performance will occur at the ticipating choirs, organizing the rehearsal piece of music with the opportunity to ginning of the spring semester and Thomas Scranton Cultural Center. Both perforschedule and serving as a liaison between work with the Pennsylvania Philharmonic insisted they are "ready to put on a great mances will begin at 8:00 p.m. and ticket the singers and the perfo1mance's conduc- and the event takes on an even greater im- performance." prices range from $18-$55 dollars. Students tor Lawrence Loh, the Music Director of portance to the participants, both students Kaitlin Taber-Miller, a senior musical will receive a 50% discount. Tickets are the Philhannonic. According to Thomas, and faculty alike. As Thomas noted, "It is theatre major who serves as both manager available from the Philharmonic website at "Each of the participating choirs prepared a terrific and rare opportunity for college of the chorus and the president of the cho- www.nephaphil.org or from Philharmonic the work separately, and then I and Maestro singers to be able to perform with a pro- ral club, has her own reasons to be excited box office at 457-830 l. Interested parties Loh worked with the combined choirs to fessional orchestra of this caliber and I'm about the upcoming performance. "I've are encouraged to buy tickets early. Both create a unified conception of the piece." very happy to have been able to provide grown up listening to this piece," said shows are anticipated to sell out. More inThe performance includes the notable that experience for my students." And, as Taber-Miller, "and having the opportunity formation about the concert is available at work of Ludwig Van Beethoven's 9th can be expected with a performance of this to perform it with other individuals who http://www.nepaphil.org. BY SHANNON CURTIN Beacon Staff Writer symphony. Beethoven's No. 9 Symphony, dated 1824, was the composer's final complete symphony and composed when he was completely deaf. It has since become one of the best known pieces of classical music of all time, and one that many musi- magnitude there are undoubtedly multiple challenges as well as benefits. With respect to working with a professional orchestra Thomas acknowledged that the greatest challenge is "reaching the high artistic level that the Philharmonic ex- Schedule of Events Tuesday, May l - Jazz Orchestra Concert in the Darte Center at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 2 - Tibetan Monk will be talking in SLC at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 3 - Comic Book Club unveiling in the Old Bookstore at 11 a.m. Friday, May 4 - Northeaster PA Philharmonic at the Kirby Center ay 8 p.m. - Lewis and Clarke and Strand of Oaks performing at Cafe Metropolis at 8p.m. - Chorus Concert: Beethoven's Ninth Symphony in the Kirby Center at 8p.m. Center at 1 p.m. - Urban Cowboy at the Kirby Center at 9p.m. - Slightly Askew, Aww James and Backflip Journeyman pe1forming at Cafe Metropolis at 8 p.m. - Chorus Concert: Beethoven's Ninth Symphony in the Kirby Center at 8 p.m. Saturday, May 5 - Flute Ensemble concert in the Darte Sunday, May 6 - Live to Laugh event at ArtsYouniverse at 2 p.m. - The Independents and the Von HoJTibles performing at Backstage Enterprises at 6 p.m. - The Slackers, the Phenomenauts and the Menzingers performing at Cafe Metropolis at 7 p.m. Monday, May 7 - Karaoke with Scott Stevens at Slainte �MAY 1, 2007 - - ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 13 CD Review: Bucky Covington BY STEPHANIE DEBALKO Beacon A&E Editor Kellie Picklei;, Josh Gracin and Carrie Underwood have all enjoyed a great deal of success in the country music industry after stints on the FOX series American Idol. With his first full-length, self-titled album, it seems like Bucky Covington is trying to get a piece of that action as well. Covington's current single, "A Different World," has already experienced some radio airplay, as anyone purchasing the album can plainly see. And yes folks, in case there was any doubt, "He's the Bucky you've seen on national television!" Apparently there has been some past confusion, and media execs felt it necessary to inform potential buyers via the cover. Uttering the name "Bucky" amongst a group of friends usually causes at least a few snickers. And maybe he isn't the next Alan Jackson, but there are many people (including one editor) who actually enjoyed his Idol performances and are rooting for this album to be decent. The verdict? Overall, without really !is- tening to the lyrics, the songs are pretty catchy tune, its sentiment is quite strange. catchy and could easily hold their own on Covington basically waxes poetic about country radio. And Covington definitely the good old days, where pregnant mothhas a certain tone to his voice that lends . ers drank and smoked and kids didn't wear well to the style of today's country mu- seatbelts or bicycle helmets. That may sic. Unfortunately, explain why his though, he really parents named him seems to be prone Bucky. to cliches. And the cynics "American Friin this town who day Night," a song can't wait to break dedicated to the free probably Friday night footwon't appreciate "Hometown," in ball game, is laden with them. "I'll which the chorus Walk" is not much declares, "Lord, I better, as it dehope Heaven's a lot like my homescribes the plight of a girlfriend who town." Again, this decided to walk song also pays home after a fight homage to those The Beacon/N ick Zmijewski and ended up incliches of which jured and-surprisingly- unable to walk. Covington (or his songwriters) are so inAnd he really seems to be a fan of the credibly fond. Pledge of Allegiance, which is mentioned The most radio-worthy of the bunch might just be "Ain't No Thing" or "It's in at least two different songs. While "A Different World" is certainly a Good To Be Us." Both songs are fast and punchy and are lacking the feeling of forced sentiment some of the other songs have . Based on title alone, one would probably expect "The Bible and the Belt" to be, if not the worst, then at least the strangest song on the album. In actuality, it's one of best offerings Covington makes here, and is definitely worth a second listen. Even though plenty of the lyrics on this album are a bit corny, it's hard to ignore Covington's talent. In fact, it's his voice and authenticity on most songs that make up for the cliches sprinkled across the board. One has to hand it to Covington for finding his niche in the music industrf. Country is definitely the genre for him, and the grittiness that often shines through in his voice hints at some potential for future success, when he is better able to develop his personal style. Considering this is really his first attempt at defining himself musically, Covington could have done a lot worse. Grade: B- �14\ ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT MAY 1, 2007 Top 10 can't-miss summer 2007 movies BY MIKE WILLIAMS Beacon Staff Writer It's almost summertime! And we all know what that means: Fun, sun and huge box office blockbusters. Unfortunately, The Beacon won't be publishing again until September, so we can't tell you which films to see, which to skip, and which ones to wait until they come out on DVD. However, in order to help you make informed summer movie selections, here's a quick overview of this summer's can't miss flick picks. The Condemned- It's Most Dangerous meets Survivor as professional wrestler "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, and a cast of other very large scary men, play a group of IO death row convicts forced to battle to the death on a remote island in front of a live audience viewing via the internet. Ten will fight. Nine will die. One will walk away a free man. (Our money is on the former heavyweight champ.) Spiderman Ill - Old Spidey is back and this time he faces his greatest challenge yet. As Peter Parker's (Toby Maguire) struggle to find a peaceful balance between his life as mild-mannered photojournalist and web-slinging superhero seems to be coming to an end, his world is turned upside down when he comes in contact a strange black substance from another world. While dealing with the substance's ability to bring out his dark side, Spiderman must face three new enemies: New Golin (James Franco), The Sandman (Thomas Haden Church) and the long-awaited Venom (Topher Grace). 28 Weeks Later - Six months after the rage virus decimated England, the horrible disease and its victims have been all but eliminated from the face of the Earth. In an land, the U.S. m iiitary be- gins to bring civilians back to "safe" sectors of the island, while they mop up any problems outside the designated living areas. But, wouldn't you just know it, the virus still lives, and quicker than you can yell "Aim For The Brain!" the nightmare begins all over again. Pirates Of The Carribean: At World's us Benefit Show End - In an alliance formed at the conclusion of Dead Man's Chest, Will (Orlando Bloom), Elizabeth (Keira Knightly) and Capt. Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) go in search of Capt. Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp), attempting to rescue him from the diabolical, squid faced Davey Jones (Bill Nighy). Oceans 13 - Danny Ocean (George Clooney) and his gang return to Las Vegas to pull yet another high-profile score. Working for their old nemesis, casino tycoon Terry Benedict (Andy Garcia), the crew plans to take down a rival casino owner, played by Al Pacino. Hostel II -A group of young female college students backpacking through Europe are lured into a hostel by a mysterious young man, where they are promptly mutilated by sickos and sadists. Hey, that sounds a lot like the first Hostel! Live Free or Die Hard- Det. John Maclane (Bruce Willis) returns to take on a group of internet based terrorists who are attempting to destroy the computer and technological mainframe that supports the U.S. economy. Some people would attempt to discretely deal with a situation of this magnitude, but Maclane has his own brand of dealing with those who threaten our country: shooting people, jumping away from explosions in slow-motion and spouting one liners. AWESOME! Transformers - Giant robots from outer space bring their war to Earth. Based on the 1980s 1 television show, this o n e promises big budgets, big explosions, big robots and tons of computer generated mayhem. The Simpsons Movie - Besides a short 30-second teaser trailer, nothing is known about this long awaited jump from small screen to the theater for America's favorite animated family. The suspense is unbearable. The Bourne Ultimatum-As Jason Bourne (Matt Damon), the super-spy who can do anything except remember his own name, digs deeper into the Treadstone project, a government spy training program that may hold the secret to his identity, he finds himself the target of a deadly assassin (Edgar Ramirez). If the gun fights, fist fights and car chases of the first two installments of the series are any sort of indication for what number three has in store, this one should leave all espionage/adventure/action fans' heads spinning (and maybe bleeding). Photo courtesy of www.iwatchstuff.com 2 M E A M I& N A 13 A K y A L C E B E L OS s w N 71 T O D A Sound the Alarm, Enbloc and Last Conviction all performed at the Lupus Benefit show, Friday, April 27, where proceeds went to the Lupus Foundation. Answers 5.1 T A T N A �7 15 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Kudracross BY CHRISTOPHER KUDRAK Beacon Correspondent 1 5 8 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 22 24 25 28 31 33 36 38 39 41 43 44 45 47 48 50 52 53 55 59 62 63 66 67 68 ACROSS High plateau Mom's partner Having a likeness to something Electric current units Frosty Hospital workers Builder's fastener Not he Crew boats Ceramic square Fix up DNA sequence Squid secretion Cooking abbreviation Internet Annoyances Insecure Beer vessel Happy hour establishments By mouth 4840 square yards Completely Head towards Robert Frost, for example Prom transportation, for short X Appeals Spreads Abet Confucian principle Technique Certificate for graduation Preakness stakes, for example C2H6 H.S. exam Adam's son Playground equipment 69 70 71 72 73 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 15 21 23 25 26 27 29 30 32 33 34 35 37 40 42 46 49 50 51 54 56 MAY 1, 2007 Caustic substance Italian car At the present Crew necessity Italian volcano DOWN Large ray Postal service foe Overflow Unconscious Neglected Advil target Pigments Mannerisms Compel Wood for baseball bats Tennis unit Orbiting research facility, for short Bright sign "My country_ of thee" Throw Fortunetelling card Emulate Gretzky Egyptian gateway Large decorative vase Sacred song Large, heavy motorcycle Tenth letter of the Greek alphabet Intestinal bacteria Midas' undoing Wilkes to graduates Seventh letter for the Greek alpha bet False statement Miner's find Penny-pinching Peruvian currency "Nuevo _ _" Attack by airplanes with machinegun fire Imitates Behavior pattern 57 58 59 60 61 63 64 65 Arctic, for example Fourth letter of the Greek alpha-bet Actor _ _ Carvey Norway's largest city Yucatan Indian New York time (abbr.) Answers 4.23 II Concealed This Week In History BY MICHAEL GIONFRIDDO Beacon Correspondent Brought to you by the History Club. April 30 1945: Holed up in a bunker under his headquarters in Berlin, Adolf Hitler commits suicide by swallowing a cyanide capsule and shooting himself in the head. Soon after, Germany unconditionally surrendered to the Allied forces, ending Hitler's dreams of a "1,000-year" Reich. Mayl 1898: At Manila Bay in the Philippines, the U.S. Asiatic Squadron destroys the Spanish Pacific fleet in the first battle of the Spanish-American War. Nearly 400 Spanish sailors were killed and 10 Spanish warships wrecked or captured at the cost of only six Americans wounded. May2 1933: Although accounts of an aquatic beast living in Scotland's Loch Ness date back 1,500 years, the modem legend of the Loch Ness Monster is born when a sight- ing makes local news on May 2, 1933. The newspaper Inverness Courier related an account of a local couple who claimed to have seen "an enormous animal rolling and plunging on the surface." The story of the "monster" (a moniker chosen by the Courier editor) became a media phenomenon, with London newspapers sending correspondents to Scotland and a circus offering a 20,000 pound sterling reward for capture of the beast. May3 1952: A ski-modified U .S. Air Force C-47 piloted by Lieutenant Colonel Joseph 0 . Fletcher of Oklahoma and Lieutenant Colonel William P. Benedict of California becomes the first aircraft to land on the North Pole. A moment later, Fletcher climbed out of the plane and walked to the exact geographic North Pole, probably the first person in history to do so. Oxford-educated chemist and lawyer was sworn in the day after the Conservatives won a 44-seat majority in general parliamentary elections. Mays 1821: Napoleon Bonaparte, the former French ruler who once ruled an empire that stretched across Europe, dies as a British prisoner on the remote island of Saint Helena in the southern Atlantic Ocean. May6 1937: The airship Hindenburg, the largest dirigible ever built and the pride of Nazi Germany, bursts into flames upon touching its mooring mast in Lakehurst, New Jersey, killing 36 passengers and crewmembers. Note: All information is provided by the History Channel and can be found at http://www.history.com/tdih.do May4 1979: Margaret Thatcher, leader of the Conservative Party, is sworn in as Britain's first female prime minister. The Picture courtesy www.lochnessaccommodation.co.uk. �SPORTS 16 Cumberland APARTMENTS -i; nl 1/1,d MAY 1 2007 ~ e, ~ 1/1,ew LIA.X. IA. v~ e,o 1/1,Stvw~t Lo 1/1, LVi, ll Vi, hLsto vLe, !ll 1/1,d VvLll vt bIA. LL dL1/1,g "- . ) - 48 Efficiency Apartments $475./mo.* , - 12 Efficiency Suites $675./mo.* *double occupancy add $150./mo. <ii) Ci> - Brand New - Kitchen on truction with appliij1ces - Full Bath with shower - Secure Entry - Elevator - Laundry - Wi-Fi Internet - Free Water, Sewer, Trash Cumberland Apartments 17 West Ross Street . Wilkes Barre, PA 18702 570-687-2220 www.cumberlandliving.com �MAY 1, 2007 SPORTS 17 Team addresses issue of public communication on Facebook BY ADRIENNE RICHARDS Beacon Asst. Opinion Editor In February 2004, cyber communities were revolutionized by two Harvard sophomores, Mark Zuckerberg and Chris Hughes, who brought to life the world of Facebook. On April 19, 2007 Ashli Rentzel, a member of the Wilkes women's soccer team, was dismissed for marerial she posted on Face book. Eighty-five percent of college students have a Facebook profile, and nationwide the line between appropriate and inappropriate material has become blurred as employers, professors, coaches, and other authorities have acknowledged that they not only scan Facebook posts, but make judgments about the content they view. Should there be an ethical standard Wilkes athletes have to meet? Head women's soccer coach John Sumoski adopted the "no alcohol policy" for his team in spring 2005. But the "dry" policy was just the beginning for an overall public behavior standard set for women's soccer players, a team that has maintained the highest grade point average among athletic teams at Wilkes. During the fall 2006 season Sumoski sent an e-mail to his players recommending they delete any "questionable material" from their profiles. Questionable material included references to alcohol use and abuse, sexually explicit references, foul language and provocative photographs. The second e-mail was sent in January directed to specific individuals who had not yet complied with Sumoski's request. The third, and final e-mail, was sent in mid-April explaining that the material gave the team a bad name and was inappropriate. "I sent an e-mail in the fall and then I talked to the captains and said, 'I would like you to go on Facebook and MySpace and talk to the individuals who are in jeopardy of getting in trouble,"' said Sumoski. "I was concerned about any inappropriate stuff that could possibly give our team a bad name." On top of a dry season, members of the women's soccer team co-creates a team policy, collectively, at the beginning of each season. They are required to sign the contract in agreement. Attendance, study hours, drug use, and foul language are among the issues addressed in the team team policies. As well, they have a team vision, "to be a cohesive, emotionally intelligent, and nationally ranked NCAA Division III women's soccer program." "On our team we believe in accountability, not just in athletics. Each player is held responsible and told upfront the team policy that we developed as a team," said team captain Briana Bertoni. "We developed our policy as a team, every part, even the consequences. We agree to these standards to make us a better team." It should be understood that Rentzel was not excused from the team because of Facebook alone. There were compounding variables that led to her dismissal. Rentzel 's exit took place just three days before the team's spring game day causing mixed emotions among players. Sophomore Lauren Cirilli commented, "I was upset and shocked and don't understand why it was done. I didn't comply [with] or meet some of the deadlines." Regardless of the exact reason for Rentzel leaving the team the issue of information an athlete has on Facebook continues to be a struggle between player and coach. Athletes walk a fine line as key figures representing the university. Prospective athletes who check team rosters and then search players' names on Facebook and MySpace are not the only ones searching. "There are employers out there hiring D 1 and D3 athletes and [they] now have the ability to go on to cyber communities and google someone's name and an array of information comes forward. Everyone needs to be forewarned, not just student athletes," said Addy Malatesta, Director of Athletics. Malatesta added that Wilkes athletes have an obligation to their teammates who do not support this particular behavior or do not want to be represented in such a way. "Taking that negative representation and expanding it creates dissension on teams. When it goes public you have an obligation to NCAA, future employers, alums, teammates, and the institution," she said. Wilkes athletics representatives and members of the Student Life and Media (SLAM) committee are working together to r~iew the guidelines for student conduct and address the issue of policy on cyber communities. "This is part of college life, but it does have effects in the long run," Rentzel said. "I learned my lesson." Changes in store for Wilkes football schedule BY GERARD HETMAN Beacon Staff Writer As fans of the Wilkes University football program begin discussing the team's outlook for the 2007 season, they may be quite surprised at the slate of opponents that are set to challenge the Colonels as they set out to repeat as Middle Atlantic Conference champions and make their third straight trip to the NCAA playoffs. Due to the off season exit of Juniata College, Moravian College and Susquehanna University from the MAC, each of the 8 teams left in the league needed to schedule 3 non-conference games to start their season. Wilkes will open their season with 3 non-conference games, all at home, against teams from the New Jersey Athletic Conference- William Paterson, Montclair State and Rowan. Following the Rowan game, the Colonels will enjoy a bye week before traveling to Lebanon Valley to begin competition against each of the 7 other MAC football programs. Entering his 12th season at the helm of the Colonels, head coach Frank Sheptock views the new schedule as an excellent opportunity to continue to build Wilkes football on a regional and national scale. "As our program continues to develop, we look to challenge our players to rise to those expectations," Sheptock said of the quality of opponents on this year's schedule. "New The Beacon/Todd Weibel Al Karaffa runs downs the field last season, but changes in the schedule will change what teams he and the rest of the team will face in the fall. Jersey is a prime recruiting ground for us, season-ending spot in week 10. The Colo- regular season finale. 'Tm good friends and the ability to play more teams from that nels will also be tested late in the season as with a lot of those guys- many ofus started area will be of great benefit to us in recruit- they close out their schedule against Dela- to play more last year, and I'll look forward ing." ware Valley and Widener, who have each to our game against them," Signora says of the match up with Widener. Wilkes fans who have followed the team been highly successful in recent seasons. While the road to defending the conferduring the past several years will see two When asked, many Wilkes players are familiar names a bit earlier in the schedule looking forward to this year's schedule. "A ence championship and returning to the this season. The Colonels have been elimi- rivalry is still a rivalry, no matter when it's NCAA playoffs will be more challenging nated from the NCAA playoffs each of the played," offensive lineman Mark Liberski this season, Wilkes players and coaches bepast two seasons by Rowan University, one said of the Mayor's Cup game. "The inten- lieve they are up to the challenge. And with six home games on the slate for 2007, the of the nation's premiere programs at the Di- sity will defiantly still be there." vision III level. This season, Rowan joins Other players are also looking forward to schedule also offers an outstanding opporthe schedule in week 3 as a non-conference the later weeks of the schedule. Fullback tunity for fans to catch some great action opponent. In addition, the annual Mayor's Paul Signora has numerous classmates from at Ralston Field. So make sure to swing by Cup game between Wilkes and rival King's high school who are playing for Widener, and catch a game at Ralston- you certainly College moves to week 7 from its normal and is exited to match up with them in the won't be disappointed. �- ~ - -- ·----- - -~--~ -~ ~ . - SPORTS 18 MAY 1, 2007 Commentary GAME OF TH E WEEK New York Mets v. Arizona Diamondbacks 1 National League hopefuls square off in the West Double Take BY TIM SEIGFRIED Beacon Asst. Sports Editor The New York Mets have their work cut out for them this season. Coming off a season in which they were 97-65 and the heavy favorites to win the National League pennant, the Metropolitans have come into the current season with similar hopes. Those hopes were dashed, however, as the NL East rival Atlanta Braves have proven to be a tougher opponent than originally thought, and subsequently have risen to the top of the division. Things are only going to get more difficult for the Mets, however, as the young Florida Marlins and resurgent Philadelphia Phillies are making runs toward the top. One of the biggest liabilities for the Mets this season has been pitching, as their top gun, Pedro Martinez, will be sidelined for most of the first part of the season as he recovers from shoulder surgery. That leaves the brunt of the responsibility on Tom Glavine, the 41-year old veteran, to lead the pitching staff throughout the season. Glavine is backed by veteran Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez, as well as youngsters John Maine and Oliver Perez. Maine has been stellar so far in this young season, going 3-0 with an ERA of 1.71. 1 erez, on the other hand, has been good, but not great, posting a 2-2 record with and ERA of 3.86. The biggest problem of Perez this season has been his inability to locate 01nmono BACHSoM the plate, often walking several batters a game. On the other side of the ball, the Mets have much less to worry about, as their offense is one of the most dynamic on all of baseball. One of the reasons for that, of course, is leadoff hitter Jose Reyes, considered by most to be the most exciting player in the game. In 21 games, Reyes has 5 triples and 13 stolen bases, both tops in the National League. The middle of the lineup is home to Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado, and David Wright, one of the best 3-4-5 tandems in baseball. One of the biggest surprises for the Mets this year is the offensive contribution of 40year old Moises Alou, an off-season pickup to fill a void in the outfield. Alou is leading the team in batting average with .397, and is contributing with 2 homeruns and 11 RBIs . The Mets are certainly going to need their offense as they head to Arizona for a four game senes. The Diamondbacks, considered early contenders to win the NL West, have not lived up to the expectations, as they are currently third in their division. A main reason for their success is a strong pitching staff that includes 2006 Cy Young winner Brandon Webb and multiple Cy Young winner and veteran pitcher Randy Johnson. Johnson, acquired in a trade from the New York Yankees, struggled in his first start this season, giving up six earned runs in five innings of work. Webb has faired much better, going 1-1 with a 3.60 ERA and 34 strikeouts in five starts this season. The pitching of the D'Backs is solid, with veterans Doug Davis (2-2, 2.79) and Livan Hernandez (2-1 , 3.94) rounding out the rotation, but their real talent lies in their young offense. They are led by the offensive catalyst Eric Byrnes, whose bl end of power and speed makes him a great addition to an offense. Along with Byrnes, the infi eld duo of Orlando Hudson and Stephen Drew combine to form a great offensive and defensive combo for the club. Steph examines the stats that truly matter. .. BY STEPHANIE DEBALKO Beacon A&E Editor Offensively, the Diamondbacks don't win games with their power numbers, but more with speed and timely hitting, both of which they will need in taking on the power heavy New York Mets. Arizona's strength lies in its pitching staff, but don't count out the young offense, who can do a lot to disrupt opposing pitchers. The Pick: Game 1: New York 4, Arizona 2 Game 2: Arizona 9, New York 3 Game 3: Arizona 3, New York 0 Game 4: New York 8, Arizona 7 Probable Starters (as of 4/29) 5/03 Tom Glavine (3-1, 2.80 ERA) VS Edgar Gonzalez (1-2, 4.45 ERA) 5/04 John Maine (3-0, 1.71) vs Randy Johnson (0-1, 10.80 ERA) 5/05 Orlando Hernandez (2-1, 2.53 ERA) VS Brandon Webb (1-1, 3.60 Ji:RA) 5/06 Mike Pelfrey (0-2, 7.90 ERA) vs Livan Hernandez (2-1 , 3.94 ERA) I really don't understand how they name baseball teams. Ordinarily, I couldn't care less about the inner-workings of"baseball society" or whatever you want to call it. But when I have to analyze the Game of the Week using my spectacular problemsolving skills, these inner-workings directly affect my life. Ok, so I get where they got the Diamondbacks from-it's Arizona and there are snakes there I guess. But the New York Mets? What the heck is that about? Don't get me wrong, I love New York, but I'm thoroughly irritated by their choice of team name in this instance. So, for the purposes of this, my last Double Take, I am going to rename the Mets the Loch Ness Monsters and the Diamondbacks will be the Sasquatches. How could I possibly pit two amazingly fascinating creatures against one another and expect one of them to win, you ask? Well, I admit it won't be easy, but we're going to try. While the Sasquatches would have the on-land advantage, with the added benefit of being able to see over trees and stuff, I think the Loch Ness Monsters might end up taking it all in this case. Think about it-they have the opportunity to escape into the deep, murky waters and emerge when they so choose. And come on, the Sasquatches aren't going to be able to swim that fast, what with all that fur weighing them down. It pains me to have to choose between these two ma~Jous mystical (and real) creatures, but I think the Loch Ness Monsters are going to win. So that means I think the Mets will win. But if they don't at least their competitors (the Sasquatches) are a worthy match. �MAY 19 \ SPORTS 1, 2007 SOFTBALL from PAGE 20 will we get them in? Because in the playoffs every team goes up a notch so you have to take advantage of everything that you can possibly get," said Matthews. As the second seed in the playoffs, the Lady Colonels will maintain home field advantage until the championship round which could be a repeat of last season as the Lady Monarchs stand atop of the conference with an 11-1 record. The Lady Colonels finished with a solid 9-1 record at home this season making it tough on opponents to snatch a win in their backyard. If the Lady Colonels sweep Drew University in their last contest, they will be at home against FDU in the first round this Friday. Now is the time for the players to put on their hard hats, because it's time for battle with the seniors leading the pack. "As a senior, my ultimate goal is to win another championship; however, for now I just take it one game at a time," said Agresti. It's playoff time, softball fans , and the Lady Colonels are back again for another date with the Freedom Conference Playoffs. The playoffs will begin Friday at 11 AM, and Saturday at 9AM at Ralston Field. The Beacon/Todd Weibel A Wilkes baseball player slides safely into second base in a game against Scranton .. The Colonels won the games 8-2 and 15-4 to advance to the Freedom Conference Championships, which begin on Saturday. WEEKEND RECAPS . The Wilkes University golf team sits in sixth-place after the opening 27 holes of the 54hole Freedom Conference Championship being held at Shawnee-on-the-Delaware Golf Club. The Colonels finished the day with a team score of 507. Scranton holds the lead after the opening day with a team score of 473. FDU-Florham is just one stroke behind at 474, while King's is third with a 492. Men's Tennis The Wilkes University men's tennis team saw their season come to a close on Saturday as all of their players were eliminated from the MASCAC Individual Championships being hosted at the Ralston Complex and Kirby Park. The Beacon/Todd Weibel Wilkes senior Laurie Agresti is 30 strikeouts shy of becoming the fifth player in Division III history to reach the 1000 strikeout mark. "She is one of the best D-3 pitchers in the area and probably one of the best D-3 players in the country and she is on a level all by herself," said softball head coach Frank Matthews. ' 23 The combined number ofruns scored by the Colonels' baseball team in the twin bill against Scranton. Wilkes University needed just one win during Saturday's Freedom Conference baseball doubleheader against the University of Scranton to clinch a conference playoff berth. Instead, the Colonels won both ends of the twinbill by scores of 8-2 and 15-4. The two wins improved Wilkes to 20-10 overall and 10-8 in the conference and secured the number-four seed for the upcoming playoffs that will be held from May 4-6 in Quakertown. Scranton saw their records fall to 12-22 overall and 5-11 in the conference. NuMBERS OF THE WEEK -; 6 Place that the golf team was in after the.first 27 holes ofthe championships. 970 Number ofstrikeouts for senior softball pitcher, Laurie Agresti as the team heads into the playoffs. 8 Total wins for the mens tennis team this season before they were eliminated in the playoffs. ~ �SQgrts 0 20 Preview of the Week: Freedom Conference playoffs Lady Colonels softball back for another playoff run BY CARLTON HOLMES Beacon Asst. Sports Editor When there are no more regular season games remaining on the schedule, you know what time it is. Some teams experience the excitement of advancing to the postseason, but for others, it's time to clean out the lockers. It's playoff time, ladies and gentleman, and now it's all about having the heart to separate the wheat from the chaff. As for the 2ndseeded Lady Colonels softball team, this Friday marks the beginning of the postseason. Tighten your seatbelts, because it's going to be a wild ride as the Lady Colonels look to become Freedom Conference champions for a second consecutive season. In the Lady Colonels playoff run last year, they swept through Lycoming in the first round beating the Lady Warriors 3-0. Freshman Samantha Evanich, also known as last season's playoff MVP, led the way for the Lady Colonels with solid allowing only four hits from 25 batters. Evanich also posted 7 K's on the team's way to face cross town rival King's College in the secor:-d round. As teams advance, the games are supposed to get tougher. But for the Lady Colonels last year, that wasn't the case. Wilkes smacked the lady Monarchs 7-1 at Ralston Field to secure a spot in the championship round. Centerfielder Nadine Taylor led the team piling up 2 RBIs on 3 hits, and also managed to step on home base twice for the Lady Colonels. Laurie Agresti led Wilkes on the mound with a monstrous 11 strikeouts, and frustrated a determined Lady Monarch team by giving up only 3 hits throughout the entire seven innings. After taking a beating from the Lady Colonels, King's regained its composure and won a 6-3 matchup with FDU just to lose it again in the championship round against the Lady Colonels. The reigning champs came out victorious by a small margin beating the Lady Monarchs 4-3. Head Coach Frank Matthews led his troops to the promised land last season, and afterward received Freedom Conference Coach of the Year for his efforts. Matthews will look to coach the Lady Colonels to another championship, and would truly cherish holding up that championship trophy, but he realizes that winning involves having an effective strategy. "We have to maintain our pitching, because we have been getting excellent pitching, and our defense has been playing well. The key to the playoffs is going to be when we get runners in scoring position, See BASEBAIL page 19 The Beaconffodd Weibel Last season's Freedom Conference Tournament MVP Samantha Evanich will look to help guide her team to another championhip. campus calendar, *Women's softball Freedom Conference Championships, Ralston Field - 11:00 AM *Alumni Event, RiverCrest Golf Club - 6:00 Tuesday 5/1 *Men's baseball vs. PSU PM *Chon1s Concert, Kirby Berks - 2:00 PM Center for the Perform*2007 Pennsylvania Partners m the Arts ing Arts - 8:00 PM Grant Program, HSC Saturday 5/5 Ballroom - 6:00 PM *Jazz Orchestra Con- *Finals *Women's softball Freecert, DDD - 7:30 PM dom Conference Championships, Ralston Field Wednesday 5/2 *Tibetan Monk speaker, - 9:00AM *Flute Ensemble ConSLC - 7:00 PM cert, DDD - 1:00 PM *Chorus Concert, ScranThursday 5/3 ton Cultural Center *No events scheduled 8:00 PM Friday 5/4 Sunday 5/6 *Finals All Week: *Wilkes University Factftty Exhibition, Sordoni Art Gallery *Finals Find this Picture on Campus and ... WIN CASH Monday 5/7 *Finals Tuesday 5/8 *Finals Wednesday 5/9 *Finals Thursday 5/10 *Finals Friday 5/11 *Little Women: The Musical, DDD - 7:00 AM Saturday 5/12 *2007 AcademicAwards Ceremony, HSC Ballroom - 6:00 PM *Parlor Games, DDD 8:00 PM This photo was taken somewhere on Wilkes University's campus. When you find it, email us the answer at: wilkesbeacon@gmail. com. Be sure to put "Campus Picture" JlS the subject heading, as well as your name, phone number, and either campus mailbox or mailing address in the body text. A random winner will be picked from the correct responses and will receive a $10 cash prize courtesy of the Programming WILKES UNIVERSITY PROGRAMMING BOARD Board. - Congratulations to Pat Nardone who correctly identified last week's photo which was of a plaque outside of Stark closest to Evan Hall. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon Newspaper Collection, 1947-present Description An account of the resource <p>This is Wilkes University's <em>Beacon</em> Newspaper collection, 1947-present. We also have digitized copies of the <em>Beacon's</em> predecessors, <em>The Bucknell Bison Stampede</em>, 1934-1935 and <em>The Bucknell Beacon</em>, 1936-1947 June. It should be noted that Wilkes University does not have a complete set of issues for the Bucknell Bison Stampede and Bucknell Beacon. For researchers who are interested in seeing the complete issues for these publications, please contact <a href="https://researchbysubject.bucknell.edu/scua">Bucknell University's Special Collections Department</a>.</p> <p></p> <p>Missing Issues:</p> <p>1947 August 8th<br />1947 September 5th<br />1947 October 3rd<br />1947 October 17th<br />1947 October 31st<br />1947 November 21st<br />1947 December 19th<br />1948 September 9th<br />1950 April 28th<br />1953 April 10th<br />1962 February 2nd</p> Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Beacon staff is comprised of Wilkes University students who are advised by a full-time faculty member of the Communication Studies Department. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1934-present Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright of the Wilkes Beacons is retained by Wilkes University. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Professor Emeritus Harold Cox digitized the collection from 1934-1970 and created a <a href="https://beaconarchives2.wilkes.edu/">legacy website</a>. Digital Archives student John Jenkins digitized the collection from 1970-present. Special thanks goes to Communication Studies Professor Dr. Kalen Churcher, Editor-in-Chief Kirsten Peters, Beacon staff member, Emily Cherkauskas, and other Beacon staff for their help in acquiring digitized copies of the Beacons from 2006 onward. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon 2007 May 1st Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2007 May 1 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/a06f243306f7db92ec44af7aa395a4ea.pdf 0615ae068d0cb273c84c11845097fdcf PDF Text Text Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA The THE NEWS OF TODAY REPORTED BY THE JOURNALISTS OF TOMORROW APRIL 24, 2007 In This Issue... Vice President Marty Williams recovering from stroke Sandra Carroll named as the interim BY ALISON WOODY Beacon Asst. News Editor VA Tech Tragedies PAGE 8 ••••••••• The Can Man PAGE 10 ••••••••• 10 Best Summer Books PAGE 12 Inside: News................................1-5 Opinion.............................6-8 Features.........................9-11 Arts & Entertainment....12-15 Sports...........................16-20 Volume 59 Issue 20 www.wilkesbeacon.com On Easter Sunday, Vice President for Development Marty Williams suffered a massive stroke and was transported to the University of Pennsylvania hospital. While early reports of his condition were dire, Williams is making what some call a “miraculous recovery,” and was released last week to begin rehabilitation at the John Heinz Rehabilitation Center in Wilkes-Barre. Michael Frantz, Vice President of Marketing and Enrollment, along with other members of the President’s Cabinet, were able to visit Williams in Philadelphia and upon his return to Wilkes-Barre. Frantz said Williams’ progress was “nothing short of amazing.” “We have every confidence that his rehabilitation will continue to be positive and that he’ll return to work as soon as he is ready. Marty is a very important part of our team and we look forward to his return. We continue to pray for him and his family with the trust that his health will be fully restored,” said Frantz. Paul Adams, Vice President of Student Affairs, has remained close to the situation since the beginning, but declined to comment on Williams’ exact health condition due to privacy. However, Adams did state, “We are thrilled that he is back in Wilkes-Barre and are excited by how well he is progressing. We can’t wait for him to get back to work. Marty is a special colleague and we miss him.” Williams’ illness has left yet another hole in the President’s cabinet, along with the April 13 departure of Scott Byers, former Vice President for Finance and Support Operations and the year-long See WILLIAMS page 4 Courtesy Marketing Comm. Vice President of Development, Marty Williams, suffered a stroke on Easter Sunday. Brown elected SG President Tuition to increase 4.5% BY ANDREW SEAMAN Beacon Asst. News Editor BY ANDREW SEAMAN Beacon Asst. News Editor With 30.3% of the student vote, junior class president, Matt Brown will be named Student Government (SG) President for the 2007 2008 academic year. Brown faced a vote to determine whether he could remain on SG last week for misrepresentation and other impeachable offenses. However, in the student-wide vote beat out three other candidates: Danielle Namiotka, Anthony Scerbo and Jeffrey Bauman for the top SG post. Brown said, “I really appreciate the honor that the student body has given me to represent them for the following year. I am a very approachable person, and would love to hear any questions, concerns, or comments that anyone might have. Please do not hesitate to email me, call me, or just stop me when you see me walking. You voted to have me represent you, and I will not let you down.” Brown will be a senior in the Entrepeneurship program of the Jay Sidhu School of Business and has hopes of becoming a commercial real-estate developer. As SG president Brown said he plans to develop a strong bridge between the organization and the students it represents, “I plan to See PRESIDENT page 4 At the April 18 meeting of Wilkes University’s Student Government (SG), Vice Presidents Mike Frantz and Dr. Paul Adams along with Controller Anna Noon announced a 4.5% increase in undergraduate tuition, from $11,495 per semester to $12,040 a semester. In addition to the tuition bump, the budget also indicates a 9.39% increase in fees. The general fee will increase from $325 to $340 at a rate of 4.62%; the technology fee will raise from $100 to $125 at a rate of 25% and the student union fee will also raise from $20 to $25 at a rate of 25%. Frantz, Vice President for Enrollment Services, presented the bulk of the presentation and assured students that the fee in- creases will not affect free laundry or parking fees. Housing fees will also be going up 4.5%. This means that campus apartment rental will raise from $3,285 to $3,435, dorm rooms will go from $2,970 to $3,105 and singles will increase from $3,120 to $3,260. According to Frantz, compared with other area institutions, the Wilkes tuition and housing hike is notably less. However, Wilkes’ bump is above the rate of inflation, which is about 3.5%. Frantz explained the process of finding the rate of increase. “We enter into the budget development with the intent of trying to keep tuition increases as low as possible. But we have to balance that versus what we see as desired needs of the institution. As a starting point we pick a tuition See TUITION page 5 �NEWS APRIL 24, 2007 2 Law School Wild “N Out Burglary Tuition Hike 2 3 4 5 Faculty approve moving forward with law school plans BY ALISON WOODY Beacon Asst. News Editor On April 11, 80 members of Wilkes faculty voted to approve moving forward with plans for a proposed law school. The vote was 71 in favor, 9 opposed. Following faculty approval of the concept behind the law school, the next step for the project will be to draft a proposal that will be presented to the Board of Trustees. While the initial Board of Trustees vote was scheduled for April 13, it has now been pushed back to sometime in June. President Tim Gilmour explained the change in plans for the Board vote. “The problem was a scheduling issue. The faculty meeting at which the law school was considered was [scheduled for] April 5- just four days before the Board meeting. “We felt the faculty needed to deliberate before the Board did and we would have had to send the law school materials to the Board at the end of March. Therefore, we rescheduled the Board discussionfor June,” he said. In a previous Beacon article, Bernard Graham, interim Provost, said, “The main niche for the law school will be our mentoring heritage and culture at Wilkes that makes us so unique... There is no law school in northeast Pennsylvania and the need stems from there.” While there seems to be overwhelming support for the concept of a law school at Wilkes, there are still those who have their reservations. Dr. Jane Elmes-Crahall, professor of communication studies, described why she is opposed to the new law school. “I was one of the 9 [faculty] who voted against sending this process forward with full faculty endorsement. Simply put, I do not think [there has been a] convincing argument that a law school will not negatively affect existing programs. What’s the rush? We need a more realistic budget plan. “I also know there really is no such thing as a vote of endorsement in decision-making bodies that are elected to represent much larger communities, such as the general faculty at Wilkes on behalf of the academic mission of the University. There are only main motions to approve or disapprove an action,” she said. If the Board of Trustees gives its approval to the law school in June, that would green light the proposal for fundraising and curricular planning. If successful, the inaugural class of about 70-80 students is expected to enroll in the fall of 2009. Beacon Archives The proposed law school has been given the green light from the faculty by a vote of 71-9. The Board of Trustees will vote in June. B E ACON Serving the community through fair and accurate reporting while supporting the views and opinions of our readers. Editorial Staff Editor-in-Chief: Curran Dobson Email: wilkesbeacon@gmail.com News Editor: Nick Podolak Email: news.beacon@gmail.com Op/Ed Editor: Kristyn Ostman Email: thebeacon.oped@gmail.com Features Editor: Nora Jurasits Email: thebeaconfeatures@gmail.com A&E Editor: Stephanie Debalko Email: thebeaconae@gmail.com Sports Editor: Ariel Cohen Email: beaconsports@gmail.com Photo Editor: Nick Zmijewski Advertising Managers: Stephanie Yachim Dana Zlotucha Email: thebeacon.ads@gmail.com Advisor: Dr. Andrea Breemer Frantz Established in 1936 PA Newspaper Association Member Printed on Mondays during the academic school year. The Beacon/Jim Feeney On Thursday, April 19, the Wilkes University community gathered around the bell tower which rang 33 times to signify the lives lost in the Virginia Tech massacre. 130 S. River St. First Floor, Conyngham Hall, Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 (570) 408-5903 wilkesbeacon@gmail.com www.wilkesbeacon.com �APRIL 24, 2007 NEWS ‘Wild ‘N Out: Wilkes Style’ sparks discussion, controversy 3 University administrators receive questions, feedback on event from trying out pick-up lines on one of the BY GERARD HETMAN Beacon Correspondent A student-planned and executed fundraising event that occurred last Tuesday, April 17 on the Wilkes campus has sparked debate and drawn sharp criticism from several students and administrators who were in attendance at the show. The event, known as “Wild ‘N Out: Wilkes Style,” was planned and run entirely by ten members of a freshmen business class as the culmination of a two-semester course in integrated management. The game show-style contest featured two competing teams, with four students each, squaring off through 12 rounds of games and contests. The organizing group, known as “Ca$h Money,” was set to donate proceeds from ticket sales to a local soup kitchen and had also agreed to perform community service at the facility. The controversy over the show was sparked by use of profanity and vulgar language by several of the participants during a number of the 12 games that composed the event. Requirements for the games ranged female organizers to team members boasting about their team captains to participants coming up with amusing, outgoing messages to be used by celebrities. While much of the competition was conducted in good taste, several participants made free use of language and phrases that were found objectionable and offensive by several members of the audience. This led to a number of those audience members leaving the event early and subsequently voicing their displeasure with the offensive language at a student government meeting the next night. Junior biology major Tony Scerbo was one of the students who left the event after the opening salvos of distasteful comments between the teams. “I think the students did a real good job of planning everything out,” Scerbo said afterward about his reaction to the show. “But the way it was presented was a little distasteful. It would have turned out to be a really good event, but the vulgarity took a lot away from it. They should have placed some basic limitations on what could be said,” he said. The student organizers of “Wild ‘N Out” were both upset and expressed regret about the aftermath of the show. “We learned a lesson in running a business and the proper steps to take in running an event,” said Michael Reyes, freshman business major, who was both an organizer and participant in the show. “There are a lot of untrue stories going around about what we intended the event to be like.” Representative of both the office of student affairs and the Jay S. Sidhu School of business and leadership have begun investigating the conduct of participants and organizers in the show and the possibility of those actions violating university policy. “The students need to be held accountable-they have stepped up and begun to take appropriate steps in taking accountability for bad judgments used,” said Dr. Justin Matus, assistant professor of business administration, who was one of the instructors for the group’s class. “It was a case of great planning, but poor execution. Overall, the evening was not up to our standards here at Wilkes.” Exactly what actions will be taken in response to the show are yet to be determined. Some of the funds raised through ticket sales will be refunded, ackowledged Matus. Mark Allen, Dean of Students, stressed that students must behave and act appropriately during such events. “All students are held to a code of conduct that is present in the student handbook--there were several possible violations of codes at this event that we feel need to be investigated. Our department is still looking into things in terms of who said and did exactly what in this situation.” While the specific outcome of the administration’s investigative efforts have yet to be determined, the faculty and members of university leadership hope that the group members and show participants can learn some valuable lessons from their experiences. “What we can take away from this event is that we can learn great things, even in the aftermath of great failures,” said Matus of the aftermath. “I hold great hope that some valuable lessons will be taken away from this experience by these students.” SG presidential candidate accused of misrepresentation Members’ vote allows representative to remain on SG BY ANDREW SEAMAN Beacon Asst. News Editor At the April 18 meeting of Wilkes University’s Student Government (SG) voted 13-21 to retain a representative, who is also a candidate for 2007-08 SG President, in spite of allegations of unethical behavior and misrepresentation. Because of the vote, Matt Brown, junior class president and SG presidential candidate, will be allowed to remain on SG and accept his position as president of the organization next year. SG Parliamentarian, Brian Deihl read Brown’s charges to the group, “Ten members of Wilkes Student Government have found Matt Brown’s representation of the school to be against Article 11 section 2b and d. B states that the valid charges, being the abuse or misuse of power. D states, that the valid charge is an action unbecoming of a member of Student Government. All 10 members expressing their concerns reference this issue in the their comments and methods by which you used to convince the businesses to obtain a Nintendo Wii.” Brown was accused by several SG members as misrepresenting himself over the phone as a charity, while trying to obtain a Nintendo Wii for the winner of Wilkes Idol, an event the junior class sponsored throughout this semester. In his statement, Brown noted, “I called the business and said, ‘Hi, do you have any Nintendo Wii’s in stock.’ They then said, ‘No we don’t.’ And I asked them if they knew the date they would get their next shipment in, because ‘I am calling from Wilkes University, I am in a bind and I need to buy one as soon as possible so I can give one away for a charity.’” Brown’s claimed his goal was to determine when and if he could go wait in line for the merchandise. Brown said, “I know that I made an error in judgment, and I am dealing with my harsh consequences. This was an error in judgment on my part, and should not reflect anyone but myself.” He added, “I respect the vote made by the general board to allow me to stay on Student Government for next year. This shows that even throughout all of this, people still feel that I have a lot to offer SG and the university as a whole. I give everyone my word that I will not let you down. No matter if I am elected SG president or not, I will the best student leader as I possibly can.” The Beacon/Andrew Seaman Student Government Parliamentarian Brian Deihl (left) and President Jenna Strzelecki (middle) look on as Matt Brown (right), junior class president, answers questions during a recall procedure that would have dismissed Brown from his role in the organization under the charges “actions unbecoming of a member.” �NEWS APRIL 24, 2007 PRESIDENT 4 WILLIAMS from FRONT PAGE get more of the student body to attend our weekly meetings, so that they have a chance to voice their opinion on certain matters.” Going into his term, Brown also has some fears about his year to come, “My biggest fear would be [not] living up to the expectations of our amazing out-going president, Jenna.” Brown also noted, “I really appreciate all of your support, and respect your judgment that I would make a great Student Government President. I will not let you down!” He then added, “For those who didn’t vote for me, I hope that over the next year you will be able to see all that I plan to do for the student body to allow you to better enjoy your time here at Wilkes. College is one of the greatest experiences that we will ever encounter. We will take these memories with us forever. I want to make sure that everyone’s memories of Wilkes are the best they can be.” Brown will be joined on Executive Board next year by: Kate Baas, who won the Vice Presidential post; Sherri Homanko, who was elected in an uncontested race for IRHC President; and a Communter Council President to be voted in during a special election. PRESIDENTIAL RESULTS Student Government- Matt Brown (30.3%) Off-Campus Council- Sherri Homanko (100%) Inter-Residence Hall Council- Kate Baas (59.6%) from FRONT PAGE “Just like an athletic team, when a teammate gets hurt, we rally together to help one another out and bring in a very qualified individual to temporarily replace the injured team member. We have very, very capable interim Cabinet members. They have stepped into these roles and done far more than just hold us steady; they are helping us continue forward with very positive progress,” said Frantz. He added, “The benefit of having a talented and deep pool of employees to draw from in times of need is that we can continue our progress during times of transition.” search for a new Provost. President Tim Gilmour has announced that Sandra Carroll, executive director of alumni relations and annual giving, will serve as interim Vice President for Development in Williams’ absence. Gilmour also stressed that this situation will not cause an issue with capital planning and any future projects slated for the university. “We will keep moving on the capital campaign and are hopeful he will be able to return to his role in a few months,” he said. Frantz suggested that the Cabinet works as a team. BELOW Matt Brown will be the Student Government President for the 2007-2008 academic year. He was elected this past weekend with 30.3% of the vote- dispite almost being recalled from SG earlier in the week because he said that he was representing a charity to obtain information about a Nintendo Wii. Communter Council- SPECIAL ELECTION WILL BE HELD FAR LEFT 799 students voted, roughly 39.24% of the student body The Beacon/Andrew Seaman The four candidates who were in the running for the Student Government presidential position answer questions at the debate held on Wednesday, April 17. Only 799 students voted in the election, roughly 39.24% of the student body. Pictured from left to right: Jeffrey Bauman, Matt Brown, Anthony Scerbo, and Danielle Namiotka. Brown will be joined on Executive Board next year by: Kate Baas, who won the Vice Presidential post; Sherri Homanko, who was elected in an uncontested race for IRHC President; and a Communter Council President to be voted in during a special election. The Beacon/Andrew Seaman Wilkes sophomore criminally charged after break-in BY NICK PODOLAK Beacon News Editor Wilkes sophomore Benjamin Fusco was arrested by the Wilkes-Barre Police Department and charged with burglary, criminal trespass, and theft by unlawful taking after allegedly breaking into a West Ross Street apartment on March 30 in the early hours of the morning. His status at the university remains unknown at this time. “Certainly we could not confirm a student’s status with respect to any disciplinary process,” said Dean of Student Affairs Mark Allen. “We do hold students responsible for their behavior on and off campus, particularly those that effect the reputation of the institution. But in terms of specifics to the incident, all disciplinary proceedings are part of educational record and therefore cannot be disclosed.” According to a Public Safety report, Fusco allegedly broke into the victim’s apartment and is accused of rummaging through drawers and cabinets. When the victim confronted Fusco and asked “what he was doing,” the report notes he allegedly replied, “Nothing.” He is accused of leaving with a $10 dollar bill from the victim’s kitchen table. Fusco allegedly dropped a cell phone on his way out. After calling the last number on Fusco’s phone, the Wilkes-Barre police received confirmation that he resided on South River Street, where he was approached and questioned after drinking at Club Mardi Gras. After the victim positively identified Fusco as the person who broke into her apartment, he was placed under arrest after the $10.00 bill was allegedly found in his pocket. “The suspect cooperated and did not show any signs of violence,” said Manager of Public Safety Gerald Rebo. “It was a quick and easy process,” he said regarding Public Safety’s assistance in the arrest. Fusco made bail and was released from the Luzerne County Correctional facility that night. He declined further comment on the matter. “It was one of those instances where the crime was in progress, police responded, and apprehended the individual,” Wilkes-Barre Police Capt. Wayne Cooney said. �NEWS APRIL 24, 2007 TUITION from FRONT PAGE hike increase, if you will, plug that in on the revenue side of the equation. Then look to see how it compares to the expense side, and then you go back to each side and say, ‘Okay, can we reduce anymore on expenses without compromising the academic needs of the institution?’ Or do we think we need to increase the preliminary tuition hike figure to bring it into balance?” Freshman Sabrina Hannon reacted to the news of the increase. “I just think it is ridiculous that they’re having us pay more for tuition; it’s already really expensive,” she said. Melissa Leet, undeclared freshman, concurred, “I feel that the university should have more respect for students because it doesn’t seem like we get a lot as it is with the tuition we do pay.” Luckily for Hannon and Leet, the university’s financial aid and scholarships are also increasing 10.69% from $20,167,706 to $22,321,706. This number includes Wilkes University merit scholarships and grants and does not include federal or state aid. Students must also remember that the university is required to compensate the faculty and staff for their work and this year the faculty and staff salaries will increase 4%. The budget also funded new positions, such as the Dean of Library Services, the Business Process Analyst in the Human Resource Office. The Advancement Office was also given $250,000 to develop new positions for next year. This money for expenditures comes from many sources, some come from gifts from Wilkes alumni, Wilkes community members and from the endowment. This year the revenue from gifts and the endowment rose 70.92% from $1,558,000 to $2,663,000. However, the bulk of the school’s revenue still comes from undergraduate revenue. This year Wilkes can expect to gross a total of $87,318,856 in revenue for the 2008 fiscal year. The budget is also an exciting time because it is when the administrators announce what plans are in the works for the next year. In the design phase, the budgets list an allocation of $50,000 each for the Farley Library and Breiseth Hall. The budget also allocates $300,000 for the design of the new health sciences (SHE) building, planned to replace the Stark Learning Center. The final figures for the renovation of Chesapeake and Delaware were also announced at $600,000. As a cosmetic procedure, the university will be removing part of the sidewalk along the University Center On Main and additional landscaping to the tune of $75,000. The Darte Center’s theater will also be renovated at a cost of $300,000. The Ralston Field Complex is also slated for some changes. Currently, Wilkes is only allocating the standard $100,000 to renovate the athletic complex to fix the fields and do the necessary repairs. But Frantz pointed out in his presentation that Ralston “needs some lovin’.” He explained that there are preliminary plans to redesign the whole Ralston area, but as he mentioned in his SG presentation this will take a few years. Frantz noted in his presentation that this is the first time the tuition hike has been under 5% in many years. He also pointed out that most of the fees have not increased in three to five years. Students should also be assured that these increases, according to the budget, seem to be going back to the students through better academic equipment, better living qualities and better information technology services. First Annual Undergrad Symposium hosted at Wilkes The Beacon/Jim Feeney Keith Hubbard reads poetry as assistant professor of english Michelle Anthony looks on at The First Annual Wilkes University Undergraduate Symposium. The full-day event, sponsored by the Wilkes University Mentoring Task Force, included in formal and poster presentations, creative projects, readings, and live performances in which the student mentoring program played a significant role. The day was designed in order to recognize and honor the wealth of undergraduate research and creative projects in which faculty-to-student mentoring has played a significant role. For a full slide show of images from the day go to www.wilkesbeacon.com. FAST FACTS: - Undergraduate tuition will increase 4.5%, making it roughly $12,040 - Total financial aid and scholarship budget will increase by 10.68% - Total gross revenue for the fiscal 2008 budget is $87,318,865-- a 10.51% increase - Total fee costs will increase by $55 The Beacon/Andrew Seaman Michael Frantz, Vice President of Marketing and Enrollment, presents the 2008 fiscal year budget to members of Student Government. 5 Sexual Abuse Stats: Did You Know... Female college freshmen are at the highest risk for sexual assault between the first day of school and Thanksgiving break. -Sponsored by Health Services - Price in residential hall living will increase by about 4% http://www.factsontap.org/ �Opinion APRIL 24, 2007 Today very few escape the touch of cancer BY THE BEACON EDITORIAL BOARD LIVESTRONG This simple phrase has become a national symbol in the fight against cancer. Over 55 million individuals around the globe wear the yellow rubber wristbands in a show of support for so many who have wrestled with the disease. Those two syllables were the inspiration Lance Armstrong used to battle advanced testicular cancer which spread to his lungs and brain. After surviving cancer, Armstrong went on to win six more Tour de France titles and start the Lance Armstrong Foundation. Elizabeth Edwards put on a courageous smile, with her husband, two-time Presidential candidate John Edwards close by her side, as she told the world her breast cancer had returned. Not long after, the nation learned White House spokesperson, Tony Snow was battling cancer yet again. And in the not-so-distant past, the world mourned the loss of ABC anchor, Peter Jennings who passed away of lung cancer. These individuals are only several of the millions who have died, survived, or been affected by this deadly disease. The world sets these public figures on a pedestal, but it seems that it is not until they get a life threatening disease that they too become “one of us”. Perhaps it is because millions can relate to what they’re going through. Katie Couric used the death of her husband to bring awareness to colon cancer. Couric did so by receiving a historic televised colonoscopy while she was on the Today Show. Couric did not stop there. She later had her mammogram televised. The testing of colon cancer rose 20 percent after the show aired. In their archives of internal medicine the University of Michigan called this “The Katie Couric Effect”. Not everyone has the funds available to receive such cancer screenings. Some major insurance companies do not cover routine mammograms until the age of 40. Colonoscopies are allowed every ten years starting at the age of 50, according to most insurance policies. Doctors can recommend screenings earlier if there is a family history or necessity based on diagnosis. On Friday, April 20, Bush signed the Cancer-Screening Bill. This bill will allow low incomewomen to receive free or subsidized mammograms, Pap tests, and other screenings to detect the early stages of breast and cervical cancer. With early detection the key, this still does not give hope to those who are not eligible for the screening until a certain age according to their healthcare provider. It could be too late. Wilkes University may not have A Sight for Sore Eyes resources available to gain national coverage, nor the power to sign a bill in Congress. But it does have a population of people who will advocate for a cause. April 27 and 28 Ralston Field Complex will become home to the Relay for Life. There, teams will walk all night, raise funds and heighten community awareness about what 6 Troop pull out 7 Your Voices 7 Gun law debate 8 is still left to be done in this fight against a disease that has touched, in some way or another, nearly everyone. Next weekend the local community has the opportunity to participate in the fight against cancer. We hope everyone gives a little bit of their time and attention Friday and Saturday to find a cure. Your Voices To Wilkes University students, faculty and whomever it may concern, On behalf of the team Cash Money who recently hosted the event Wild’n Out on Tuesday Night April 17th, 2007 we are deeply sorry for any harm that the content of the show or the contestants may have caused. When we set out for this project we envisioned a show similar to the one shown on MTV to host a good time to some Wilkes University students. What everyone got was not that. This show was filled with vulgar language and jokes that were inappropriate for a paying audience. We failed as a group to better prepare the show for an audience as well as failing to stop the show before it got to the point that it escalated to. We in no way meant to disrespect of offend anyone that paid to come see this show. As our first step National Award winning cartoonist, Aleksander Lapinski for forgiveness we are refunding money for anyone that attended the show and was offended by its content. We take responsibility for our actions solely because it was entirely our fault and hope that you believe us when we try to reach out and ask for forgiveness. Our personal reputations have been sullied and we hope want you to know that our team of individuals will do what it takes to begin the long healing process as a result of our show and our mistakes. Our deepest apologies, Anthony Troianiello Dan Haugh Adam Witinski Nicole Zangardi Jackie Booths Katelynn Walters Frank Heffernan Michael Reyes Anthony Gabriel Kaitlyn Ziegler Beacon Poll Results The following are results of a poll that The Beacon conducted online this past week. The poll was unscientific, and does not claim to reflect the overall attitudes of students on campus. Results are based on 104 responses. The Beacon asked: How do you think the world will end? • • • • • • • • • • Wrath of God- 23% Nuclear holocaust- 17% Complications from global warming- 12% Cubs win World Series- 11% Other- 9% Asteriod hits earth- 9% Robot take over- 6% Plague- 6% Chemical/biological weapons- 5% Pollution- 2% Next Week’s Question: What are your summer plans? • • • • • • • • • • Travel Work Visit old friends Summer class Sleep Spend time at the beach See summer blockbusters Nothing special Volunteer Other Visit www.wilkesbeacon.com to cast your vote. Results will be published in next week’s issue of The Beacon. �OPINION APRIL 24, 2007 Your Voices Dear Editor: In case anyone has been living under a rock for the past couple of weeks, historic shock radio host Don Imus was fired for what he said in regards to the Rutgers women’s basketball program, when he called them “nappy headed ho’s.” Now is what Mr. Imus said wrong? Yes. But should he have been fired for what he said? No. I was listening to his program the day he said that comment, and, in the context, it was funny. He was talking about how members of the Rutgers basketball team looked like men and many of them had tattoos, and in many instances said they were scarier than the Toronto Raptors. And ever since then there has been outrage from the African-American community saying how Imus should apologize for what he said. But where are the apologizes from the African-American community to the Duke Lacrosse players? Or better yet, where is Rev. Al Sharpton’s apology for the Twanda Brawley case when he accused members of the New York state government of being racists and rapists? We are trying to live in a society where we claim equal rights, but at its core there is no such thing as equal rights in this society. White people will say something that might be a little bit racist or sexist and we have to come out and apologize for what we said, while African-Americans might say something racists or sexist and they hide behind the 1st Amendment, which is racism when a group is treated differently. When white people say something are considered bigots, and overall bad people, but African-Americans when they say things are considered rappers and hiphop artists and not racists or sexists. Don Imus is a good man and should not have been fired for what he said. MSNBC and CBS radio fired him on April 12 while he was in the middle of his yearly telethon which supports various charities like the Tomorrow’s Children’s Fund. MSNBC and CBS radio should be embarrassed for firing him because they did not take the “moral high ground;” they only acted with their wallet, after several top sponsors of the show like American Express, Travelocity and Fed-Ex pulled out of the show. The Imus in the Morning program is a program that has brought on several of today’s top political leaders and national news reporters. Once Don Imus was suspended, there were several people that announced they would be back on the program, people like former Presidential candidate John Kerry, former Vice Presidential candidate Joe Lieberman and current Presidential hopefuls Rudy Gulianni and Senator John McCain. Don Imus historically has been one to offend anyone and everyone. He referred to Senator Hillary Clinton as a lesbian, Rush Limbaugh as a “fat pill popping drug addict.” Don Imus likes to offend anyone, because as a shock jock that is his job, just like it is Howard Stern’s job to offend and it is Opie and Anthony’s job to offend. I would like to see Don Imus get his job back, if not because it gave me something to listen to in the morning, but because I don’t want to pay for satellite radio to hear Opie and Anthony. Rob Tonnesen Junior history and political science major 7 Troop escalation will solve Iraq problem BY ROBERT DONAHUE Beacon Staff Writer Face it; both Iraq and the United States are less safe than they were prior to the 2003 invasion. Iraq is a modern day Vietnam, and the U.S. is again conflicted about how to get out of the mess. To date, almost 3,500 American men and women have sacrificed their lives. There is no correct way to settle this crisis, but there are wrong ways to approach this situation. Troop withdrawal is not an answer. I do agree that the U.S. should withdraw from Iraq and let the Iraqis fight amongst themselves. Unfortunately, President Bush caused this mess and we are now obligated to do our best to fix it. If the military publicly discloses an American troop pull out date, Al Qaeda and Iran will be sitting and waiting for the last U.S. service person to leave and most likely will invade. Iraq will become more of a haven for terror than it is today. Troop increases are also not the answer. Military recruits are down. The Iraqi government knows as long as there is an increase of violence, the U.S. will send as much manpower and money as necessary to protect them, leaving American taxpayers with the bill. Americans were promised that the war would cost $1 billion. Instead, due to a lack of separation of powers and oversight, the previous Republicancontrolled Congress gave the President a blank check. Finally, the Democrats are in control of both the House and the Senate. Democrats are doing what they were elected to do, oversee the President and especially oversee his foreign policy. When the President’s war budget wasn’t passed he said, “The Democrats aren’t listening to our commanders” or my favorite, “They do not care about America.” The President should take his own advice. When he ordered a full blown invasion of Iraq, he ignored the advice of the commanders who requested more troops to protect the Iraqi borders from terrorists coming in. Also at the beginning of the war, President Bush refused to listen to our generals on the ground when they requested more reinforcements like General Eric Shinseki. Iraq was never a direct threat to our international interest. The nonpartisan 9/11 Commission (remember Duyba was not only against the commission but was uncooperative with its investigation) stated that bin Laden and Saddam Hussein never worked together. Also defense contractors such as Halliburton (we all know how “honest” they are) would love for this war to continue. The longer there is a conflict in the Persian Gulf the more companies such as Halliburton will be able to exploit money from the taxpayers. What the U.S. should do is freeze all direct monetary assets to the Iraqi government, keep a small number of troops in the region and make the Iraqis cough up some of the costs for this war. If we do that, the Iraqi government might not completely depend on our assistance. If we leave the country unstable then there is a strong possibility Iran or Al Qaeda might take over. If Iran invades, we cannot militarily intervene without a true alliance, and that would be a huge mistake for this country because we are already spread too thin. All community members need to pay attention and act BY GERARD HETMAN Beacon Staff Writer When I first heard the early reports about the tragic events at Virginia Tech on the day they occurred, I was left in absolute shock and horror. It was horrifying to think of over 30 members of the Virginia Tech community being murdered in cold blood by a homicidal maniac, in an environment that was a second home to them all. The victims were not just students and faculty, but sons and daughters, sisters and brothers, fathers and friends to so many other people whose lives will be forever affected by these senseless murders. As I’ve followed the story in the national media this week, it’s become apparent to me just how deeply disturbed and troubled the murderer, Cho Seung-Hui, was during his years as a student at Virginia Tech. My perceptions of his mental state became all the more vivid when I saw the news reports about the package of video footage and photos he sent to NBC, containing deeply disturbing images of him brandishing his weapons for the world to see. As the story continued to evolve, questions such as “Why didn’t anyone do something about this psychopath?” came to mind. To me, what appears different about Cho’s case when compared with other mass murders in recent years is that, apparently, many people at Virginia Tech recognized that Cho was a troubled young man who needed psychiatric help. According to a <i>Washington Post</i> report, one of Cho’s English teachers offered to teach him one-on-one because so many of her other students were frightened by his reclusive behavior and disturbing writings in her class. In the same report, students who knew Cho claimed he never spoke a word in class, even when addressed by other students or faculty. As our nation begins to heal and recover from this tragedy, many of us will ask, “What can we do to prevent similar events like this?” As has been the case in previous mass killings, many experts have discussed and will continue to evaluate ways to identify warning signs in deeply troubled young people who may be a risk to commit such acts. But if each of us wound up in a class or dorm with someone like Cho Seung-Hui, what would we do to try and steer him or her towards people who can give them the help they need? What kind of lessons will school administrators and law enforcement officials take away from these experiences? Will college officials now look more closely at the behavioral backgrounds of prospective students? I’m not an expert in either law enforcement or psychology, so I don’t know if there was one specific action that would have prevented this tragedy. However, I believe we can all take away a valuable lesson from this situation. As college students in today’s world, we need to reach out to people who are as obviously troubled as Cho SeungHui was. If we just ignore people who cut themselves off from their classmates, who knows what paths they will walk down in their world of isolation. Each of us can make a difference if such a person winds up in our lives--we all need to step forward and reach out to help people such as this, for the good of everyone involved in our lives. Graphic courtesy of media.nbc12.com �APRIL 24, 2007 OPINION 8 If we want peace, we must stop the killing BY ANDEE SCARANTINO Beacon Correspondant It was a tragedy… Friends and loved ones were grieving, crying… My friends were sending me messages, telling me how they thought the world was certainly ending. My reply from England: “Today is a beautiful, happy, sunny day.” It was like I lived in another universe. The next day, the news was swamped with updates. The American papers were filled with pictures of those slain in Virginia. My papers in England were filled with attacks on the absolute and utter idiocy of America for allowing this to happen. From “More Guns Than People,” page 2, Daily Mail, 18 April, 2007: “There are 30,000 gun deaths every year in the U.S., yet the majority of Americans still believe passionately in their right to ‘bear arms’… Yet within hours of the shootings, the [American] gun lobby was arguing that tragedy proved the need for gun laws to be relaxed, not tightened. Gun lobbyists point to the second amendment to the U.S. constitution which states that ‘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. This has resulted in a country where there are more guns than people.” The article moved on to state that Virginia “has some of the weakest gun laws. AK-47 assault rifles and Uzi sub-machine guns can be bought perfectly legally over the counter.” I will not receive positive feedback from this article. I have already been verbally attacked on instant messenger, MySpace, and via email by Americans for my views. I’m going to press on, though. I am not an antihero, nor someone who is being cynical in a time of crisis. My friends, I simply do not want to see another life lost. How can you, my fellow Americans, stand up and say the answer is to possess a gun to “kill the killer.” How can a culture simply be so na’ve? In Britain, in the late nineties, there was a school shooting. The people were outraged. Eventually, the massive outcry by the people made Parliament outlaw guns entirely. Now, not even a police officer can carry a gun. “Ohhhh, but I can’t defend myself!” some of you will screech. You won’t have to. Think about the number of law-abiding citizens versus criminals. Clearly, if a gun ban were ever instated, most citizens would hand over their guns. Instating a gun ban would mean at the very glimpse of a rifle, the bearer would be prosecuted-even if they were not a criminal; even if they were unaware. “America is too big, though!” All right, yes, America is vast, but if we act now, in ten years the number of guns will have decreased by more than half. I guarantee in twenty years, guns will be almost impossible to find. Two decades is not a very long time. Why are we waiting? How many shootings are going to have to take place before America finally realizes that the state with some of the weakest gun laws also had the deadliest shooting in American history to date? I bet you’ve already forgotten the Amish school children that were lined up and slain against a blackboard in Lancaster County. Yeah, that’s a distant memory. Let’s push it off and pretend it never happened. Columbine? Ancient history. The truth is, my friends, that Americans live in a very new nation. I bet a lot of you feel very safe there. I felt safe when I lived there. I cannot say I will feel safe anymore upon my return to America. You see, I live in an odd type of utopia. In London, England, people do not fear guns. They do not fear one another. They do not even fear terrorism. Currently, I live in a very old nation. Terrorism is something that has been going on in Britain for centuries. America is still very na’ve about it. That explains the general panicked state of the American populace, and also why the populace of one of the most apt to be terrorized cities in Europe is generally calm and complacent. Americans panic excessively, and panicked people want to bear arms. We need to defend ourselves! I understand America prides itself on being a land of freedom, but how can anyone say the fear of death and the ratio of guns to people is freedom? Perhaps maybe it’s time to realize that we are not free at all, and maybe we need to forfeit some of our “freedoms” to better society as a whole. I would rather lose the right to bear arms, than live my life in constant fear. My friends, I wish that you could be here. I wish that you could sit in the office with me and hear my colleagues speak with anguish, screaming about how unfortunate those 32 lost lives were, but also, screaming about how stupid a nation is for allowing it to happen. You don’t see the other side, and that’s why you probably do not agree with one thing I said. You can’t imagine a world without guns. You can’t imagine a world that isn’t filled with uncertainty and terror. It’s all right. We forgive you, and we pity the American government for putting you into such a terrible state of existence. I can say that it does get better. It’s probably just going to take America several centuries to figure it out. Until then, let us pray for the families and loved ones of all who lost their lives, and all of the lives to be lost in the future in one of the most unstable nations in the world. Abolishing guns won’t protect the innocent from evil BY CARA KOSTER Beacon Staff Photographer The events which occurred at Virginia Tech are a tragedy. Now begins a process of healing and rebuilding of an entire community. The immediate reaction has been for antigun activists to call for tighter controls, and even, in more extreme advocates, an overall gun ban. It is naive to think that banning the weapon that helped perpetrate this heinous crime would have prevented it all together. However, making guns illegal is not the cure to the problem of gun violence facing the nation and the world at large. Once drugs were made illegal in this country the entire drug problem went away, so of course we should do the same thing with guns. If that statement were true, then I would be completely for banning guns, except there is one small problem…there’s a huge drug problem in the country. Just because something is illegal doesn’t mean that the market for the product goes away. Most guns acquired on the black market or not through a licensed gun dealer are the ones being used in murders and other crimes. The guns that were used in the Beltway sniper attacks a few years back were not purchased from a licensed gun dealer. At face value, the claim that making guns illegal is going to make the world a safer place makes sense. However, if a person goes on a shooting rampage or is harming multiple people in some other way how is he/she going to be subdued? It is much less efficient to use other means and more lives will be lost in the end. If one properly trained person is witnessing a crime, he/she can stop it before it becomes a horrifying event to be remembered for years. Furthermore, if more people had guns, criminals would be less likely to perpetrate a crime for fear of the immediate repercussions. You won’t put a gun to someone’s head to rob them if they can put one right back at yours. Moreover, how can the police and armies be expected to protect us if there are no guns? Will there be a special exception made for those people? It is possible to maneuver a gun away from a police officer or another official, there should not be excep- background checks and waiting periods betions to an overall ban of guns but banning fore someone is allowed to own a weapon. guns in general is totally illogical. There should be a mandatory safety course Taking guns away is not going to rid the and child locks that should come with havworld of murder. Stabbings, brutal beatings, ing the responsibility of owning a gun. I do strangling and poisonings will still exist believe that guns, when used for their inwithout guns. If someone has the intention tended purposes by trained individuals, can of killing someone they are going to find a protect people and save lives. Making guns way to do it, gun or no gun. In London re- illegal would only prevent people from uscently, a man was stabbed repeatedly with ing them for the right reasons, defending a broken whiskey bottle. Because the at- themselves from criminals, who would tacker did not have a gun, he made do with continue using them for crime and violence even if they were made illegal. The probthe next readily available tool. Preventing law-abiding citizens their ac- lem with murder and other heinous crimes cess to guns for protection and recreational is not the means which they are carried out purposes is the primary outcome. Law abid- but the fact that the intent is there to begin ing citizens are not the problem; therefore, with. Guns do not create a violent society; by making guns illegal, the only people be- therefore banning them will not alleviate ing hurt are the people who should be pro- the problem. The only way to prevent furtected. Words and laws are not impeding ther violence is treat the individuals who are criminals from taking someone else’s life, thinking these horrible thoughts. Guns are and words and law will not necessarily pro- not the problem, people are. tect the innocent. I do not believe there should be more guns or that they should be easier to obtain. I agree there should be extensive Graphic courtesy of blog.racetotheright.com �FEATURES APRIL 24, 2007 Can Man Car Show 10 11 9 University College shapes lives, offers direction Part III: Career Services & Undeclared Major Program BY NICOLE FRAIL & JAMIE GWYNN Beacon Correspondents Whether it’s a student’s first or last year at Wilkes, University College offers programs available to aid in some part of the educational process. To date, this series has examined University College services aimed at helping students make decisions and succeed in the classroom. The final installment of the series examines what, for most, is the last leg of the journey in the Wilkes educational experience--planning for post-graduation employment. Career Services has been an official part of University College for three years, but has successfully worked in conjunction with Student Affairs throughout many years of Wilkes’ history. The office brings together employers, alumni, academic departments and student organizations to provide career education and opportunities for the life-long careers of Wilkes students and graduates. Career Services employees organize employment fairs, post job openings, offer graduate school information, conduct mock interviews and advise students how to write effective cover letters and resumes. Employers also work closely with the office in the areas of co-ops and internships. Classes are also offered through Career Services. Senior Leanne Rivers enrolled in CAR 198, Life Career Planning, because she knew that there was plenty she didn’t know about locating and contacting employers, interviewing, resume writing and proper business etiquette. According to Rivers, the majority of students think that Sundance Vacations Inc -Sports/ Event Marketing! -Flexible Schedule -Weekends & nights a must -GREAT PAY! $100 to $200/day -Transportation a plus Public interaction marketing at various events in your area CALL NOW! 1-800-233-1613 The Beacon/Nora Jurasits In association with the Career Services Offices of the NPEC (Northeast PA Employment Consortium Colleges and Universities), Wilkes and King’s Career Service programs invited students to attend an information session on careers with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The speaker explained the physical and mental requirements necessary to become an agent. they already know everything there is to know about how to get a job and how to successfully interview. “Let me say that about 90% of those people truly do not,” she estimated. “I recommend all seniors to enroll in CAR 198 without hesitation. You will be sorry if you don’t.” “I know a lot of graduating seniors now freaking out because there is one month until graduation and they are not even close to landing a job,” she added Similar to other University College programs, staff in Career Services would like to see their numbers of participating students increase. Carol Bosack-Kosek, Director of Career Services, notes that students may not realize how competitive the fields can be for securing a good first professional position or entering into a graduate program; therefore, they hesitate to take the classes offered to them. Students may also think that their resume or interviewing skills are already acceptable and that they don’t need to be any better than they are. According to Bosack-Kosek, sometimes “acceptable” needs to be “exceptional.” “A company did on-campus interviews here at Career Services,” she said. “The students whose interviews were rated by the company as ‘very good’ or ‘good’ got sent rejection letters.” The only students who were asked on second interviews were those whose resumes were rated as ‘excellent.’ Enrolling in a CAR 198 class helps more students reach the level of excellence needed to earn a professional position. Career Services also includes the Undeclared Majors Program. This program provides advising for students who wish to explore their options before they declare a major. When entering the undeclared program, students participate in a one-credit Career and Life Planning Course (CAR 101). “Changing majors and exploring options occurs very frequently in college,” Bosack said. “You’re actually quite ‘normal’ if you are confused about what to pursue in the future.” Taking time to explore your values, interests and skills is a part of good career decision making and Career Services provides the opportunity to do so. Students who take advantage and utilize University College’s Career Services programs come away with “more realistic ideas and abilities related to how to successfully compete and promote their skills and experiences to achieve their professional goals,” Bosack said. For more information on Career Services, call 570408-4060 or email careers@wilkes.edu. There are also resources such as guides to writing cover letters and resumes available at www.wilkes.edu/career. �FEATURES 10 APRIL 24, 2007 Wherever I may roam... Local man makes living from others’ cast off cans Nomad, vagabond, call him what you will. Albert Austin is just trying to make a decent living. Tearing up the streets in his aluminum Huffy/Cart, “The Can Man” scans WilkesBarre area dumpsters every morning for aluminum containers which he stashes in three plastic tubs on his outlandish bicycle, cashing them in at Abe Solomon’s scrap yard for about 17 dollars a bag. “By the end of the day, I’ll walk outta here with at least twelve pounds worth,” he said, prodding through a dozen Yuengling cans scattered along a dark alleyway with his garbage picker. A former Denny’s dishwasher, Austin now lives on Social Security and the cans serve as his main source of income. “My wife works at Gelpiaz as a dishwasher. Her money pays the bills; my money pays the rent,” the Susquehanna County native said. Adorned with pinwheels, posters, and American flags, Austin completely customized the bike to suit his needs. The bells and whistles include a dashboard equipped with a speedometer, a stereo system, and even a set of rearview mirrors…all tightly held together with enough duct tape to put Red Green to shame. “I’m a farm boy and a Dutchman,” he proudly stated. “A Dutchman can build anything. They don’t like to spend money on The Beacon/Nick Podolak BY NICK POLODAK Beacon News Editor “The Can Man,” Albert Austin, rides around Wilkes-Barre collecting cans. The cans he collects act as a supplement to the Social Security he receives. nothing,” he said, propping open a tin can packed with his homemade menthol lights, which he struck against the bike’s cigarette lighter. Austin also puts safety first, of course, in style with a black state-of-the-art helmet equipped with a pull down visor that protects his entire face from oncoming bugs, pounding rains, and the sun’s ultra violet rays. It also boasts a mouthpiece attached at the side which connects to his Nextel cell phone. “If the wife calls while I’m riding, all it takes is the push of a button to talk to her on the go,” he said. Cruising through bustling traffic lanes, Austin is considered a hindrance to many motorists, where the legality of whether or not he should be riding with traffic comes into play. Wilkes shuttle bus driver Stanley Hanczyc has crossed passed with Austin many times before, occasionally losing his patience when getting stuck behind him on the Market Street Bridge. “Some days I’d like to run him over,” Hanczyc said. “Some days he acts like he’s the ‘King of the Road.’” However, according to Chapter 5, Section 3504 of the Pennsylvania Bike Laws, “A bicycle may be operated on either a shoulder or on the roadway (the travel lanes). The locations will be based upon traffic volume, the physical condition of the travel lanes or the shoulder, traffic speed, the bicyclist’s intended direction, and other safety factors.” So while Austin is legally within his rights to ride on the road, he still receives some flack from local law enforcement, who he thinks are just out to get him. “The policemen tell me to get off the road. I tell ‘em to mind their own business,” he said. “I know my rights.” Sporting a clean driving record so far on his aluminum Huffy, Austin shared some horrifying crash tales from years past. While riding in Philadelphia on his very first bike, a crooked handle bar Schwinn, he lost control after being chased down by a dog for about a mile, resulting in him flying over the handlebars head first onto the hard, concrete pavement. “That’s how I lost these,” he said, pulling out a pair of dentures in a trail of spit. In another incident on Market Street, he tried to make a red light but mistimed it, placing him in the face of oncoming traffic with no chance of stopping. He heroically dove off his 21-speed Schwinn before it got plowed by a zooming pick-up truck. “The front wheel got bent pretty good, but I took it home and straightened it up. Good as new,” he said proudly. For now, Austin, 55, lives on Church Street in Edwardsville with his wife, where she, too, commutes to work via bicycle. Together, they will ride off into the sunset. Sigma Tau Delta, the English honor society with branches on local, regional, national and international levels, inducted 21 Wilkes students on Sunday. Assistant English professor Chad Stanley served as keynote speaker at the ceremony, which was held in Kirby Hall. Stanley spoke to inductees about the experiences that led to him becoming an English professor, and what role imagination played in the process. The 21 new members were presented with certificates during the rituals that occur at each ceremony, including reading passages written by various authors. In addition to the new members, four officers and Dr. Thomas Hamil were present at the proceedings. The Beacon/Nick Zmijewski �APRIL 24, 2007 FEATURES 11 Car show revs into Henry Student Center parking lot BY CANDICE HALLIDAY Beacon Staff Writer Riding in style? It’s time to show off those four wheels. American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) is sponsoring its first annual car show Saturday, April 28. A rain date is scheduled for May 5. The car show will be held in the parking lot at the Henry Student Union from 11:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m. There is a minimal entry fee of $10.00, which will go toward funding for ASME. No worries if you don’t have 32-inch platinum chrome rims because there are no restrictions on type, year or model of the cars entered. Along with showing off their rides, participants will receive a car show tshirt. Everyone in the competition will also cast their own vote. The top 10 winners will receive trophies. First place will be awarded “Best of Show.” The event is free for all spectators. Dr. Syed Kalim, associate professor of mechanical engineering and academic advisor of ASME, explained the idea behind the car show. He noted that, “The person who takes initiative becomes successful. Ideas float around within ASME but nothing ever happens unless students put the plans into action.” Kalim explained that Eric Skogland, ASME member, initiated the event. “There is a leadership of skills involved in planning something like a car show and it is a process where students grow as professionals,” Kalim said. He also noted that Skogland’s passion for hot rods contributed to the idea of hosting a Car Show. Freshman David Lewis said he would be interested in attending the car show. “I hope to see some old fashioned Mustang Cobras, with racer style pin-stripes!” said Lewis. In addition, Kalim explained that help from other organizations on campus made the show possible. Student Government contributed a $400 donation. Parking in and around campus can be troublesome, but Kalim emphasized that the car show will not cause further trouble for students seeking parking spots. “I don’t think it’s going to be a big problem because it is the weekend and the Society approached the university very well about the issue,” said Kalim. He also explained how this is not an intellectual exercise, but a fun exercise. With finals approaching it is a chance for students to put down the books and have some fun. In a humorous tone he added, “It is also an AS A COLLEGE GRAD , YOU MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR opportunity to show that mechanical engineering faculty and students do not only talk about mathematics and science; we also talk about things like cars.” Courtesy www.missionvalleycruisers.com 2007 FJ CRUISER 2007 RAV4 2007 CAMRY HYBRID 2007 YARIS ANY NEW TOYOTA OF YOUR CHOICE* WWW.WINAYARISONLINE.COM† *NOT ALL CUSTOMERS WILL QUALIFY. CUSTOMERS RECEIVE $400 FROM TOYOTA TOWARDS LEASING OR FINANCING THE PURCHASE OF NEW UNTITLED TOYOTA MODELS THROUGH PARTICIPATING TOYOTA DEALERS AND TOYOTA FINANCIAL SERVICES. SEE DEALER OR VISIT WWW.TOYOTAFINANCIAL.COM/FINANCE FOR DETAILS. COLLEGE GRADUATE PROGRAM IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR TERMINATION AT ANY TIME. †NO PURCHASE IS NECESSARY. MAKING A PURCHASE DOES NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. TO ENTER YOU MUST BE A LEGAL U.S. RESIDENT AT LEAST 18 YEARS OLD AND YOU MUST HAVE A VALID DRIVER’S LICENSE. VISIT YOUR PARTICIPATING TOYOTA DEALER OR WINAYARISONLINE.COM FOR COMPLETE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS AND SWEEPSTAKES RULES. �A&E APRIL 24, 2007 12 Pirouettes in the Park Crossword This Week in History Dinner & A Movie 13 14 14 15 Q&A with Ribisi and this crewsummer of A Perfect Stranger The 10 bestGiovanni books not to miss BY NICOLE FRAIL Beacon Staff Writer Whether you find yourself trapped indoors during a storm, relaxing in the swing on your front porch, or sprawled out on a towel at the beach or pool this summer, take along a great book for company. Next to December--the peak of the holiday shopping season--late spring is the most popular time for new releases in the book world to help prepare avid readers for the lazy days of summer. From comedy to romance, drama to mystery, and even some humorous self-help, there’s truly something out there for everyone. Check out the most promising among the new releases for this summer: Rant: An Oral Biography of Buster Casey by Chuck Palahniuk (release date: May 1) This fictional biography is about Buster “Rant” Casey, who could possibly be the greatest serial killer of all time. The story is told through the eyes of an assortment of people from his family to his worst enemies. Reminiscent of the style of his previous novels like Haunted and Fight Club, Palahniuk’s characters tell the tale of Buster’s violent adventures, brilliant death, and the plague of rabies he silently spread while alive. Dream When You’re Feeling Blue by Elizabeth Berg (release date: May 1) During WWII, three sisters sit in their Chicago home writing letters to the men they love stationed across seas. They learn how difficult it is to keep their spirits high and their dreams alive while they wait and struggle with the rest of their country. The power of love and strength of family are the heart of this bestselling author’s latest. I Had the Right to Remain Silent… But I Didn’t Have the Ability by Ron White (release date: May 1) Best known for his ‘Blue Collar Comedy’, cigar smoking and scotch drinking, comedian Ron “Tater Salad” White’s second book includes new material and explores the stories behind his most famous characters, revisits some of his old jokes and stories, and includes illustrations of his best jokes by illustrator Matthew Schulz. Bright Lights, Big Ass: A Self-Indulgent, Surly, Ex-Sorority Girl’s Guide to Why it Often Sucks in the City, or Who are These Idiots and Why Do They All Live Next Door to Me? by Jen Lancaster (release date: May 1) Secrets to living in the big city are finally out in Lancaster’s newest book. She’s raw, honest, and doesn’t care what you or anyone else thinks about her. Her material covers everything from the Bush sisters and Target employees to her thoughts on being politically correct. “Her humor is a bit like junk food-something you can enjoy when no one is looking” - Publisher’s Weekly. The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Coping with Difficult People by Arlene Matthews Uhl (release date: May 8) As a psychotherapist, professor of developmental psychology, and author or many self-help books, Uhl’s expertise shines through as she offers the most effective, simple ways to deal with co-workers, strangers, family, and friends. She divides her strategies into four categories and provides ways of recognizing behavioral patterns, personality types, and getting yourself out of those awkward conversations we all love so much. After Dark by Haruki Murakami (release date: May 8) Translated by Jay Rubin, After Dark takes place over seven hours as the sun sets and rises over Tokyo. This novella follows three loosely linked stories that The Beacon/Nick Zmijewski come together in the end to show that at what a good agent can really do for you. He the heart of the book lies humanity’s over- admits that there is nothing “more intoxiwhelming and desperate hunger for human cating than making TV shows every week” contact, for attention. A model, a student, and that there is nothing more heartbreakand a musician travel the streets of Tokyo ing than ending the party with unscripted, late at night and encounter a handful of reality TV shows. night people who are connected and intertwined by their experiences, crimes, and Giovanni The Harlequin by Laurell K.Elaine Hamilton Ribisi passions. “Murakami’s trademark humor, (release Goldsmith date: June 5) psychological insight, and grasp of spirit Out of the handful of vampire novels and morality are here distilled with an ex- coming out this summer, Hamilton’s The traordinary, harmonious mastery” - Knopf Harlequin appears to be the most anticiPublishing Group. pated. The best selling author’s newest publication is the fifteenth book in the AniFalling Man by Don DeLillo (release ta Blake Vampire Hunter Series. It trails Anita Blake’s struggle against creatures date: May 15) Leaving Cosmopolis dripping with dis- so furious and frightening that the oldest appointment and no heart, DeLillo is back of vampires refuse to speak of them. To with Falling Man, one of his best works. be contacted by the Harlequin is deadly; The book opens with protagonist Keith therefore, Anita Blake must join forces Neudecker standing in the middle of a with vampires, werewolves, shape shiftNew York City street covered in blood ers, and the one man who she has relied on and dust as he stares up into the smoky most in the past. sky where the Twin Towers were missing. Though previously separated from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows his wife, Neudecker returns to his family, by J.K. Rowling (release date: July 21) where, oddly enough, his life begins to spiThe Harry Potter blockbuster series will ral downwards. Affairs, disappointments, finally come to an end with Rowling’s sevand lack of compassion lead to the much enth book. The 784-page much-anticipated anticipated explanation of how Neudecker end will be printed on recycled paper and escaped the burning towers alive. will follow Harry and friends one last time as they attempt to defeat the evil Lord Billion Dollar Kiss: The Kiss That Saved Voldemort and tie up all loose ends from Dawson’s Creek and Other Adventures in the previous books. Due to the mystery TV Writing by Jeffrey Stepakoff (release of this book and the fact that little is ever known about Rowling’s work before it is date: May 15) Throughout his experiences as a writer released, the only things truly expected are on Wonder Years and Major Dad and also the potential deaths of a few beloved charas a co-executive producer of Dawson’s acters. Creek, Stepakoff’s seen his fair share of Also, be on the lookout for The Solosuccess and failure in the television indusmon Key, Dan Brown’s sequel to The Da try. In his memoir, he describes the money, Vinci Code. No release date has been set the business, how to get in, how to stay in, but word on the street is that it should be and what happens when the cameras stop coming soon. rolling. He details 16-hour work days and �APRIL 24, 2007 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 13 Cherry Blossom Festival to offer dance extravaganza BY STEPHANIE DEBALKO Beacon A&E Editor Jaded students complaining about the lack of entertainment and activities in the area just might be in luck this weekend. The city of Wilkes-Barre’s annual Cherry Blossom Festival, set for April 28 and 29 at Kirby Park, is sure to entertain all those who venture out (whether it feels like winter or spring) and also just may provide a little distraction during the stressful end-of-year preparation for finals. T h e Cherry Blossom Festival will feature “Pirouettes in the Park” and “Music in the Park” programs, and while both programs will offer a slew of entertainment, the dance component is new to the festival. Bridget Giunta, administrative coordinator, City of Wilkes-Barre, said that while the event has always had great entertainment in the past, the idea for a dance festival was something that has been in the works for a while, since a few dance studios were featured last year. The process for finding the various dance studios that are participating involved a distribution to studios across the Wilkes-Barre, Scranton, Hazleton and Back Mountain areas. Additionally, a guest artist will be the event’s featured ensemble. New York City’s YC Movement Theatre will present “a suite of excerpts from its full evening length movement theatre work, ‘Moonlight Interior,’ which was presented off-Broadway.” Giunta said, “They’re really excited to come, which makes us even more excited because they’re a professional group, and I think it will be a great opportunity for the audience and the dancers who are participating to see some professional dance.” Dancers from RE-CORED Dance Company of NEPA will also participate, and Lynne Mariani, director, is looking forward to an opportunity to encourage and contribute to arts in the community. And while she stressed that concept, she also added that she is hoping for a fun day to present what the company has to offer to the commu- nity and she hopes that the audience gets a lot out of the experience. The dance portion of the festival will feature, in addition to YC Movement Theatre and RE-CORED Dance Company of NEPA, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers Dance Team & the Turi Studio of Dance and Fitness, Dance Entertainment Company (DEC) and the NEPA School of the Performing Arts, among many others. “Pirouettes in the Park” will take place Saturday, April 28 from noon to 6 p.m., and “Music in The Park” will be held Sunday, April 29 from noon to 7 p.m. In addition to these programs, the two-day affair will also include food and craft vendors as well as amusements, all of which have been staples at past Cherry Blossom Festivals. Students are encouraged to attend the event not only as a way to engage in arts in the community but also just as a way to get out and enjoy a stress-free day as the end of the semester nears. Giunta said, “I often hear complaints that there’s nothing to do in Wilkes-Barre, so this is a fun weekend to get out of the dorms and apartments and enjoy Kirby Park- which is an easy walk from campus. And I think it’s a great opportunity to end the semester, get outside, hang out, and enjoy the entertainment.” � 0dVdbc�k�!��& FT�WPeT�P�fX]]Ta� �FT[[��PRcdP[[h�cWaTT�fX]]Tab�� CWT�Ë�]P[�e^cT�^]�cWT�<hFX[ZTb�[^V^�fPb�^_cX^]��!�� CWT�^eTafWT[\X]V�RW^XRT�U^a�bXcT�[Ph^dc�fPb�^_cX^]��"� 9d]X^a�<^aVP]�:dW]b�fX]b�cWT�X?^S �fWXRW��^U�R^dabT��bWTÃ[[�Ë�[[�fXcW�b^]Vb�PR`dXaTS�[TVP[[h��aXVWc.�� CWP]Zb�c^�P[[�cW^bT�fW^�e^cTS� 6^�c^�\hfX[ZTb�fX[ZTb�TSd�c^�eXTf�cWT�fX]]X]V�STbXV]b�P]S�c^�[TPa]�\^aT�PQ^dc�cWT�<hFX[ZTb�_^acP[� �ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 14 APRIL 24, 2007 This Week In History BY MICHAEL GIONFRIDDO Beacon Correspondent Brought to you by the History Club April 23 1564: According to tradition, the great English dramatist and poet William Shakespeare is born in Stratford-on-Avon on April 23, 1564. It is impossible to be certain the exact day on which he was born, but church records show that he was baptized on April 26, and three days was a customary amount of time to wait before baptizing a newborn. Shakespeare’s date of death is conclusively known, however: it was April 23, 1616. He was 52 years old and had retired to Stratford three years before. April 24 1800: President John Adams approves legislation to appropriate $5,000 to purchase “such books as may be necessary for the use of Congress,” thus establishing the Library of Congress. The first books, ordered from London, arrived in 1801 and were stored in the U.S. Capitol, the library’s first home. The first library catalog, dated April 1802, listed 964 volumes and nine maps. Twelve years later, the British army invaded the city of Washington and burned the Capitol, including the then 3,000-volume Library of Congress. April 25 1859: At Port Said, Egypt, ground is broken for the Suez Canal, an artificial waterway intended to stretch 101 miles across the isthmus of Suez and connect the Mediterranean and the Red seas. Ferdinand de Lesseps, the French diplomat who organized the colossal undertaking, delivered the pickax blow that inaugurated construction. April 26 1986: The world’s worst nuclear power plant accident occurs at the Chernobyl nuclear power station in the Soviet Union. Thirty-two people died and dozens more Kudracross 19 21 22 23 25 29 30 31 34 35 36 40 42 43 Telescope building Tennis unit BY CHRISTOPHER KUDRAK Freedom from concern Beacon Correspondent Skeptical ACROSS Serious or earnest 1 Busy Chicago airport Stomach area 6 Frog movement Susceptible 9 Dad’s partner Wear off or down by scraping 12 Chill out Touch or be next to 13 Foundation Hairstyle 15 Iron in the rough Metal or ore deposit 16 Upright Music beat 17 Small island Robot component 18 Cell material, for short Line of waiting people 45 Hudson and Ford First-rate @@@@@gi@@@@gi@@@@@@@@ 46 47 Cleverly stylish @ @ 49 Gymnastics equipment @ ~ @ @ 50 Healing @ @ 57 Jurassic or Paleozoic @ @ 58 Second place . PS2 @ @ 59 Stellar dragon XBOX @ 60 Biblical vessel @ @ NINTENDO @ 61 Expunge @ @ 62 Common Everglades @ @ bird @ @ 63 “Catcher in the _____” @ @ 64 Macadamia, for example gi @ gi 65 Closely packed @ DOWN gi @ @ 1 Common snack food @ @ @ 2 Rosemary, for example @ 3 Bar beverages @ @ @ 4 Belmont Stakes gi 5 Utmost in degree @ @ 6 Hurry @ 7 Capital of Norway 8 Atlantic City sight @ gi 9 Food fragment we ouy ana sell )V)s ,,s VIIE8GADS LPs 11ti 45s IVSIUL ENEIGI 59 north main -- wil kes barre -- 829-2929 i we have hundreds of posters!! i @gi@gigigigigigigigigigigigigigi@gi Clara Petacci, are shot by Italian partisans who had captured the couple as they attempted to flee to Switzerland. April 29 1992: In Los Angeles, California, four Los Angeles police officers that had been caught beating an unarmed African-American motorist in an amateur video are acquitted of any wrongdoing in the arrest. Hours after the verdicts were announced, outrage and protest turned to violence, as rioters in south-central Los Angeles blocked freeway traffic and beat motorists, wrecked and looted numerous downtown stores and buildings, and set more than 100 fires. Note: All information is provided by the History Channel and can be found at http://www.history.com/tdih.do suffered radiation burns in the opening days of the crisis, but only after Swedish authorities reported the fallout did Soviet authorities reluctantly admit that an accident had occurred. April 27 4977 B.C.: In 4977 B.C., the universe is created, according to German mathematician and astronomer Johannes Kepler, considered a founder of modern science. Kepler is best known for his theories explaining the motion of planets. April 28 1945: On this day in 1945, “Il Duce,” Benito Mussolini, and his mistress, 10 11 13 14 20 24 25 26 27 28 29 31 32 33 35 37 38 39 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 51 52 53 54 55 56 Unpleasant in disposition 1 2 3 4 Heavily fleshed 12 Favoring one over 1G another Fashioned 19 Retro vehicle XI Bath or Hot Springs Sphere Slugger Gehrig Appetizer follower 1987 Michael Jackson song Museum contents 40 Scrooge comment :i1 Outer edge Farewell 60 Falter ~ Campus greenery Car performance enhancer Hurl Broke away from Excavation pit Absorption Trendy Spread or daub Aquafresh alternative Aesop character who lost Brass instrument A son of Isaac Coax Small mountain lake Finishes a cake Small shelter for sheep or birds Graphic courtesy www.nigelbeale.com 6 Answers 4.2 'D 'E s . "u s u A L ■ ' N • ■ , K 's ■ ' .A ' S "V .. K S A N e "' A N "C "0 "... "L "0 'F R C A I R ."''i :. ":::: "I.,., ., "' "..... ,' . 'i"•, •, " "' I A ~1 jSl ~A 11R ~T n "0 =:iA »:s ~o :'.>II LEAK I I n I ".1. ;1 REN !fi M DES ,.,M I ,1, ■j --2_~ t D A L e e ~o o o 1, ".1. :S N 1to11N E S E ...,;;;;, R_! e --1 > :M 1 ■ ESSES ·o • , • • , , " • •• •- 0 s r • :□ M I T ' P I u R A L t-' S RIO ~ I ~ o e o O O E A •s 1H ~ A I A. N D L ~ �15 APRIL 24, 2007 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT It£ioinner and a Movie I Dinner: The Greenery Restaurant at Boscov’s BY MARISSA PHILLIPS Beacon Asst. A&E Editor A department store diner may not sound like the most appealing of dinner options, especially when it’s situated in a dark corner of Boscov’s basement floor. The Greenery Restaurant at Bosov’s on Main Street may not offer an aesthetically appealing atmosphere, but it fares well in the areas that really matter: food, costs, and service. Located in an area some might be tempted to overlook, between the candy and the toys, you’ll find a quiet, dimly lit diner. With a drab color scheme and 80s reminiscent abstract paintings, owners obviously aren’t trying to impress customers with design. There’s no mood setting music either, but rather a constant humming, and an incoherent and muffled talk radio show coming through the speakers. But the waitress makes up for the dreary atmosphere, and her sunny and friendly demeanor actually appears to be genuine, which is a bit surprising. This is probably in part due to the fact that the restaurant is filled with many regulars with whom the waitress appears to be well acquainted. It’s this familiarity that also sets the tone of the place. This is a diner that the patrons, most of them anyway, make part of their daily routines. I ordered a California salad plate, which consisted of a grilled chicken breast on salad greens, assorted fruit, and cottage cheese, which ran my bill to $5.29. My friend ordered a turkey salad sandwich, along with a turkey, barley and vegetable soup, which cost $7.09. Definitely not the cheapest eats to get in the area, but still fairly reasonable for a sit-down dinner. Our food was out to us almost as soon as we had finished ordering. While we weren’t quite ecstatic about spending our money on food that day (sometimes you just want to go cheap), the hearty portions definitely proved to be worth the price. While the California salad plate may have sounded like a light and meager meal, it offered a heaping portion of meat, and the variety of fruit was fresh. The turkey salad sandwich also proved to be filling, and thankfully they didn’t go too heavy on the mayonnaise, which is often the problem with turkey and chicken salads. Considering the simple meals we were ordered, the food ended up being surprisingly impressive. There were impressive specials to be found throughout the menu as well. They offer an extensive breakfast menu with offerings such as wraps, stuffed French toast, and “make your own” omelets. There are some breakfast options that actually start in the $1-$2 range, and there are a few large breakfast combos for little more than $3. The Greenery Restaurant at Boscov’s is dreary in terms of atmosphere, and doesn’t attempt to mask the fact that it’s in the unattractive basement of Boscov’s, but other than that, there’s really nothing to complain about. When it comes right down to it, the food should be the most important consideration. The dinner prices may not be the most appealing to poor students, but they are no more expensive than a Friendly’s or Applebees. So, if you’re willing to overlook minor atmospheric defects, next time you’re shopping at Boscov’s, make sure to stay for dinner. Grade: B+ in bio-chemical warfare, all hell breaks loose as one of the containers inevitably opens, spraying a putrid green gas into the air. As the locals come in contact with the chemical cloud, they begin to experience some interesting side effects, namely an unyielding hunger for human flesh. Consequently, as the residents begin to residents begin to go go ghoul, ghoul, the survivors, including a one-legged 1e-legged go-go go-go dancer dancer (Rose (Ro: McGowan, Scream), a trucker Rodricker with with aa mysterious mysterious past past (Freddy ( guez, Poseidon), 1), aa surgery-happy surgery-happy doctor doctor (Josh (Jo Brolin, The Proof. Tarantino’s contribution is a pedal-to-the-metal thrill ride that follows the diabolical Stuntman Mike (Kurt Russell, Escape From New York), an aging daredevil with a rather unusual hobby. Some people collect stamps, others take up golf, Stuntman Mike stages elaborate car crashes involving his custom built “death proof” stunt car and unsuspecting victims. Needless to say, the results are always the same: Mike walks away; the others leave in body bags. However, when he targets two groups of beautiful young women, including Rosario Dawson (Clerks II), Mary Elizabeth Winsted (Final Destination III) and Jordan Ladd (Waiting), as his next victims, he may be biting off more than he can chew. Will Stuntman Mike’s deadly fixation with twisted metal and broken bodies leave the unlucky ladies as road kill, or has he finally met his match? If two feature length films, packed with enough violence, gore, car crashes and nudity to make an MPAA censor’s head explode, then you’re in luck, because Grindhouse has one last feature to offer. Aside from Planet Terror and Death Proof, Grindhouse presents the viewer with four fake movie trailers, advertising movies that look good enough to be real. The first trailer, for a film entitled Machete, is the only one made by the film’s creators. The other three trailers, Thanksgiving, Don’t and Werewolf Women of The S.S. were created by fellow directors Edgar Wright (Shaun Of The Dead), Eli Roth (Hostel) and Rob Zombie (The Devil’s Rejects). A hilarious stab at the horror genre, the trailers will have the viewer wishing that the films they advertise existed outside of Grindhouse. So whether you’re looking for a scare or a laugh, this double feature has something for everyone. Well, that is if everyone can stomach the sight of cannibalistic frenzies, exploding heads and gruesome car crashes. Grade: A ...and a movie: Grindhouse BY MIKE WILLIAMS Beacon Staff Writer After viewing Grindhouse, it’s easy to understand how some moviegoers may exit the theater with a very strong feeling of “what the hell did I just watch?” Chock full of the new >f sex sex and and violence, violence, the new fi f lm by Quentin Tarantino (Pulp Fiction, Resivior Resivior Dogs) Dogs) and Robert Rorip Fiction, a driguez (Desperado, From Dusk Dusk ‘Till Dawn), has a high Jerado, From 'Till Da11, probability of' leaving leaving viewers viewers speechless, speechless, either in shock at the film’s overwhelmingly verwhehningly graphic, graphic, grizzly grizz content or in awe of it’s pure, pulpy genius. re, pulpy genius. When the film’s together, movie fans relm's co-creators co-creators got got together, joiced, as the two two legendary legendary directors directors could cm have easily delivered a cinematic masterpiece, driven inematic masterpiece, driven by compelling characters, award plot, all rard winning winning acting acting and and an an intriguing inti backed by a top )p notch notch script. script. However, being ~ing far far from from conventional conventional and an never known to be predictable, Rodriguez and Lble, Rodriguez and Tarantino Tarantin< opted to take another route. Rather just another epic in the Rather than than creating creating just ano vein of the Kill Bill series the El El Maria Mariachi trilogy, the ill Bill series or or the duo opted to pay homage to to the blood ‘n sex driven, Jay homage the blood 'n guts, g1 high octane films the 1970s. lms of of the 1970s. This This brand brand of 1 extreme cinema, branded with with the the label label “Grindhouse”, "Grindhouse", was marked by its low budgett and and its its gruesome gruesome depictions depictions of 1 violence and gore, as well as scenes, LS its its extremely extremely graphic…uh…”love” graphic . .. uh .. and were commonly back. I-And after view11Tionly shown shown back back to to back. ing the film, it’s quite some t's obvious obvious that that the the creators creators took t1 time and a great deal of effort in order to capture the feel of this nearly forgotten era of film. In Rodriguez’s contribution to the Grindhouse double feature, Planet Terror, viewers will be delighted to see several familiar faces, and will then cringe in terror as hordes of the undead tear them limb from limb, one by grisly one. When a mysterious caravan of military vehicles roll into a sleepy Texas town carrying containers filled with the latest http://www.toxicshock.tv Goonies), his cheating :heating wife wife (Marley (Marley Shelton, Shelton Sin City), the town sheriff (Michael Aliens) and 1:ichael Biehn, Biehn, Aliens) and his his barbeque chef brother (Jeff Fahey, Lawnmower Man), ahey, The The Lawnmower Man), must band together to make: it it out out of of town town alive. alive. However, Howeve if they want to live to see daylight, must first first find find out the deadly iaylight, they they must 1 secret behind the gas, and to do so, must match wits and weapons with a rogue U.S. military squad, led by Bruce Willis. What is the secret? Who will survive? How many people does a zombie have to eat before it’s full? To find the answers, sit back, relax and aim for the head as Robert Rodriguez presents Planet Terror. After intermission, (yes, there’s an intermission) it’s time to buckle up for the double feature’s second half, Death L1 __ --- ___ __j ..__ ..J_ -- _____ _ .._ -- Photo courtesy http://www.forbiddenplanet.co.uk �SPORTS 16 APRIL 24, 2007 Cumberland Apartments Brand new luxury construction in an historic landmark building - 48 Efficiency Apartments $475./mo.* - 12 Efficiency Suites $675./mo.* *double occupancy add $150./mo. - Brand New Construction - Kitchen with appliances - Full Bath with shower - Secure Entry - Elevator - Laundry - Wi-Fi Internet - Free Water, Sewer, Trash Cumberland Apartments 17 West Ross Street Wilkes Barre, PA 18702 570-687-2220 www.cumberlandliving.com �SPORTS APRIL 24, 2007 17 Spring football program jumpstarts next season’s team BY GERARD HETMAN Beacon Staff Writer While the cold chill and bitter winds of winter have been slow to leave the Wyoming Valley, the nasty elements haven’t stopped the Wilkes University football program from hitting the fields at the Ralston Complex for their annual round of spring practice sessions. Football programs at the Division III level are allowed 16 practice sessions during the spring semester. While the NCAA does not permit contact and hitting during spring practice for Division III schools, teams are allowed to use a football to run through non-contact drills and exercises. As a result, spring practices at Wilkes have been a mix of strength and conditioning exercises, combined with drills designed to build and develop football skills and fundamentals. The spring practices are the first time that the previous season’s seniors are no longer with the team, and the coaching staff often seeks to use this period to begin to shape the leadership and composure of the team for the season to come. “We have several objectives in our spring MIDNIGHT MADNESS A large cheese pizza + an 8pc Breadsticks, CinnaStix or Cheesybread $9.99 +TAX VALID 12AM-CLOSE Expires 5/31/076 IMM I practices,” said Wilkes head coach Frank Sheptock, when asked what he looks for the team to accomplish during spring workouts. “First, we try to best identify the young men who have bought into the work ethic and commitment we have tried to instill in our players, particularly with regards to their strength and conditioning work in the offseason. Also, we are trying to identify a new profile for our team after the graduation of several of our key players. We look at our program during this time and ask ourselves, ‘How will this group best go about winning football games?’” For many of the Colonels, the spring offers a chance to correct and build on what they have experienced and learned from the previous season. Cornerback Corey Gilroy is using the spring practices to continue his progress and preparation for the upcoming campaign. “In your first season, the speed of the game and the playing styles of other teams take a lot of getting used to. It’s an excellent opportunity in the spring to help yourself progress a long way by applying See PRACTICE on PAGE 19 ROWNIE Buy a large pizza at regular price and get a 1 Ope order of our new warm brownies FREE Expires 10/8/06 ITV I The Beacon/Todd Weibel Wilkes football players are working out during the annual spring practices. Wilkes-Barre 570-829-2900 154 s. Pennsylvania Ave Sun-Thur 11 am-2am Fri & Sat 11 am-4am �SPORTS 18 APRIL 24, 2007 Commentary GAME OF THE WEEK Boston Red Sox v. New York Yankees Baseball’s greatest rivalry heats up in the Bronx BY TIM SEIGFRIED Beacon Asst. Sports Editor Every sport has it’s great rivalries. Basketball had the Lakers and Celtics of the 70s and 80s, football had the Cowboys and the Eagles, and tennis had Sampras and Agassi. Baseball, of course, has the Red Sox and Yankees. The storied rivalry has existed for nearly a century, dating back to 1919 when Babe Ruth was sold from the Red Sox to the Yankees. The rivalry has been mostly dominated by the Bronx Bombers, capped off by a dramatic, extra innings, game ending homerun by Aaron Boone in the 2003 American League Championship Series. A year later, the two teams would meet for a rematch in the ALCS, with the Yankees taking a dominating three games to nothing lead. In what would turn out to be the greatest comeback in the history of sports, the Red Sox rallied behind to win four straight en route to their first World Series title in 1986. Since 2004, there have been some classic Yankees/Red Sox moments, including the Yankees signing former Red Sox centerfielder Johnny Damon, as well as the five game sweep that took place during the “Boston Massacre” last fall. However, the rivalry hasn’t had the same feel to it since that memorable comeback nearly three years ago. This week, the two teams will look to rekindle the fire as they square off in six games within a ten day span. This past weekend, the Yankees visited Boston for three games, which did not go well for the Bronx Bombers, as they lost the first of several series to the Red Sox. This week, however, it’s time for the Red Sox to go on the road as they visit Yankee Stadium for the first time this season. It looks to be a good contest, as both teams have a lot going for them as they enter the weekend. First, the Yankees an advantage, and his name is Alex Rodriguez. A-Rod, who has never been fully embraced by the tough Yankee fans due in part to his lack of clutch hitting, is getting a lot of love from the crowds in the early parts of the season, as he has had two game winning homeruns in addition to his league leading power numbers. Aside from Rodriguez, the Yankees lineup is stacked with talent, including Johnny Damon, team captain Derek Jeter, and perennial slugger Jason Giambi. With a lineup like that, it’s hard to lose, unless you have a depleted pitching staff that consists of having three starters on the disabled list. As it turns out, the Yankees have just that, with starters Mike Mussina, Carl Pavano and Chien-Ming Wang nursing various injuries. As such, the Bombers will look to veteran Andy Pettitte to lead a pitching staff of mostly newcomers, which could be a problem against a tough Boston lineup. While not as deep as the Yankees’ starting nine, the Red Sox can tear apart bad pitching, especially with a 3-4-5 of David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez, and J.D. Drew. Ortiz, who leads the team in homeruns and RBIs, is picking up where he left off last season, while Manny’s slow start is of concern, it should be noted that the quirky slugger has averaged 39 home runs and 119 RBIs every season since joining the Red Sox in 2001. The real strength of the Red Sox is their pitching staff, which consists of 5 solid starters. Led by renowned Yankee killer Curt Schilling and finished off by closing pitcher Jonathan Papelbon, the Yankees will certainly have their work cut out for Double Take Steph examines the stats that truly matter... BY STEPHANIE DEBALKO Beacon A&E Editor them, especially against the likes of Josh Beckett and Daisuke Matsuzaka, both of which have enjoyed success in this young season. Ultimately, baseball games come down to pitching, a category that the Red Sox have a distinct advantage in. Despite having Mariano Rivera in their bullpen, the Yankees pitching staff has given up more runs, walks, and has fewer strikeouts than the Red Sox. As for the series, expect the rotation of the Red Sox to get the better of the Yankee’s bats. The Pick: Game 1: Red Sox 7, Yankees 2 Game 2: Red Sox 12, Yankees 9 Game 3: Red Sox 4, Yankees 3 Probable Starters (as of 4/23) 4/27 Daisuke Matsuzaka (1-2, 2.70 ERA) vs Chase Wright (1-0, 5.40 ERA) 4/28 Tim Wakefield (2-1, 1.35 ERA) vs Kei Igawa (1-0, 6.06 ERA) 4/29 Julian Tavarez (0-1, 6.75 ERA) vs Chien-Ming Wang(No official start) Another Yankees/Red Sox game? Wonderful. I must say that I am actually trying to understand and maybe even like baseball. But that hasn’t quite happened yet, so I really have no idea who would win this game based on stats and skills. That said, I think my money is on the Yankees, for a few simple reasons. First, I’m aware that the fans on both sides of the field are pretty hard-core about their teams, and I can respect that. But when I was in Manhattan yesterday, I saw a Red Sox banner sitting in a bucket on someone’s fire escape. In honor of you, Mr. Bucket, and your creative hatred, I am putting my faith in the Yankees. I’ve never been to Boston, but I can’t imagine there’s a city greater than New York. Where else can you get a bagel and erotic videos while watching a man who looks remarkably like a robot all on the same street corner? So if the city is that awesome, the team has to be pretty great too, right? And come on, the Yankees have way cuter and sleeker uniforms than the Red Sox, and we all know having confidence in what one is wearing can really give one an edge. Finally, I do believe that the Yankees players are a little bit more attractive. Maybe it’s just the uniforms. There’s something about the pinstripes. Do they still wear uniforms with pinstripes, or was that just from the movie 61*? I suppose their outfits may have changed since the time of Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle, but I hope they haven’t. For all these reasons, I think the Yankees are going to dominate. Who can argue with my stellar logic? �SPORTS APRIL 24, 2007 PRACTICE from PAGE 17 what you’ve learned from the previous season,” he said. For a few other players who were not members of the team before this semester, spring practice is the first practice time they will spend with their new teammates after transferring from other institutions over the Christmas break. Running back Sean Madden is looking to make an impact as a Colonel this season after transferring from Iona College. “Practice has been going very well; the coaching staff has worked well with me in helping me learn the new plays and systems. I’ve gotten to know everyone on the team and I feel very confident being in the program,” he said. As all the players continue their progress and development in the spring, they also seek to develop a drive in their work that will power them through the summer, leading up to the start of training camp in midAugust. While the weather may be chilly outside, the 2007 version of the Wilkes Football program is rapidly heating up and taking shape. 19 BASEBALL from PAGE 20 that enables them to control their own destiny in trying to make it to the playoffs. If the Colonels manage to pull off a three game sweep against the Royals, they will be much closer to being crowned MAC Freedom conference championship contenders. The Colonels go on the road to face Scranton on Friday at 3:30 pm, and come back home for a doubleheader against the Royals Saturday at 1 pm.that enables them to control their own destiny in trying to make it to the playoffs. If the Colonels manage to pull off a three game sweep against the Royals, they will be much closer to being crowned MAC Freedom conference championship contenders. The Colonels go on the road to face Scranton on Friday at 3:30 pm, and come back home for a doubleheader against the Royals Saturday at 1 pm. The Beacon/Todd Weibel Wilkes senior Alex Ingram connects for a home run in a game against Scranton. WEEKEND RECAPS Baseball Wilkes University had 20 hits and scored more than one run in five of the nine innings on its way to a 23-9 non-conference baseball win over Susquehanna University on Thursday afternoon. The win improved the Colonels to 15-10. The Crusaders saw their record fall to 7-19-1 overall. Softball Wilkes University and FDU-Florham split a Freedom Conference softball doubleheader at the Ralston Complex on Saturday afternoon. The Lady Colonels posted a 2-1 win in eight innings in the opener, before the Devils bounced back for a 4-3 win in the nightcap. The split moves Wilkes to 17-9 overall and 7-3 in Freedom Conference play. FDU-Florham sees its records change to 17-13 overall and 9-3 in the conference. Lacrosse The Beacon/Todd Weibel A Wilkes University football coach goes over drills during the annual spring practices. 17 Number of wins for the Lady Colonels softball team after they split the double header against FDU-Florham. Lindsey Lustrino scored a school-record nine goals and also dished out an assist to lead Moravian College to a 19-5 Middle Atlantic Conference women’s lacrosse win over Wilkes University on Saturday afternoon. The win improves the Greyhounds to 2-10 overall and 1-7 in the conference. Wilkes slips to 0-12 overall and 0-8 in conference play. NUMBERS OF THE WEEK 2 Number of goals by Wilkes freshman Ashley Leggio in the women’s lacrosse match against Moravian. 946 The number of career strikeouts for softball pitcher Laurie Agresti. She had 15 in the first game against FDU and is only the 5th player in D-3 history to reach this milestone. 7 Number of wins that the men’s tennis had this season before losing to Drew University in the playoffs. �Sports APRIL 24, 2007 20 Preview of the week: Baseball triple header vs. Scranton BY CARLTON HOLMES Beacon Asst. Sports Editor As the 2007 baseball season draws to close, teams around the Freedom Conference are fighting to muster up much needed wins in hopes of dancing into the postseason. All the long hours of intense practice devoted to winning come into play at this stage in the season. The Colonels are no exception and will look to sweep their three game series against Scranton University en route to the third playoff berth for Wilkes in four seasons. “Scranton is a good team, and playing them is always a battle. They are a local, cross-town rival, and because of the rivalry, throw the record books out the window. And we have to play good if we want to be in the playoffs,” stated head coach Joe Folek. Following a 23-9 whopping on the Susquehanna Crusaders, the Colonels will look to carry that momentum into their contests against Scranton. The last time both teams met in a three game series Wilkes posted two victories, including an 11-1 blowout in the Royals own backyard. This season, the Colonels own the fourth and final playoff spot, while the Royals trail behind as the fifth seed. Therefore, expect an intense battle between both ball clubs. Leading the offensive attack for the Colonel’s is junior outfielder Kyle Follweiler with a team-high 4 homeruns and an impressive 24 RBI’s. Junior Corey Helfrich has also had an impact for the Colonels offensive game with a stellar .416 batting average and 32 hits on the season. Both players will look to step up to the plate and guide the Colonels to three much needed conference wins against the Royals. Although the Royals have all the symptoms of a struggling team with an overall record of 9-18, and 3-5 in the Freedom Conference, the team is in playoff contention and poses a mild threat to the Colonels’ playoff hopes. In the Royals’ last conference matchup, they spanked second seeded King’s College at home 18-6, while combining for 15 hits. If the Colonels’ bullpen contains the Royals’ hitting ability, they may be able to walk out the series with three more wins under their belt. “We are going to Scranton with the mentality that we have to take three. Two out of three is not going to cut it when it’s this close to the playoffs. I think with our pitching, the way our bats have been hitting, and with our defense, Scranton does not stand a chance against us,” said senior catcher Matt LePresto, one of three hungry players looking for a postseason championship before graduating after this season. The Colonels are currently 6-8 in the Freedom Conference and See BASEBALL page 19 The Beacon/Todd Weibel Wilkes senior Justin Popovich connects in a recent baseball game. The Colonels go into the game against Scranton with a 15-10 record. Campus Calendar. All Week *Faculty Exhibition, Sordoni Art Gallery Tuesday 4/24 *Men’s golf vs. Misericordia - 1:00 PM *Men’s tennis @ Philadelphia Bible - 4:00 PM *Men’s baseball vs. King’s - 4:00 PM *Women’s lacrosse @ Elizabeth - 4:00 PM Wednesday 4/25 *Men’s golf vs. Scranton - 1:00 PM *Women’s softball vs. Delaware Valley - 3:00 PM Thursday 4/26 *2007 Extracurricular/Leadership Award Exhibition Lucheon, HSC Ballroom - 11:00 AM *Women’s softball @ Lebanon Valley - 3:30 PM *Women’s lacrosse @ St. Thomas Aquinas - 4:00 PM *WB/Scranton Yankees Luxury Box, PNC Field - 7:00 PM Friday 4/27 *Men’s tennis vs. Moravian - 3:00 PM *Men’s baseball @ Scranton - 3:30 PM *Alumni night at Allenberry Theatre, Allenberry Theatre - 6:00 PM *Concert-Chorus/Chamber Singer, St. Stephen’s Church - 7:30 PM Saturday 4/28 *Men’s golf @ Freedom Conference Championships - 9:00 AM *Men’s tennis @ MAC Individual Championships - 9:00 AM *ASMS Car Show, HSC parking lot - 11:00 AM *Men’s baseball vs. Scranton - 1:00 AM *Women’s lacrosse vs. Lycoming - 1:00 PM *Women’s softball @ Drew - 1:00 PM *Dance Concert, DDD 8:00 PM Sunday 4/29 *Men’s tennis @ MAC Individual Champions - 9:00 AM Men’s golf @ Freedom Conference Championships - 9:00 AM *Stock Car Racing Experience, HSC - 12:00 PM *Women’s softball vs. Marywood - 1:00 PM *Men’s baseball @ Misericordia - 2:00 PM *Wyoming Valley Mall/Wal Mart Shopping Shuttle Trip - 2:00 PM *26 Rosenn Lecture, DDD - 7:00 PM *Civic Band Concert, DDD - 3:00 PM Monday 4/30 *No events scheduled. Find this Picture on Campus and... WIN CASH This photo was taken somewhere on Wilkes University’s campus. When you find it, email us the answer at: wilkesbeacon@gmail. com. Be sure to put “Campus Picture” as the subject heading, as well as your name, phone number, and either campus mailbox or mailing address in the body text. A random winner will be picked from the correct responses and will receive a $10 cash prize courtesy of the Programming W ILKES UNIVERSITY PROGRAMMING BOARD Board. - Congratulations to Adam Butler who correctly identified last week’s picture, which was of a switch panel in Stark. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon Newspaper Collection, 1947-present Description An account of the resource <p>This is Wilkes University's <em>Beacon</em> Newspaper collection, 1947-present. We also have digitized copies of the <em>Beacon's</em> predecessors, <em>The Bucknell Bison Stampede</em>, 1934-1935 and <em>The Bucknell Beacon</em>, 1936-1947 June. It should be noted that Wilkes University does not have a complete set of issues for the Bucknell Bison Stampede and Bucknell Beacon. For researchers who are interested in seeing the complete issues for these publications, please contact <a href="https://researchbysubject.bucknell.edu/scua">Bucknell University's Special Collections Department</a>.</p> <p></p> <p>Missing Issues:</p> <p>1947 August 8th<br />1947 September 5th<br />1947 October 3rd<br />1947 October 17th<br />1947 October 31st<br />1947 November 21st<br />1947 December 19th<br />1948 September 9th<br />1950 April 28th<br />1953 April 10th<br />1962 February 2nd</p> Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Beacon staff is comprised of Wilkes University students who are advised by a full-time faculty member of the Communication Studies Department. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1934-present Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright of the Wilkes Beacons is retained by Wilkes University. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Professor Emeritus Harold Cox digitized the collection from 1934-1970 and created a <a href="https://beaconarchives2.wilkes.edu/">legacy website</a>. Digital Archives student John Jenkins digitized the collection from 1970-present. Special thanks goes to Communication Studies Professor Dr. Kalen Churcher, Editor-in-Chief Kirsten Peters, Beacon staff member, Emily Cherkauskas, and other Beacon staff for their help in acquiring digitized copies of the Beacons from 2006 onward. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon 2007 April 24th Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2007 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/9297a1195a55b9ba23b3dda18ae5a39e.pdf ff075012c79ab36e42d8510530947770 PDF Text Text Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA The THE NEWS OF TODAY REPORTED BY THE JOURNALISTS OF TOMORROW www.wilkesbeacon.com APRIL 3, 2007 Proposed HSC renovations put on back burner Volume 59 Issue 19 Rifkin expansion, more seating still possibilities this year BY ANDREW SEAMAN Beacon Asst. News Editor A move for the post office and mailroom, a change for the game room, a whole new idea for Rifkin Café and a new information desk are among the renovation plans for the Henry Student Center (HSC)… eventually. At the February 21, 2007, Student Government (SG) meeting, David Sborz, sophomore class president, offered an enthusiastic presentation about proposed renovations to the HSC. During the meeting he acknowledged that if all goes as planned the renovations would take place over the 2007 summer and be ready for the fall 2007-2008 school year. However, plans for such speed may have been an overstatement, because at the March 14, 2007 SG meeting, it was announced that there is only $100,000 that will be allocated in this year’s budget for changes to the HSC. According to the conceptual cost document for this project, for all of the components to be implemented would set the school back over $1.8 million. Sborz noted that it was an “absolute disappointment” that this project will be put off to the side. However, Scott Byers, Vice President for Finance and Support Operations said, “We never began the process with any funding in place. What we were doing was developing a design for renovation of the SUB [HSC]...Based on initial feedback, we don’t have any consensus as to what is needed or desired by the students.” Sborz said that he knew going into the process that the money was not guaranteed, “We were never guaranteed anything, [but] I just wish they were more honest and open with us on how exactly it would come down. They told us at our last meeting that we wouldn’t get everything done, but to be only granted $100,000 to do a project as big as ours, it is just really disappointing.” Sborz also stressed that this is a building that everyone uses, “Our project offers a lot to all the students. It’s the most widely used building on campus. When students come See SUB page 5 The Beacon/Cara Koster Students have been eating and meeting in Rifkin cafe in the Henry Student Center next to the game room for several years. Because of budget prioritization, the proposed HSC expansion is on hold. Residents accuse Public Safety officers of posing as pizza deliverymen BY NICK PODOLAK Beacon News Editor Director of Public Safety Chris Bailey confirmed Thursday afternoon that several officers have been reprimanded for posing as Domino’s Pizza deliverymen to gain access into residential student suites in response to a noise complaint. “We have received complaints on the matter and have addressed the issue. But since it deals with personnel we will not go into any further detail,” Bailey said. The incident allegedly occurred during Let’s Talk Hillary Style the week prior to spring break on the 11th floor of University Towers. English major Dan DiMaria claimed he received a knock on his door shortly after 11:00 p.m. from a person claiming to be “Domino’s.” When he opened the door, a Public Safety official stood outside. He was not within the scope of the door’s eye piece. “The problem is, we actually did order Domino’s,” DiMaria said. “I wouldn’t have opened the door if we hadn’t ordered Dominoes.” While the Public Safety officers did not Lessen One ‘Yup for some Sexual Jeopardy? Page 10 Page 8 enter the residence, they questioned students about excessive noise complaints. The situation has the tenants feeling as if they were manipulated. “When that happened, I got kind of angry because I felt like we were lied to,” said junior communication studies major Matthew Gobbler. “It was dirty. They also refused to give us their names--once again, unprofessional. If they are doing their jobs, why would they beat around the bush?” he said. While Bailey admits the officers’ actions were unprofessional in nature, he does not P a g e 15 think they necessarily broke any rules per se, since the students in question are residents. “They would have had to have let the officers in, regardless. If they are residential students, they must cooperate and show their Wilkes ID’s,” Bailey said. Furthermore, Bailey stressed that it is not in Public Safety’s nature to go around conducting random searches to cause trouble for students. “We’re here to enforce the rules and regulations of the University,” he said. Index News................................1-5 Opinion.............................6-8 Features.........................9-11 Arts & Entertainment....12-15 Sports...........................16-20 �NEWS APRIL 3, 2007 2 Kirby lecture Residence life SG SUB 2 3 4 5 Former Harley Davidson exec delivers Kirby lecture BY ALISON WOODY Beacon Asst. News Editor For For this this semester’s semester's annual annual Kirby Kirby lecture, Allan P. lecture, organizers organizers of of the the Allan P. Kirby Free Enterprise Kirby Center Center for for Free Enterprise and and Entrepreneurship Entrepreneurship decided decided to to take aa ride the “wild” take ride on on the "wild" side. side. Rather traditional Rather than than invite invite aa traditional business owner or or well-known business owner well-known politician, Wilkes Wilkes University University ofpolitician, officials decided to extend ficials decided to extend the the covcoveted eted invitation invitation to to Ken Ken Schmidt, Schmidt, aa former former Harley Harley Davidson Davidson executive executive and and communications communications expert. expert. It It was was clear clear from from the the moment moment Schmidt that his Schmidt stepped stepped on on stage stage that his speech speech would would be be extremely extremely differdifferent past. ent from from those those past. Opting Opting not not to to wear wear the the expected expected suit suit and and tie, tie, Schmidt Schmidt wore wore black black jeans, jeans, sneakers sneakers and and aa Harley Harley DaDavidson shirt. vidson shirt. And his And his backdrop? backdrop? A A shiny, shiny, brand new 2007 brand new 2007 Harley Harley Davidson Davidson motorcycle. motorcycle. Dr. Allen P. Dr. Jeffrey Jeffrey Alves, Alves, Allen P. Kirby Kirby Professor Professor of of Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship, inintroduced Schmidt meantroduced Schmidt and and the the meaning bike. ing behind behind the the bike. “The story represented by that bike... represents what can happen when average people do extraordinary things,” he said. Matt Brown, junior entrepreneurship major, said, “Harley Davidson was on the brink of bankruptcy. The company and [Schmidt] realized that a bold, innovative strategy would be required to rescue it. As director of communications, [Schmidt] was responsible for reviving and repositioning the Harley image.” Schmidt opened his speech noting, “I’m here to talk about stuff that doesn’t get talked about in business--the stuff that should be talked about--basic human behavior. What makes us tick? What attracts and repels us? What turns us on or off?” Schmidt claimed that while quality and customer service are important in business, they are not what set Harley Davidson apart from other companies. “These things come under the umbrella of what I call the expected language of business... Every single company that you’re competing with is saying the exact same to realize realize we same thing. thing. We We need need to we are big way are hurting hurting ourselves ourselves in in aa big way when we use the when we use the same same language language as as everyone else else in in our our industry,” industry," he everyone he said. said. Schmidt added, added, “We’re "We're not not aa Schmidt rational and logical logical species. species. VirVirrational and tually tually every every other other decision decision you you make starts the heart]. heart]. Things make starts [in [in the Things like dence, believability like confi confidence, believability and and trust aren’t aren't rational... we trust rational... Rather, Rather, we are are an an emotional emotional species. species. If If we we can just aa can get get somebody somebody to to like like us us just little bit more than than they they like like somesomelittle bit more body else, we we could could become more body else, become more competitive." competitive.” Schmidt explained explained that that the sucSchmidt the success not due cess of of Harley Harley Davidson Davidson is is not due to “huge "huge ad ad campaigns campaigns and and blimps blimps to flying over major major cities,” cities," but but rathrathfl ying over er “it’s "it's people going to to work work on on er people going Monday and and telling their co-workco-workMonday telling their ers to go ers that that need need to go out out and and spend spend too much much money money to to get get aa bike.” bike." too In the early 1980s 1980s Harley Harley DaIn the early Davidson had aa poor image. “It’s "It's exexvidson had poor image. tremely cult to to create tremely diffi difficult create demand demand for a product that an overwhelming majority of people deem disgusting,” Schmidt acknowledged. Even after strong professional reviews, sales reviews, sales were were still still down. down. Schmidt Schmidt suggested suggested that that Harley Harley Davidson Davidson allow allow riders riders the the chance chance to to experience experience driving driving the the motormotorcycle before purchase. purchase. cycle before As the the test As the crowds crowds at at the test driving driving centers becenters grew, grew, Harley Harley Davidson Davidson began the drivers what they gan asking asking the drivers what they would add would add or or tweak tweak about about each each motorcycle. motorcycle. “Ask "Ask the the customer customer what what he he wants and wants and then then give give it it to to him,” him," said said Schmidt. Schmidt. He nature He added added that that the the internal internal nature of of aa company company is is also also an an important important aspect aspect of of business. business. Schmidt Schmidt said, said, “The "The way way aa busibusiness is perceived is reflecness is perceived is aa direct direct reflection tion of of your your internal internal culture. culture. CulCulture ultimately dictates ture ultimately dictates the the success success of business.” of aa business." Lastly Lastly Schmidt Schmidt added, added, “Harley "Harley Davidson llDavidson is is in in the the dream dream fulfi fulfillment ment industry... industry... We We are are clearly clearly and and distinctly distinctly different different The Beacon corrections In The Beacon’s March 19 article “Wilkes bids farewell to university icons,” Tom Bigler’s friend David Nielsen was misidentified in the story as David Baltimore. Baltimore, also a close friend of Bigler’s, was a colleague throughout much of Bigler’s career in television in the Wyoming Valley. Nielsen served with Bigler during World War II and was the man involved in the story of the plane crash. Last week, The Beacon reported that actress Marlee Matlin has been named as the May graduation speaker in the article “University names 2007 graduation speaker.” The article inadvertantly misidentified the source of Matlin’s deafness as a childhood ailment. Also, Provost finalist Dr. Reynold Verret’s first name was misspelled in the headline and cutline of the lead story in last week’s Beacon. The Beacon strives for accuracy and good sourcing in all of its stories and regrets the errors in the past two issues. Editors are grateful for readers who take the time to point out inaccuracies. Curran Dobson, editor-in-chief Andrea Frantz, faculty advisor Courtesy Marketing Comm. Ken Schmidt, former executive of Harley Davidson and a communications expert, delivered the annual Kirby lecture on March 29. BEACON Serving the community through fair and accurate reporting while supporting the views and opinions of our readers. Editorial Staff Editor-in-Chief: Curran Dobson Email: wilkesbeacon@gmail.com News Editor: Nick Podolak Email: news.beacon@gmail.com Op/Ed Editor: Kristyn Ostman Email: thebeacon.oped@gmail.com Features Editor: Nora Jurasits Email: thebeaconfeatures@gmail.com A&E Editor: Stephanie Debalko Email: thebeaconae@gmail.com Sports Editor: Ariel Cohen Email: beaconsports@gmail.com Photo Editor: Nick Zmijewski Advertising Managers: Stephanie Yachim Dana Zlotucha Email: thebeacon.ads@gmail.com Advisor: Dr. Andrea Breemer Frantz Established in 1936 PA Newspaper Association Member Printed on Tuesdays during the academic school year. 130 S. River St. First Floor, Conyngham Hall, Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 (570) 408-5903 wilkesbeacon@gmail.com www.wilkesbeacon.com �APRIL 3, 2007 NEWS 3 Interview process names new Director of Residence Life Brenda Stanley, of Salisbury University, to fill vacancy BY ANDREW SEAMAN Beacon Asst. News Editor Brenda Stanley, of Salisbury University in Maryland, has recently been named new Director of Residence Life at Wilkes. She is currently an area director at the public university and will make her move to Wilkes mid-April. Mark Allen, Dean of Student Affairs, described Stanley as, “very outgoing, energetic, and . . . [she] brings a nice amount of experience with her.” According to the university’s website, Stanley’s responsibilities as an Area Director at Salisbury are to “manage residence hall community, supervise four to eight undergraduate resident assistants, adjudicate disciplinary hearings, assume on-call responsibilities for on-campus students, collaborate with office of student activities, organizations and leadership for programs and services.” “I am very pleased about the opportunity to work with the student population at Wilkes,” Stanley said. She described her feelings about Wilkes when she visited campus for the first time during the February snowstorm. “The moment I stepped on campus it kind of invited me in, despite it being 20 degrees and snow everywhere. It was very open and inviting. I fell in love with the institution the moment I stepped on campus.” Stanley also explained why she wanted to go after the position of Director. “I was ready for the next progression. I love what resident life offers, that you have your hand in everything student affairs without actu- ally having to be the director of counseling [or] the director of resident health, but you get a chance to be involved in each of those aspects of student affairs. For me resident life is that complete package.” Stanley anticipates that the greatest challenge she may face initially will be the 10 East South residence. “I do know that I do have an obstacle ahead of me with the new- tution, for her undergraduate education. She then made the transition to Salisbury for her masters in education, and stayed on for a job opportunity which eventually led to her current area director position. Being an area director was never in her plans growing up though. “I wanted to be a teacher and that didn’t pan out. And once I started working at Salisbury, I recognized The moment I stepped on campus it kind of invited me in, despite it being 20 degrees and snow everywhere. It was very open and inviting. I fell in love with the institution the moment I stepped on campus. Brenda Stanley, Director of Residence Life est purchase, where you still have senior citizens living with on campus residents... and I was made aware of that during my interview. So I understand that that might be one of the bigger challenges that I would have to tackle early on in trying to figure out how to manage that facility.” Allen also mentioned it will be a challenge for Stanley when she makes the switch from a “public to private setting.” However this is not the first time S t a n l e y has made such a move. Stanley attended Washington College, a smaller private insti- that I loved the connections I had and the involvement I had with students, and I wasn’t getting that on a daily basis working in IT. So, I made the switch after I finished my masters into the student affairs division.” Allen noted that there is a distinct advantage to “bringing someone in from the outside” as Wilkes is doing with Stanley primarily because a fresh perspective has the potential to energize, particularly given the changes in residence life at Wilkes this year. Stanley noted that she loves the idea of Spring Fling ‘07 concentrating freshmen students in one area of campus. “I mentioned that in my interview, that if you make the connection with freshman early on, they’re more likely to stay to continue their matriculation at the university.” Stanley also added, “Ideally, I would like to consolidate first year students truly around the center of the campus so that they are closer to the student center, their classroom spaces, so that they become the focal point of the center of campus and then your upper classmen would literally surround the rest of the campus.” When asked if she had any ideas about how things that can be done differently, Stanley said she knows she has a strong team in place and that as far as additions, she would like to add an extensive Resident Assistant (RA) training course. “With the cooperation of the staff, hopefully, [I would like to] to offer some sort of pre-class for the newly hired RAs, just to make sure they are truly comfortable with the process of being an RA and understanding the duties that come along with it, that it is more than just managing a building.” Allen agreed and added that because of the unique housing situations on campus, “Wilkes places a little more responsibility on our RAs.” Stanley noted that she would be taking her new position at Wilkes soon, because she wants to be part of the process of assigning housing. Sexual Abuse Stats: Did You Know... 90% of all campus rapes occur when alcohol has been used by either the assailant or the victim. -Sponsored by Health Services The Beacon/Andrew Seaman LiJ http://www.factsontap.org/ �NEWS APRIL 3, 2007 4 General Board Election Results S IOR SEN President- Matt Brown Vice-President- Blaine Madara Secretary- Meghan Badach Treasurer- Anthony Scerbo Representatives- Alison Woody, Courtney Mullen, Danielle Namiotka, Kristina Erat, Mark Leicht, and Mike Canzanella S IOR N U J President- TIE: Dave Sborz & John Edler SPECIAL ELECTION to be held April 2-4 Vice-President- Jef Bauman Secretary- Kathy Dalton Treasurer- Tanya Fieretag RepresentativesEllie Galiastatos, Andrew Julian, Farrah Munir, John Luff, John Botch, and Carl Santana S OPH RE O M O S President- Jill Kalariya Vice-President- Greg Castelli Secretary- Nick Koch Treasurer- Justin Balint Representatives- Jason Woloski, Charles Siarkowski, Ashley Palkovic, Jacob Reichart, Maria Rinaldo, and Katie White SG Notes 3/28/2007 At the March 28, 2007, Student Government (SG) meeting: New Business SG first passed around a sign-up sheet for Adventures in Science, which is an annual event for fifth graders from area schools. Spring Fling Update: There are 234 people attending the dance, the tent ($810.00) will also have one heater in case of cooler weather. The setup and movement of items for the dance was also discussed. The schedule for people to watch the door was also read. Election Update: The junior class presidential race was too close to call and there will be a tie breaking election on Monday to declare a winner. Some notable write-in votes were: Bob Dylan, Jesus, and Dr. Mencer. Colonel Charity Challenge: Due to a lack of teams, SG has decided to sponsor three teams with a donation of $300.00 (which includes the team sponsorship). This passed with a vote of 38 in favor, 1 opposed and none abstained. The SGA Summit Update: SG will hold a Student Government Association for area universities. Each class will prepare a presentation and this will be held on April 14. Block Party Update: Off Campus Council (OCC) will hold its annual block party on April 21. The event will feature the winner of Wilkes Idol, inflatable games, bands, a buffet, gyros, frozen treats, soda and a magician. The total cost of the block party will reach approximately $20,000.00. The individual classes will also hold games as fundraisers at OCC’s block party. Nominations for Faculty Choice Awards: SG members offered faculty nominations. Faculty members are only allowed to win once. Old Business Beacon Archives The 7th annual Tom Bigler Journalism Conference was held on Friday, March 30. The conference was attended by over 200 students from 16 regional high schools. The keynote speaker, Gene Policinski, is the executive director and vice president of the First Amendment Center in Nashville, TN. Policinski is pictured above attending a press conference at which select high school journalists were able to ask questions about first amendment freedoms. Throughout the day, high school students attended several workshops in print journalism, public relations, television and radio that were run by Wilkes University communication studies students. In addition, 16 media profressionals in the fields of photojournalism, magazine publishing, newspaper, television, radio and public relations offered academic sessions. The day ended with an awards ceremony that recognized outstanding high school students for their participation in student media. Casino Night: It is estimated that 261 students attended casino night, which is the highest turnout ever. There was an incident of “ethics” where tickets for prizes were being passed out to friends. This issue has been resolved according to Jonathan McClave, SG Treasurer. lantic Conference (but will continue as a sport at the university), Wilkes is required to pick up another sport. Therefore, next year, Wilkes University will initiate a cross country team. Spring Fling and Decorating: All went well and faster then expected. One Stop: Officials are looking into holding another forum to voice concerns about University Center on Main. Food Focus Group: A food focus group was held with Sodexho. Events Wilkes Idol: 11 - 12 participants, April 3, 10 Senior Social: FUSE Friday, March 30 @ 8pm Spring Fling: March 31 Waterfront @ 6pm SG Football: SG will hold a football game for its members after their meeting on April 4. Committee Reports Budget: University will seek to increase tuition by 4.5%. Dean of Students Mark Allen noted that this is above inflation but is less than other area universities. Also, since Wilkes wrestling has left the Mid At- Vans: It is suggested that SG might replace their old vans with new more accommodating models. Provost: The committee will work to get Dr. Reynold Verret to choose Wilkes University. Club Reports Programming Board: Psychic Mad Man Jim Karol was at Wilkes last week to a filled audience �NEWS APRIL 3, 2007 SUB from FRONT PAGE to this university even for admission...this is one building that they come through to get to the admissions office and this is one building that they tour in. It is the student center and I think there are a lot of things we can give back to the students--not just on campus students but also commuter students.” Currently there are two possible plans for the HSC. Both of the plans look alike with minor changes having to do with a convenience store and the mailroom. Also, tentative plans include renovations of the second floor of the HSC meeting rooms and formal ballroom. The reasons Byers offered as to why the project was allocated just $100,000 this year included a lack of time and information, and also current investment in other projects. “It is necessary for us to submit for funding now and as such I felt we could only recommend proceeding with renovating the bookstore based on the lack of consensus about how to move forward with consideration of other projects that are further along in the development process.” The money that will be allocated to the project this year will be earmarked for “hopefully tak[ing] some walls out and buying some new furniture and get that new stage into the con- cept this year. I am optimistic that we will get something done. What that is going to be, I am hopeful, [will] be the stage, some more lounge furniture for students to hang and study in the student center and a little more extension of Rifkin.” said Sborz. Byers concurred there is a possibility that the project can proceed next year, “We can submit for additional funding as part of next years budget process,” he said. “This year there were five proposals for capital projects and this happens every year,” Sborz explained. “You’re not guaranteed all your money. So five proposals were put in, and we were told we were second in line, and I am really optimistic in the future they will allot more and more money to our project to get more and more done. I am optimistic we will put a little into the bookstore area this year, and next year we are optimistic we will get the first floor done and then the following year we will get the second floor done. But there will be some renovations to the HSC this year.” Sborz added, “We are going to move forward. I am still positive about that, and we are going to put some things in our proposal this year to get that project started. I am really optimistic that in the future we can possibly get this project finished.” Undergraduate Symposium Schedule 5 I I c::::r- D -·· --+-----,t------"- ----fFl_ _ _1_.IJ__~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ - =~ .- . :. ..r - ~_.,.i;D-,,-J.._:;!..n:~-fi!i.~· I a gg - gg igs g ~............... ~ (.; I - ~- ~ -~- - Courtesy of John Pesta The proposed renovations to the Henry Student Center include moving the information desk to the center, the mailroom being moved to the first floor, a new convenience store, the movement of Rifkin Cafe to the book store area, the movement of the Student Government office, the creation of offices and the expansion of the game room. ©2007 Gould Evans Associates Figure One -w LJ OFFICE April 13, 2007 Event Poster Session and Breakfast Poetry Reading I Stitch-a-Thon Paper Session I Banned Book Readings Performances/Mid-Day Grant Applications Poetry Reading II Paper Session II Paper Session III Paper Session IV Paper Session V and Panel Discussions Current State of the University and Diversity Location Time Old Bookstore Ballroom SUB Foyer Ballroom Sub Foyer Gies Hall Sub Foyer Ballroom Ballroom Ballroom Ballroom 8:00 - 9:45 10:00- 11:00 10:00 - 10:30 11:00 - 12:00 11:30 - 12:00 12:00 - 1:00 12:15 - 1:15 1:00 - 1:45 1:45 - 2:30 2:30 - 3:15 3:15 - 4:30 Ballroom 4:30 - 4:45 Courtesy of John Pesta 4:45 - 5:45 The main difference between the two possible plans are the post office and convenience market in the Henry Student Center. The first (figure one) plan has the mail room accessible from the outside and through Rifkin (which is in the place of the old book store). Then, the convenience market is accessible from Rifkin. The service lane is also accessible from inside the convenience market. The second (figure two) has the convenience store accessible from the outside with the service lane inside, while the mail room is accessible through Rifkin. Ballroom Figure Two �Opinion APRIL 3, 2007 Fear distracts people from taking action BY THE BEACON EDITORIAL BOARD What’s your biggest fear? Of course there are the every day fears: public speaking, heights, the dark, etc. However, people are often unaware they should fear certain things until the media helpfully brings such awareness to light. Think about it. For starters, let’s look at shark attacks. Yes, the movie Jaws made the fear of shark attacks an issue. But, it was not the movie that created terror among beach goers. After all, it was a mechanical shark--most movie goers know how to separate fact from fiction. In reality what truly created the fear was the media’s coverage of Bethany Hamilton. On October 31, 2003, she survived a shark attack, along Tunnels Beach, Kauai in which she lost her left arm. As this 13 year-old surfer girl was receiving national attention, it was steering people away from the ocean in fear that they, too, would be attacked by a shark. How about pandemics? Ah, the Avian Flu. Media outlets used scare tactics to make the bird flu a worrisome issue around the world. Even media queen Oprah had experts on her show claiming the bird flu could be the end of the world. Experts reported that everyone should don protective masks because the infectious dis- Courtesy of www.wrightsafety.com ease could travel around the globe in a matter of days, infecting every city on the planet. Well, when “experts” are predicting the end of the world, shouldn’t we be preparing ourselves for the worst? Speaking of the end of the world, how many different possibilities of the demise of Earth are out there? There is the possibility of an asteroid plummeting towards Earth, crashing into an ocean, creating a monstrous tidal wave and completely wiping out an entire population. Hopefully, Bruce Willis would be sent on the mission to direct his spacecraft towards the oncoming asteroid to stop it from destroying Earth. Again, this was a movie, but what if? The question is not if, but when. A Sight for Sore Eyes "J As recent as February 2007, scientists and ABC News reported that a large asteroid, Apophis, will pass within 10,000 miles of Earth around 2029 and even closer in 2036. They even went as far as to predict the exact date of this worldwide tragedy, April 13, 2036. The possibility of another terrorist attack inspires discussion of the Earth’s end and hinders the every day action of Americans. After 9/11, travelers were frightened to board an aircraft in fear that their plane would be hijacked. We worry about what we can’t see in our air and water, and count the seconds it takes to drive through the Lincoln Tunnel. The possibilities for the end of the world are endless. But we 6 Socialized Medicine 7 Making Progress? 7 Start a Conversation 8 cannot continue to live in fear by what scare tactics the media decides to throw our direction or what experts on that particular issue are reporting. What we can do is continue to live our lives and control those variables that interfere with the overall well-being of Earth. You may not be able to control an asteroid heading towards Earth, but you can control your use of manmade emissions. Go ahead; change five of your most used conventional bulbs to ones that have the ENERGY STAR label. The U.S. Environmental Agency shares that, “If every household in the U.S. took this one simple action, we would prevent more than 1 trillion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions.” That you can control. Instead of taking responsibility for those things we can control, we continue to live in fear of those scenarios that are out of our hands. We need to remember the three R’s: reduce, reuse, and recycle. We can vote for officials who will support initiatives that are in the best interest of our community and support the funding for research to prevent such circumstances that further the threats of terrorism, foreign oil dependency, and encourage greater research into things like communicable diseases. Take a stand and don’t live in fear. @@ ~fc:__ f lA \ \ -\-~ e. H-, l .l';J c,..r-,\ <H\{. ot'l\t. Uh~ Poll Results The following are results of a poll that The Beacon conducted online this past week. The poll was unscientific, and does not claim to reflect the overall attitudes of students on campus. Results are based on 68 responses. The Beacon asked: What is the most irritating word misuse? • • • • • • • • • There/Their/ They’re -31% Your’re/Your -28% Effect/Affect -14% Two/Too/To -6% Other -6% Than/Then -4% It’s/Its -4% Are-Our -4% Whether/Weather -3% Next Week’s Question: How do you think the world will end? • • • • • • • • • Aleksander Lapinski ~ V\OvJ) l.. \\ Beacon i • Plague Asteroid hits earth Wrath of God Nuclear holocaust Pollution Complications from global warming Cubs win World Series Robot take over Chemical/biological weapons Other Visit www.wilkesbeacon.com to cast your vote. Results will be published in next week’s issue of The Beacon. �APRIL 3, 2007 OPINION The Angry Rant: 30 Second Movie Reviews BY TIM SIEGFRIED Beacon Asst. Sports Editor If you’re like me, then you hate nothing more than sitting down in front of a newspaper or computer screen and reading the words of some “professional movie critic” who gets paid per word to review a movie with “artistic integrity” or “stunning performances.” So I offer you all a solution, as I present to you the 30-second Movie Review. 300: Despite all the blood, gore, guts, and senseless violence, 300 is without a doubt the most blatantly homosexual movie since Top Gun, that doesn’t star Tom Cruise. Alpha Dog: Wait, you’re telling me there is a movie starring both Emile Hirsh and Justin Timberlake? I haven’t seen a gathering of this much star power since my trip to IHOP last week. Freedom Writers: This movie was better when it was called Dangerous Minds. Actually, it still sucked then, too. Smokin Aces: For just $7.50, you, too, can watch Ben Affleck and his fumanchu. The Painted Veil: This period piece starring Edward Norton and Naomi Watts is as long as it is boring. The veil is purple, by 7 A visual editorial... the way. The Good German: I can think of a better title: “The Bad Movie.” Black Snake Moan: Contrary to popular belief, this movie is non-fiction. Samuel L. Jackson always keeps chained up women at his house. Epic Movie: Kal Penn has made more turds than my two-year old nephew…and he poops a lot. Pride: Hoosiers in a pool. Blood Diamond: Leonardo DiCaprio is a pretty good actor when he isn’t frozen solid. Reign Over Me: Adam Sandler’s face meets Bob Dylan’s hair. Hannibal Rising: Okay, we get it, Hannibal Lector kills people. Norbit: Seriously, how does Eddie Murphy still get offered jobs? The Number 23: Should’ve been called “The Number 2.” Dead Silence: “From the writer and director of Saw,” or “From the guy who will be pumping your gas next week.” The Beacon/Cara Koster Graphic courtesy of www.aperfectworld.org Dorms Chesapeake and Delaware and the ever unfinished Temple of Wilkes. Potentially a reason for graduation being moved to the Wachovia Arena? Socialized medicine not a solution to health care woes BY CARA KOSTER Beacon Staff Writer Generally people believe that everyone should be allowed access to the same medical care, especially if that medical attention could save their life. However, beliefs and reality are generally different. I would love it if everyone in the world, or even in the United States, could have access to the medical care they needed for either no money or little money out of pocket. One idea aimed at just that has been implemented in a variety of countries around the world: socialized medicine. In countries such as Italy, Canada and the UK, government subsidies ensure that all people within those countries have equal access to health care. But there are major problems with allowing everyone in the US to have this level of health care. On a very basic level, America is a large country and its size will hinder the system of socialized health care. The amount of tax dollars required to sustain what would become yet another bloated bureaucracy would be astronomical. The government is having a hard enough time handling the issues of Social Security. Do we really think it can handle universal healthcare? Some have argued that the level of health care the lower class receives is insufficient and that socialized health care will allow fantasy land it would be the rich and big businesses, but in reality the middle class will face the most substantial tax increases to fund such an endeavor. Moreover, the wealthy will find ways around the system, as usual. They will either pay for more coverage, like many Canadians do, or they will travel to other countries to receive the I should not be penalized because you smoke, have AIDS, don’t wear your seatbelt, are promiscuous, or participate in any other activities that could adversely affect your health. the poor greater access to treatment-particularly experimental and/or excessively expensive ones. However, in reality the poor already qualify to receive reduced cost health care in our nation. It is the lower-middle class and the middle class who do not have access to the necessary health care facilities. If a job does not provide health care insurance, paying for it themselves is generally out of the question on their salary. And who do you think is going to be taxed to pay for such socialized health care? In best care for their specific ailments like many Europeans do. Universal healthcare destroys physician incentives to be competitive by providing the best care possible. If the Canadian system is any indication of what could be, the wait time for simple procedures will be months. Without monetary incentives to develop new treatments and to become the best they can be in their field the amount of new technologies will decrease and the level of care will stagnate. These issues also cross over the drug companies which are looking for ways to make more profit. Furthermore, I’m not comfortable with money coming out of my pay check to pay for your health issues. I should not be penalized because you smoke, don’t exercise, have AIDS, don’t wear your seatbelt, are promiscuous, or participate in any other activities that could adversely affect your health. Also, think of all the people who will be going to see doctors for issues that don’t really exist or is something that can be treated with some over the counter medicine. As much as I would like to live in a world where everyone would have access to excellent health care for little cost, it’s just not reality. At some point we all need to realize the world is not a fair place and sharing and equality don’t work because someone will always abuse your kindness. Socialized health care is a bad idea for America. The American population is already questioning our government’s ability to handle so many other issues. Why are we going to give them something else to screw up? Graphic courtesy of www.accesskm.com/ �APRIL 3, 2007 OPINION 8 Let’s pull a Hillary and start a community conversation Beacon website provides opportunity for feedback BY ANDREW SEAMAN Beacon Asst. News Editor Well, I promised that I would not write about the presidential election until April and here it is...April. But before I begin, I want to pull a Hillary and involve you in the conversation. Why? Well, think about where we are. Readers of The Beacon are either life-long residents of Pennsylvania, temporarily stationed here for school, or know someone who lives in the Keystone state. Pennsylvania is a state prone to identity crisis when it comes to presidential elections, and at the heart of the insanity is the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area. In order for the media to understand and report on the people’s views throughout this campaign season, we need a solid handle on who they are and what they’re looking for. So...to really get the pulse of those in the area, I want to hear what you want to say about the 2008 race, and I don’t care what your demographic is--Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Anarchist, male, female, gay, straight--I just want to hear your voice. If readers log onto wilkesbeacon.com, there is a section that allows you to post your comments on certain stories. Find this story and scroll to the bottom and post your comments. Or if you don’t have access to the Internet, send us your letters and I will post them for you. Why am I interested in gathering so many views? Because when 2008 rolls around, we want to provide the area with the kind of data pertaining to the presidential election that truly matters to people in the area. With it, there may well be a chance of even predicting a winner. But we are not going to decide how this study is conducted, you are. As we receive your information we will notice trends and, while sticking to the main objective, will focus our stories on what seems important to you. This study is part of a personal mission to involve our readers with The Beacon on a completely new level. My father and I often sit around and talk about which direction the country should go and we hardly ever agree on issues. So, I have always heard Pennsylvania was this huge swing state, and it hit me when I realized that if two people who live in the same house are in disagreement, people from all around the valley must experience the same thing. Personally I think about several different things when I try to predict who will be president: what is important in the race (one issue voters); what external factors can impact the race; opponents’ arguments and stances; and anything that people will think, because people are creatures of habit. As long as you can get into their heads, then you should be able to think of all the little things that will factor in. So I already told you who I think will be president, as the race stands now, a month or two ago and I stick by that. Clinton will be president at the close of the day, but who will win NEPA? Giuliani is a pretty strong force because of his relationship to NYC, but Clinton also has strong ties to the area. Now of course, this is all if things go the way I think they will and Clinton and Giuliani are the two nominees. Giuliani, because of his commanding role in 9/11 is not a stranger to this area, or any area for that matter. He has made many stops in the area last campaign season and I am sure that will continue. Overall I think Giuliani has a lot of strongholds in the area with people who commute to NYC everyday for work. And do not forget his wife, Judi. She is from Hazleton. Local folks will use that as the reason to vote for him, too. Then there is Clinton. Hillary Clinton is a very powerful figure because of Bill, her rise to stardom in the Senate, and especially in this area because her family is from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area. And of course like any Democrat, she will receive a little extra boost because the unpopular war is considered the Republicans’ war, no matter how it is portrayed. As angry as the voters are right now about the war, Republicans are likely to suffer. In a head to head competition, I predict at the end of the day Clinton will win NEPA. But of course, anything can happen between now and 2008. Log on to our site (www.wilkesbeacon. com) and post your comments or mail them to us. What issues are important to you? What are you worried about? What should the media concentrate on to help educate voters? What do you believe are the key issues facing the state of Pennsylvania? These are just starting places, but we hope to hear from you. Sexual health concerns are individual decisions State-mandated vaccines cross boundaries, infringe on rights BY CURRAN DOBSON Beacon Editor-in-Chief about how far educators and schools can go to control a student’s health and life. Previous vaccines, such as those for chicken pox and MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) were put into place to prevent students from contracting and then spread- that they could contract if they make the decision to engage in unprotected sex with Billy outside of school. And, the stipulation that all 12-year-old girls receive it in order to come to class on day one of sixth grade suggests that parents can no longer make The continued debate on teenage sexuality reached a new height of controversy recently with the FDA approved debut of a vaccine designed to protect women against a sexually transmitted disease that can lead to cervical cancer. Gardasil, which protects against HPV, A decision about whether or not to administer a vaccine to a girl the human papillomavirus, can 12 years old should be made by her parents... help prevent up to 70 percent of all cervical cancers. However, the administration of this vaccine has caused controversy and concern throughout the country as doc- ing those illnesses. Having parents protect decisions for their children’s sexual health, tors and educators have suggested that, be- their school-age children from contagious but that state administrators can. Now, I recognize that assuming that 12ginning in sixth grade, girls should receive diseases that could keep them out of school and could be spread easily throughout a year old girls are not engaging in unprothe vaccine. Some, like Texas governor school or household just made good sense. tected sex is naive, as much as the thought Rick Perry, have even gone so far as to inSchool and state administrators require these horrifi es me. And, while I also recognize sist that all sixth grade girls receive the vacvaccines to keep their students healthy and that this vaccine could do some good by cine prior to, and as a stipulation of, beginkeep their schools operating smoothly. preventing the possible onset of a STD or ning the school year. Eighteen other states However, Gardasil does not protect fecancer for all women if they choose to enhave bills drafted putting similar measures male students from a contagious disease gage in unprotected sex, what I really take into place. that they could contract simply by sitting issue with in this controversy is state ofSuch legislation suggests that 12-year old next to Billy in science class or sharing a fi cials’ belief that a girl’s sexual health is girls are perhaps engaging in premarital, undrink with Jen during lunch. It protects somehow under their jurisdiction. protected sex in enough numbers to warrant A decision about whether or not to ada blanket vaccine. It opens up a new debate them from a sexually transmitted disease minister a vaccine to a girl of 12 years old should be made by her parents and should take into consideration whether the parents have even had sexual health conversations with their daughter. Conservatives worry that administering these vaccines will make girls think it is okay to engage in sex, that the “magic pill” could protect from any sexually transmitted probof lem, including pregnancy. Many girls this age have not even kissed a boy yet, let alone thought about having sex, and subjecting them to a vaccine that has only been approved for less than a year is dangerous and presents an issue that may never need to be brought to light for certain girls. Most importantly, when a state decides to make decisions for a person’s health, they cross the line of privacy and a person’s right to choose what is right for himself or herself, or, in this case, parents’ rights to choose what is right for their daughter. The administration of Gardasil should be decided individually, in consultation with doctors and after a meaningful discussion between parents and daughter. No state should interfere with such an important decision. �FEATURES APRIL 3, 2007 Sexual Jeopardy Stitch-a-Thon 10 10 9 University College shapes lives, offers direction Part II: Supplemental Instruction and Tutoring Because it is considered the transitional stepping stone from youth to adulthood, the challenge for many college students is to balance time wisely between classes, homework, and extracurricular activities. But sometimes a combination of these can become overwhelming and frustrating. Enter University College. University College offers tutorial services and supplemental instruction to help students through any academic struggles they may encounter. Ryan Pepper first started using the tutoring services offered by University College during the first semester of his freshmen year. For the second half of that same year, he became a peer tutor. “Not only did I get help on understanding new material, I also was able to make a [few] new friends,” said Pepper. Salman Punekar, currently a senior, also began using University College’s tutoring services review for tests when he was a freshman in 2003. As the years progressed, he became a part of another program offered through University College: supplemental instruction. Supplemental instruction takes place during weekly review sessions for particularly challenging courses. It’s a nationally recognized program that is designed to use peer-assisted study sessions to improve student performance. Study sessions are normally led by a professional in the course or a recommended undergraduate who has successfully completed the course. At Wilkes, supplemental instruction is traditionally led by professionals and is normally held for courses in mathematics, chemistry, and biology. During the sessions, students compare notes, share study strategies, practice test questions, and discuss any readings that they may have been assigned with the peer leaders who often attend the classes with the students. “The best aspect of the supplemental instruction sessions was asking questions about material hardly covered in class. The instructor at [this service] knew the material very well,” said David Sebelin, a junior communication studies major. Sebelin used University College’s programs in his freshmen and sophomore years to study for students who want to sharpen their or clarify any misunderstandings with the for Dr. Carl Charnetski’s psychology tests. skills in the class [in which] they are en- material. He finished the class with a 4.0. rolled.” “It’s not too late to meet with a peer tutor “I think the reason why these services According to Punekar, “It is unwise to or an SI leader. It’s not May, yet,” Prado help so much is because it forces you to worry about [being seen as] cool when said. sit down and study... but it also makes you grades are on the line.” If you’re interested in scheduling a tutor vocalize your thoughts and reason them Sebelin agrees. “[University College] is session or looking into the Supplemental aloud. Additionally, since there are other just another program that’s there to help Instruction programs offered by University students there. They can provide an extra you. Would I criticize a hammer for being College, contact Blake Mackesy at blake. source of information and understanding a tool to help me? No! The supplemental mackesy@wilkes.edu or stop by Conynmaterial,” Sebelin added. instruction is just a tool that we can use to gham Hall. The supplemental instruction offered help us achieve a goal. Whether or not it’s To sign up for a peer tutor online, go to through University College has been cool doesn’t matter, only the end result.” http://tutortrac.wilkes.edu. If you have any named an Exemplary Educational Program Pepper, Punekar, and Sebelin all highly problems with scheduling an appointment, by the U.S. Department of Education. Par- recommend turning to University College feel free to contact Alberto Prado at alberticipating in this program typically results at any point that assistance is needed for a to.prado@wilkes.edu. in higher course grades and lower rates of particular course. withdrawals and failures in the assisted Prado has suggestions as well. If you feel classes. that you are struggling or need help, don’t In Part III, we’ll wrap Even though the tutorial sessions and be afraid to meet with your professors, he supplemental instruction have strong re- said. Ask them questions in class, go see things up with University sults for students, participation in these them during office hours, or e-mail them. College’s Career Services programs follows closely along the lines If students still feel like they are missing of the participation outlined in the first in- a piece of the puzzle, schedule times with program. stallment of this series about the Act 101 a peer tutor frequently to help fill in gaps program. Officials acknowledge that many students are not taking advantage of the services. Alberto Prado served as coordinator of the peer tutoring services and supplemental instruction for the past two years, and he has yet to come up with an answer. “I wish I had that magic wand,” he said. “Every semester [of] every year I go in and introduce what we do at University College providing academic Support with Peer Tutoring and SI and attendance is minimal.” There is a possibility this program carries the same stigma as Act 101, and students see asking for help as a sign of weakness, or are afraid they will be stereotyped for asking for assistance, and will be labeled as a student who struggles The peer tutoring program allows students to get help for courses they may be having trouble to pass his or her classes. Prado claims that this is with. Mike Simko, left, is a peer tutor who provides support in chemistry and math for students not the case. “We are here like Greg Wolanin, right. Courtesy Alberto Prado BY NICOLE FRAIL & JAMIE GWYNN Beacon Correspondents �FEATURES 10 APRIL 3, 2007 Sponsors turn sex ed into a game show with “Sexual Jeopardy” BY CANDICE HALLIDAY Beacon Staff Writer Students can take the advice of Salt ‘n’ Pepa and talk about sex when Health Services, SHAC, and the BACCHUS Club host “Sexual Jeopardy.” The sex-based game show will be held in the Henry Student Center Ballroom on Monday, April 16 from 9:00 to 10:15 p.m. Gail Holby, leader of BACCHUS described the event as “an hour of fun and education.” For all you bashful individuals out there, this isn’t something you have to do solo. In fact, the event is divided into two to four teams with three to four participants per team. It’s a great opportunity to grab some of your closest friends and see who is the most sexually knowledgeable. Students will first be asked a question followed by an answer exchange. Holby explained that it “is a game show format designed to educate students about sexual issues and concepts. Its purpose is to encourage them to continue to seek information and realize that no one is more important than themselves.” Doane Hall dorm students sick of Waller residents playing their music too loud can bring the tension to the game show. Students of the residence halls are especially encouraged to participate. “Sexual Jeopardy can be used as an educational tool for your Dorm or Resident Hall,” Holby said. Health Services staff want to encourage a challenge between all the dorms or residence halls. The game requires three to four students per dorm to sign up and sponsors encourage the rest of the hall residents to attend to cheer representatives on. Students in off-campus housing are also welcome to participate, and can do so by grabbing students in their building, the building next door, or any other building, and making a team. If the topic of sex isn’t enough motivation to get involved, prizes will be distributed to the winning team. A pizza party will be the prize for the dorm with the most points. For those who prefer sugar to salt, a five-gallon container of ice cream will go to the dorm with the most participants. Don’t worry; no extra trips to Wegman’s are necessary be- UNIQ!JE OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING SayUNIVERSITY What? COMMONS RIV ER SI D E Convenient, affordable and secure, we provide a special student living experience in the heart of Wilkes-Barre - more than just a place to rent, a place to live * Walking distance to Wilkes University, Kirby * Center, restaurants & shopping * Security & fire systems * 24-hour emergency assistance * Off-street parking * 1,2 & 3 bedroom apartments We s t River U ntYerslt)' Commons South R i v El t' S L. S. Franklin St. For leasing WIikes Unlverslty information, please call 570.829.4339 ......1----...--.....- - http://www.jrwilkes.com cause cones are included. Sexual Jeopardy isn’t new to Wilkes it also took place last year. Biology professor Debbie Chapman attended last year. “When I went, I found it to be very well done, very informative, but, at the same time, very funny,” she said. Jozepf Becley, sophomore pharmacy major, thinks the idea of Sexual Jeopardy is interesting, but is glad it is not an individual challenge. “I think it would be something fun to do with a group of people or close friends; it is definitely not something I would want to do by myself.” Stephen Rozanski, sophmore pharmacy major added, “I think it would be fun because it would be funny to hear some of the answers to the questions asked.” Put down the books and come for a night of sex (and) education. Those interested in getting into “Sexual Jeopardy” can contact Health Services at 570-4084730 and ask for Gail Holby. Students are encouraged to sign up soon because there are only a limited number of spaces available. Beacon Graphic/Nora Jurasits Stitch-a-thon aims to raise awareness, funds for Darfur BY MEGAN KRISANDA Beacon Asst. Features Editor Helping those suffering in Darfur and a little bit of creativity will literally run handin-hand on April 13. Wilkes students, faculty, and staff are invited to a stitch-a-thon that aims to raise awareness and financial support for the people suffering in Darfur. The event will occur between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. at the Mentoring Symposium in the foyer of the Henry Student Center. According to Assistant Professor of English and founder of the stitch-a-thon, Dr. Marcia Farrell, 100% of the proceeds from this event will be sent to three organizations: American Care for Sudan, the Valentino Achak Deng Foundation, and the Save Darfur Coalition. Farrell credits many people and events that led her to the idea of a stitch-a-thon. After taking two of her English classes to the Sordoni Art Gallery to view Ryan Spencer Reed’s photography of Darfur, a number of students approached her saying they wanted to do something to help. “The room grew quiet and the students spread out in front of different photographs, sitting on the floor, and writing and looking intently. It was the most mystical teaching experience I had ever had. Many of them expressed afterwards that they wanted to do something,” she said. Interestingly, within a couple of days, an episode of “Gilmore Girls” featured a knit-a-thon fund raiser. Farrell said that together they triggered the idea for the stitch-a-thon. She discussed the idea with president of the WISE-UP club, senior English major Shannon Curtin, in order for the stitch-a-thon to be sponsored by a club since the stitch-a-thon was not a club itself. WISE-UP agreed to sponsor and stitcha-thon morphed from an interesting idea See STITCH-A-THON, Page 11 �APRIL 3, 2007 STITCH-A-THON from PAGE 10 to an event on the calendar. “WISE-UP is honored and happy to help Dr. Farrell and all the other faculty and students involved in this endeavor,” said Curtin. According to Farrell, participants interested will pay a $2 participation fee that will add to the overall proceeds of the event. There will be two main stitching projects: knitting and crocheting. And even if you never picked up a knitting or crocheting needle, you will have the opportunity to learn how to knit and crochet by students Lauren Carey and Amanda Baronowski. According to the brochure, two weeks prior to the event there will be drop boxes throughout the campus for stitching donations, such as yarn or needles. In case there are not enough supplies available, those interested in participating should bring their own crochet hook or knitting needles and yarn. Final products will be displayed during the week of April 23 in the lobby of the Dorothy Dickson Darte Center. The products will then be raffled off on April 30 to coincide with the Global Days for Darfur organized by the Save Darfur Coalition. Rachel Tretiak, freshman history/psychology major, is serving as a contact person and will help with advertising for the event. Tretiak hopes that the stitch-a-thon helps students and faculty become more aware of the genocide FEATURES 11 taking place in Darfur. “The Ryan Spencer Reed exhibit got a fair amount of attention, but there are still many students who have never even heard of Darfur, and are completely unaware of what is taking place there. Being that the stitch-a-thon is such a unique type of fundraiser, I believe that it will do a great job of getting that attention, while at the same time being a fun experience for the participants,” she said. AS A COLLEGE GRAD , YOU MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR Anyone wishing to participate should contact Farrell. Upon signing up to participate, each individual will receive a packet including information on the crisis in Darfur and each organization that will benefit from the Stitch-a-Thon. Also included in the packet will be information about writing Congressional representatives, the White House, and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon asking that the situation in Darfur become a top priority. Courtesy www.essex.ac.uk 2007 FJ CRUISER 2007 RAV4 2007 CAMRY HYBRID 2007 YARIS ANY NEW TOYOTA OF YOUR CHOICE* WWW.WINAYARISONLINE.COM† *NOT ALL CUSTOMERS WILL QUALIFY. CUSTOMERS RECEIVE $400 FROM TOYOTA TOWARDS LEASING OR FINANCING THE PURCHASE OF NEW UNTITLED TOYOTA MODELS THROUGH PARTICIPATING TOYOTA DEALERS AND TOYOTA FINANCIAL SERVICES. SEE DEALER OR VISIT WWW.TOYOTAFINANCIAL.COM/FINANCE FOR DETAILS. COLLEGE GRADUATE PROGRAM IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR TERMINATION AT ANY TIME. †NO PURCHASE IS NECESSARY. MAKING A PURCHASE DOES NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. TO ENTER YOU MUST BE A LEGAL U.S. RESIDENT AT LEAST 18 YEARS OLD AND YOU MUST HAVE A VALID DRIVER’S LICENSE. VISIT YOUR PARTICIPATING TOYOTA DEALER OR WINAYARISONLINE.COM FOR COMPLETE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS AND SWEEPSTAKES RULES. �A&E APRIL 3, 2007 12 CD Review Crossword This week in history Local Band: Lessen One 13 14 14 15 New Sordoni art exhibit showcases faculty talents BY CHRISTA SGOBBA Beacon Correspondent ously, Schulte exhibited at Artists for Art in Scranton and Lizza Fine Arts Studio in Tunkhannock. Schulte chose his works based on a common theme. All of his works have a maternal theme, and some are based on classical images with an original twist. For example, in one of his sculptures, Schulte portrays the classic Madonna and child image as somewhat cause they inspire you to think,” Schulte said. “I’m not telling you what to think. I’m just presenting you with a problem.” It’s always encouraging for students to see their facSchulte believes that exhibits are important to artists ulty practice what they preach. because they open up the door to communication to the Students will have the opportunity to view their art world. “It would do me no good to have my artwork professors’ talents free of charge in the Faculty Exhibisitting in the closet,” he said. tion 2007. The exhibit will run from April 1 to May 20, Schulte, who teaches sculpture classes and will be open to the public seven days a and the introductory “Experiencing Art” week from 12:00-4:30 p.m. at the Sordoni course, encouraged his students to attend Art Gallery in the Stark Learning Center. the exhibit. He believes that students can Ten current and retired professors will benefit from seeing the works of their inhave their works featured. The artists instructors and also from seeking out certain clude Sharon Bower, Jean Adams, David professors whose works stand out to them Schulte, David Leonard, Bruce Lanning, for future instruction. John Sedor, Beverly Glennon, and Profes“Many times students don’t get to see sors Emeriti William Sterling, Herbert Sitheir teachers’ work,” he explained. “Valmon and Richard Fuller. idation is very important to the students. The exhibit will feature more than 50 They can see that the individuals responworks created in various types of media, sible for their education are skilled and are including ceramics, porcelain, clay, waGiovanni Tom expressing their thoughts in an Elaine intellectual tercolor, oil paint, photography and digital Ribisi Komarnicki Goldsmith manner.” work. According to Schulte, the Faculty Exhi“It was a challenge putting together the bition 2007 can be beneficial to all Wilworks of ten very different artists, but I kes students, not only students who have think we pulled it off,” said Ronald BerniThe Beacon/Cara Koster a minor in art or are taking those courses. er, director of the Sordoni Art Gallery. “We tried to make it as coherent as we could Visitors at the Sordoni Art Gallery take in the artwork Sunday at the opening of “Everyone should go to at least one art with all the vastly different works.” the current Faculty Exhibition. The exhibition will run until May 20 and features show in their lifetime,” Schulte said. “If Faculty Exhibition 2007 will be the first over 50 works from ten current and retired professors in a variety of media, includ- someone is uninterested or unacquainted with art, going to see particular types of faculty art show since 2004. When Wil- ing porcelain, clay, watercolor and photography, among others. art helps inform them.” kes used to offer an art major, the faculty Bernier, who has been the director of the exhibit ran annually. However, since the school no longer has a full faculty art department or a of a “parasitic relationship,” not one that is always easy Sordoni Art Gallery for six years, agrees with Schulte that the Faculty Exhibition 2007 can enrich all students major, the Sordoni Art Gallery only offers the exhibit or joyful. “You have that same parallel, but it’s more human- regardless of their academic concentrations. every few years. “It’s important to all Wilkes students,” Bernier said. Bernier believes interest in art on campus is still high. ized, less iconocized,” said Schulte about the similari“Our goal is to get both the Wilkes community and the He points out that art classes often have a waiting list ties between his work and the classic images. Another of his sculptures is titled “Specimen Female public to see the range of talent we have in our faceach semester. “We’ve scaled back, but we still have a number of Fetus 5.9 months.” The sculpture of the fetus in a jar ulty.” was inspired by the ongoing debate about abortion, and talented artists working on our faculty,” said Bernier. One of those “talented artists” is David Schulte, who when a fetus is considered a life. “All [of my work] has grounds to be controversial bewill display four of his sculptures at the exhibit. Previ- Schedule of Events Tuesday, April 3 -Karaoke w/Mitch & Dancin’ Frank at the Woodlands -Open mic at the River Street Jazz Cafe -The Marty Edwards Jazz Band performing at Bart and Urby’s -Big D and the Kids Table, The Menzingers, The Holy Mess and Captain Random performing at Cafe Metropolis at 7 p.m. -Taking Back Sunday performing at the Wachovia Arena at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 4 -Film: Curse of the Golden Flower playing at the Kirby Center at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Friday, April 6 -Maddog Surrender, Cunnilingus, Trashcan Circus and Ali Baba performing at Backstage at 6 p.m. Monday, April 2 -Anime Club showing of Samurai X at Cafe Metropolis at 8 p.m. -Karaoke with Scott Stevens at Slainte -Karaoke w/DJ Bada Bing at Fuse -Dirt Vultures, Fight Amputation, Aeondeath and Catapult Rome performing at Cafe Metropolis at 8 p.m. Saturday, April 7 -Braindead, Crumbler, Gnarlies, Freethrow and Gone Mad performing at Backstage at 6 p.m. -Bigger Thomas, The Big Green plus TBA performing at Cafe Metropolis at 8 p.m. �APRIL 3, 2007 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 13 Ted Leo and the Pharmacists’ Living with the Living In the band’s new album Living with the Living, it feels a little bit more like living with the dead. To put it plainly, this album is weak, which is painful to say considering the strength of all of Ted Leo’s past albums. While the instrumentation and lyrics are solid, that’s basically where it ends. Ted Leo and the Pharmacists have been around since the 90s, delivering upbeat, punk-inspired indie rock. They have released four prior albums, and while they’ve pulled in fans with earlier albums, their popularity significantly grew after their “Shake the Sheets” release, which featured the song “Me and Mia.” Ted Leo and the Pharmacists are one of the strongest indie rock bands out there, both instrumentally and lyrically. Their lyrics are meaningful, and often political, and for those who just care about the music, the guitar riffs and choruses are catchy enough to appeal to pretty much anyone, whether they appreciate music that is off the radar or keep up with radio-friendly hits. Unfortunately, with the exception of “La Costa Brava” and “Bottle of Buckie,” the songs on the newest Living album are entirely unimpressive. It’s possible they could be more appreciated by a newcomer to Ted Leo, but to anyone who has heard Hearts of Oak or The Tyranny of Dissonance, this album just doesn’t compare in terms of creativity. Also, “The Lost Brigade” which goes on for almost eight minutes, becomes repetitive and tiresome about halfway through. “Bomb. Repeat. Bomb.” seems to be trying to deliver a political message, but the vocals end up sounding a bit muffled, leaving the listener aware that the singer is angry, but at what exactly, it’s hard to tell. There are a few slower tracks that offer a Photo courtesy /blogs.indiewire.com BY MARISSA PHILLIPS Beacon Asst. A&E Editor change of pace, but they’re forgettable. Basically every track sounds like a song recycled from a past album, but stripped of a key piece. It all sounds like something played before, yet not as good. For those who haven’t yet heard Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, this would definitely not be the album to start with. While the tracks are not terrible, the whole album gives the feeling that the band is holding back. Tyranny of Dissonance would be a much more suitable introduction to the band. Fans who have been following the band to this point will most likely be disappointed in this album as a whole. With the exception of the reggae undertones in “The Unwanted Things,” the songs don’t deliver anything that hasn’t been done countless times in past albums. So, while the songs still feature smooth vocals and instrumentation, the smiliarity in sound to past albums doesn’t manage to save it. Compared to everything produced in the past, the album is tolerable, but ultimately falls short. Grade: C � 0dVdbc�k�!��& FT�WPeT�P�fX]]Ta� �FT[[��PRcdP[[h�cWaTT�fX]]Tab�� CWT�Ë�]P[�e^cT�^]�cWT�<hFX[ZTb�[^V^�fPb�^_cX^]��!�� CWT�^eTafWT[\X]V�RW^XRT�U^a�bXcT�[Ph^dc�fPb�^_cX^]��"� 9d]X^a�<^aVP]�:dW]b�fX]b�cWT�X?^S �fWXRW��^U�R^dabT��bWTÃ[[�Ë�[[�fXcW�b^]Vb�PR`dXaTS�[TVP[[h��aXVWc.�� CWP]Zb�c^�P[[�cW^bT�fW^�e^cTS� 6^�c^�\hfX[ZTb�fX[ZTb�TSd�c^�eXTf�cWT�fX]]X]V�STbXV]b�P]S�c^�[TPa]�\^aT�PQ^dc�cWT�<hFX[ZTb�_^acP[� �ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 14 Kudracross BY CHRISTOPHER KUDRAK Beacon Correspondent 1 6 10 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 22 23 24 26 30 31 32 33 35 39 41 43 44 46 47 49 50 51 54 56 57 63 64 65 66 67 68 ACROSS Student workstations Inquires Anthracite 1995 film “The _____ Suspects” Indicates direction of wind Killer whale Pine Tree State Gulf leading to the Persian Gulf Pine varieties Common PA wildflowers Adversaries Bottom heavy fruit Uniformly B.A. part Greek H Mold in which objects are cast Washington source Eight Curvy lines Telescope inventor State of nonexistence Madison Square Garden (e.g.) Cuckoo Edit out Accomplished Internet suffix Needles partner Passion Sci. of angles Tel ___, Israel Pertaining to commerce Masculine Buffalo neighbor Pertaining to the ear Aroma Antiquated Slowpoke 69 70 71 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 21 25 26 27 28 29 34 36 37 38 40 42 45 48 51 52 53 55 58 59 60 61 62 APRIL 3, 2007 Scottish monster Point of intersection Crew members DOWN Dopey Jacob’s brother Uniform German philosopher Immanuel Land of Nod Hobby Japanese warrior Chip flint or stone Became aware of Starbucks (e.g.) Constellation of the Hunter Land measurements Cattle rope Superman’s portrayer Range of sight Pond microorganism Back end “A ___ of Two Cities” Underwater swimmers without scuba gear Butt in Eighteen-wheeler “_____ Brockovich” Tennis units Dragon’s abode Ancient Rome’s port Not tested Lower in dignity “The Bourne Identity” actor Matt ____ Avoid Farm buildings Grind as teeth Therefore Type of seafood sandwich Teheran’s country Put down Pipe joints Answers 3.26 This Week In History BY MICHAEL GIONFRIDDO Beacon Correspondent Brought to you by the History Club April 2 2005: John Paul II, history’s most well-traveled pope and the first non-Italian to hold the position since the 16th century, died at his home in the Vatican. Six days later, two million people packed Vatican City for his funeral-said to be the biggest funeral in history. April 3 1860: The first Pony Express mail simultaneously left St. Joseph, Missouri, and Sacramento, California, carried by Henry Wallace riding west and John Roff riding east. During the 1,800-mile journey, the riders changed horses dozens of times, and on April 13 the westbound packet arrived in Sacramento, beating the eastbound packet’s arrival in St. Joseph by two days. April 4 1968: Just after 6 p.m., Martin Luther King Jr. was fatal- ly shot while standing on the balcony outside his secondstory room at the Motel Lorraine in Memphis, Tennessee. The civil rights leader was in Memphis to support a sanitation workers’ strike and was on his way to dinner when a bullet struck him in the jaw and severed his spinal cord. King was pronounced dead after his arrival at a Memphis hospital. He was 39 years old. April 5 1614: Pocahontas, daughter of the chief of the Powhatan Indian confederacy, married English tobacco planter John Rolfe in Jamestown, Virginia. The marriage ensured peace between the Jamestown settlers and the Powhatan Indians for several years. April 6 1896: The Olympic Games, a long-lost tradition of ancient Greece, were reborn in Athens 1,500 years after being banned by Roman Emperor Theodosius I. At the opening of the Athens Games, King Georgios I of Greece and a crowd of 60,000 spectators welcomed athletes from 13 nations to the international competition. April 7 1963: A new Yugoslav constitution proclaimed Tito the president for life of the newly named Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. April 8 563 B.C.: Buddhists celebrated the commemoration of the birth of Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, thought to have lived in India from 563 B.C. to 483 B.C. Actually, the Buddhist tradition that celebrates his birthday on April 8 originally placed his birth in the 11th century B.C., and it was not until the modern era that scholars determined that he was more likely born in the sixth century B.C., and possibly in May rather than April. Note: All information is provided by the History Channel and can be found at http://www.history.com/tdih.do Picture courtesy www.md.lp.org �ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 15 - APRIL 3, 2007 LOCAL BAND SPOTLIGHT: LESSEN ONE BY STEPHANIE DEBALKO Beacon A&E Editor It’s no secret that making it in the music industry isn’t exactly a piece of cake-especially in Northeastern Pennsylvania. That’s why the tremendous success of local rock/alternative band Lessen One is such an admirable feat. With gigs all over the area and an original full-length album already released (Thousand Words), Lessen One has proven itself a very ambitious and talented band. Band member Steve Husted, guitar and vocals, recently took some time out of his busy schedule to chat with The Beacon about the current album and what’s next on the horizon for Lessen One. The Beacon: What changes have you gone through over the years (lineup, sound, direction, etc)? Husted: Ok, here we go. Lessen One’s current lineup is: Jaconda (Jay) - lead vocals; Steve (myself) - backing vocals/rhythm guitar; Kevin - lead guitar; Andrew - bass; Rob - drums/percussion. However, Lessen One started out in the late summer of 2003 with Kevin, Jay and myself being original members. At the time we had a different drummer (Pat) and bassist (Mike). We played under that lineup until the fall of 2004. After losing Pat and Mike to unsettled differences, Kevin, Jay and I began playing acoustic three-piece shows. After about eight months we then added Rob in the early summer of 2005. The following winter we added Andy on bass. The current lineup still stands and hopefully will for quite some time. The Beacon: How’s the first full-length CD working out for you? Husted: It’s very gratifying when I see people singing the words to our originals. The CD was a risk for us financially but it all seems worth it when you get a bigger response for an original song rather than the best of covers that we may do. We all have been a part of the recording process with other bands, but I think that this is the CD that we all have yet to make on our own. So to answer your question...things are good. The Beacon: Are you currently working on any new projects? What’s up next for you guys? Husted: The biggest of all things right now is that we are planning a two week long tour with the band Ourafter, June 15-30. We will be playing in New York, Harrisburg, DC, North Carolina, South Carolina, three different cities sounds right to us. We write together, so having five different ideas is somewhat hard at times. For example, we don’t scream on a heavy song for the sake of screaming if it isn’t necessary. If the song is short and doesn’t need anything else, we let it be, and if it seems to run longer than standard radio play time, we let it if it calls for it. One of our more popular songs called “Drone” is about 4:30 long; too long for radio but just right for itself (so we think). Our music is energetic and a product of what seems to be an endless source of inspiration, so I think you can find a little of everything in our CD. The Beacon: For those who have not yet seen Lessen One perform, describe your live shows. Husted: Visually and sonically, very energetic. Lots to listen to: melodic vocals, extensive harmonies, complimenting guitars, flourishing bass lines, and a rhythmic backbone that intricately ties it all together. And on top of that, a lot to see. We move on stage independently but yet very synchronized. The Beacon: Can you describe the craziest thing that’s happened to you as a band, or your most embarrassing moment on stage? Husted: Well, I guess watching Kevin split his head open on the main speakers at Tink’s in Scranton, and then still playing four more songs dripping blood everywhere [was pretty crazy]. Or the time when Jay was screwing around on a slippery stage at Outsiders, and, out of nowhere, ended up completely horizontal in the air, just to fall flat on his side on a previously broken full pint glass. However, even though he fell, cut himself, and was lying in a puddle of beer, he pulled the mic down and finished singing the rest of the song like a champ on his back. I haven’t Courtesy myspace.com//lessenone The Beacon: What’s the story on the spelling laughed that hard since. of the band’s name? Lessen One has seen a lot of success with their first full length album, ThouHusted: The original drummer, Pat, and I sand Words, and continues to play shows at locales throughout the area. In The Beacon: Any hoardes of screaming girls were spewing out band names in the beginning, June, the band will hit the road, touring with Ourafter. yet? and we decided that we liked the idea of having Husted: Unfortunately for Jay... nope. All of a band name with a number in it - not sure why - but it us are in great relationships, so I think we put out the vibe, in Florida, Indianapolis, Chicago, Pittsburgh and Scranton. seemed good then. We finally settled on a few ideas and or something like that. We have a few funny, more so Basically we have two nights off the whole trip; should be I [think I] remember it being either Lessen One or Figure creepy, stories, but overall we shake as many hands and a great time. Five. kiss as many babies as we can. We appreciate everyone Being that we are also a cover band, we have a few great Once the votes came in we all agreed that we liked Lesstaking the time out to come and see us, so maybe we just shows lined up out of town. en One much more. And then the conversation of lessOn don’t notice them...who knows? We have an upcoming Wilkes University show, where vs. lessEn came up. My description of the band name Wilkes and ourselves will be distributing 100 free CDs; goes as this: I didn’t want to be thought of ‘teaching’ peoThe Beacon: If you can remember this far back, deple about the music... thought it sounded a little arrogant. should be quite fun, too. scribe your first show as a band. And lastly we are in the beginning stages of writing new I wanted it to be ‘taking away from something,’ not “less Husted: With this lineup? Great. We are all talented material. The new music seems to be even more diverse than” as in math class with the whole <,> or = to. musicians and we work well together, so I guess the first and more energetic than before. We are really excited to The lyrics we began to come up with for the songs and was quite like the most recent. We get the chance to play get back to writing again; it has been awhile. my personal life made me describe the band name as: to out quite often, and as far as I can remember, we have had be in this lifestyle/band you have to ‘give up’ or ‘let go;’ many great nights. Every night is some new challenge and The Beacon: For someone who hasn’t heard Lessen parts of your life. There are many things that I/we had to every show seems completely different and we are lookOne, are there any bands that you can compare yourselves give up to maintain this band, and I think that the band ing forward to many more. to? If you don’t like to make comparisons, then just dename is a reflection of where I/we have been and where I/we come from; remember what once was, and knowing scribe your sound. The Beacon: And finally, can you describe Lessen One Husted: I usually liken us to Incubus, solely on the fact what I have let go/changed to get here. I/we appreciate in just three words? that we don’t write to a specifi c genre. We write music my/our decisions and know that I have four other guys to Husted: Buy our CD. No, I am kidding. (Seriously without writing to make a specifi c sound. In other words, lean on when it gets hard...and so creates Lessen One. the direction of the song is dependent on what naturally now buy it anyway). But three words? … �SPORTS 16 APRIL 3, 2007 Cumberland Apartments Brand new luxury construction in an historic landmark building - 48 Efficiency Apartments $475./mo.* - 12 Efficiency Suites $675./mo.* *double occupancy add $150./mo. - Brand New Construction - Kitchen with appliances - Full Bath with shower - Secure Entry - Elevator - Laundry - Wi-Fi Internet - Free Water, Sewer, Trash Cumberland Apartments 17 West Ross Street Wilkes Barre, PA 18702 570-687-2220 www.cumberlandliving.com �SPORTS APRIL 3, 2007 17 Equestrian Club sends first two to regionals BY ARIEL COHEN Beacon Sports Editor It has been nearly two full years since Alisha Cain’s dream of having an equestrian club at Wilkes University became a reality. The road from being granted club status back in April 2005 seems like such a long time ago considering all that the team has accomplished, especially this year. Wilkes is sending not only one competitor to regional competitions but two -Jessica Ashford and Sarah Brown. The Equestrian Club, which does not represent Wilkes University in any official varsity athletic competition, still finds its way to bring Wilkes pride and name recognition as they compete with other schools as part of the Inter-Collegiate Horse Show Association. “The team is going well. It is really a blast and a big adrenaline rush to be able to ride a horse that you have never ridden before,” said freshman Tia Hickman, who just joined the team this year. In addition to Tia, there are two other freshmen and a total of eight members on this year’s team. The experience level of MIDNIGHT MADNESS A large cheese pizza + an 8pc Breadsticks, CinnaStix or Cheesybread $9.99 +TAX VALID 12AM-CLOSE Expires 5/31/076 IMM I the women, including Jessica Ashford and zone show in Pittsburgh, “which, out of the Sarah Brown, who have both been riding 15 to advance to that point, we had two including myself and Brown,” Ashford said. since the age of seven, is very high. With this being the first regional show “All of the girls on the team have been riding all of their lives, but we would like for any Wilkes University Equestrian club to recruit girls who haven’t had as much ex- member, a new landmark has been set and new goals are now being perience,” formed for next fall as the stated juwomen head back to work nior Jessica for another season. “My new Ashford. aspiration since I won a blue Experiribbon for Wilkes this past ence is what year is to go to regionals in matters for the novice competition,” said members of Ashford. the equestriAlthough neither one of the an club. The Courtesy of wildheartranch.com representatives from Wilkes team has ten advanced beyond this zone shows per competition this past weekyear, including five in the fall and five in spring. Every end, the knowledge and level of experience fall semester, the team co-hosts a show with for the team continues to grow with higher Cedar Crest which has been a tradition since hopes and bigger expectations for next seathe team began two years ago. Every team son. member’s dream, however, is to win that blue ribbon and head to the national show. According to Ashford, a competitor needs to accumulate a minimum of 35 points over three semesters to qualify for the regional FREE BROWNIES Buy a large pizza at regular price and get a 1 Ope order of our new warm brownies FREE Expires 10/8/06 ITV I SOFTBALL from PAGE 20 don’t offer up careful, smart pitching, the Bulldogs offensive muscle could be intimidating. But facing a team of the Colonels stature is never easy for any conference opponent. Folek is a veteran at his profession and will look to lead the Colonels to another Freedom Conference victory. “Our upperclassmen have to have good series, and our offense needs to score more runs,” stated Folek breaking down his keys to victory in beating the DeSales Bulldogs. The Colonels will look to bring hard hitting and solid pitching out of their bag of tricks on the road against the DeSales Bulldogs this Thursday at 3 p.m. Wilkes-Barre 570-829-2900 154 s. Pennsylvania Ave Sun-Thur 11 am-2am Fri & Sat 11 am-4am 8{_/ll . ' ' ,~ �SPORTS 18 APRIL 3, 2007 Commentary GAME OF THE WEEK Major League Baseball Yankees to host Devil Rays; Red Sox take on Royals BY TIM SEIGFRIED Beacon Asst. Sports Editor Tampa Bay v. New York The Yankees have to be nervous. After all, it’s been six seasons since they’ve won a World Series ring, and three since they’ve even been to the Big Dance. And with a boss like George Steinbrenner, who wouldn’t be a little pensive about this season? The Bronx Bombers, who finished first in the American League East last year, had a less than spectacular post-season in which they were bounced in the first round by the Detroit Tigers. This season, like every other season, the Yanks have their eyes on number 27. They have good reason to be confident about their chances, as they are returning with one of the best lineups in the American League. Led by Derek Jeter (the real AL MVP), the offense consists of All-Star leadoff hitter Johnny Damon, the always underrated Bobby Abreu, the over criticized Alex Rodriguez (who will become the youngest player to hit 500 homeruns this season), power hitting lefties Jason Giambi and Hideki Matsui, long-time Yankee Jorge Posada and future star Robinson Cano. With a lineup like that, what do the Yankees have to worry about? The answer is, as always, pitching. With a retooled pitching staff, New York has said goodbye to Randy Johnson and said hello (again) to former Yankee Andy Pettitte and are welcoming back Carl Pavano, who last pitched in June of 2005. Pavano, who was part of a Florida Marlins staff that bested the Yankees in 2003, has been injury prone since coming to New York in 2005, and hasn’t had the opportunity prove his worth. That’s about to change, as he is likely to be the opening day starter on April 2 at Yankee Stadium against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. With Pettitte and Chien-Ming Wang dealing with minor injuries, Pavano is the likely choice over newcomer Kei Igawa and youngster Jeff Karstens. It should prove to be a clean slate for the much maligned Pavano, who is in desperate need for a solid performance to prove to the brass that he is back in his 2004 form. Unfortunately for Pavano, the young lineup of the Devil Rays won’t make it easy. Led by Carl Crawford, who effortlessly blends power and speed, players like Ty Wigginton and Rocco Baldelli are young players who are going to blossom in the coming seasons. Japanese import Akinori Iwamura is a power hitting third baseman who could have an impact on the middle of the lineup, while Delmon Young is a serious candidate for Rookie of the Year. Their pitching staff is led by Scott Kazmir, who was very quietly one of the best arms in the American League last season. Kazmir is most likely the opening day starter, and has the talent to make it hard on the Yankees lineup. It’s essentially a battle between pitchers with a lot to prove, but expect the bats of the Yankees to out slug the inexperienced Devil Rays lineup. The Pick: Game 1: New York Yankees 3 Tampa Bay Devil Rays 2 Game 2: Tampa Bay Devil Rays 7 New York Yankees 3 Game 3: New York Yankees 5 Tampa Bay Devil Rays 3 Boston v. Kansas City Red Sox Nation has been abuzz this offseason. After acquiring the much praised Japanese Ace, Daisuke Matsuzaka, it appeared that Boston has cemented one of the best rotations in the American League. Matsuzaka, who carved up hitters during last year’s World Baseball Classic with help from his mythical “gyroball,” is flourishing this spring and is proving to be the real deal. That can only be good news for the Red Sox, who are looking to return to the World Series after their Cinderella-like 2004 season. Led by opening day starter Curt Schilling, the staff consists of 2003 World Series MVP Josh Beckett, knuckleballer Tim Wakefield, Matsuzaka, and closing pitcher Jonathan Papelbon, whose 35 saves and 0.92 ERA make him an automatic in the bullpen. With a solid starting rotation and a lights out closer, the Red Sox are more than ready to storm the AL East. Oh, there’s one more thing: they still have David Ortiz. Ortiz, aka, Big Papi, will no doubt lead a tremendous offense that consists of perennial slugger Manny Ramirez, newcomer and leadoff hitter Julio Lugo, on base hog Kevin Youklis, Captain and catcher Jason Varitek and newly acquired J.D. Drew, who completes a dangerous 3-4-5 in the lineup. Also along for the ride is speedy centerfielder and current titleholder of “Best Name in Baseball” Coco Crisp, great gloveman Mike Lowell, and top prospect Dustin Pedroia, who looks to make his first full season in Beantown a memorable one. Schilling, the outspoken and gutsy pitcher, is looking for one more great season that can be added on to this Hall of Fame resume, and should have no trouble leading things off against the Kansas City Royals on April 2nd. Kansas City, meanwhile, is looking to bounce back and bring back glory and respectability to the once great franchise. They have their work cut out for them, as they are light in top prospects and heavy on career minor league players. The biggest move in the off-season for the Royals was the acquisition of starting pitcher Gil Meche, whose 55-44 lifetime record with a 4.65 ERA was good enough to earn him a 5 year, 55 million dollar contract. Besides Meche, the rotation is filled with mediocre pitchers Luke Hudson and Odalis Perez, finishing off with Octavio Dotel, who was once a premier refief pitcher. Two lone bright spots for the Royals are in the form of young phenom Alex Gordon, who was officially named the starting third baseman (George Brett, anyone?), and left fielder Mark Teahen, another young star on the verge of a breakout season. Squaring off against a Red Sox lineup that eats up bad pitchers, Gil Meche’s best bet is to just throw strikes and let his defense make some plays. The Pick: Game 1: Boston Red Sox 8 Kansas City Royals 3 Game 2: Boston Red Sox 4 Kansas City Royals 1 Game 3: Boston Red Sox 5 Kansas City Royals 0 Double Take Steph examines the stats that truly matter... BY STEPHANIE DEBALKO Beacon A&E Editor Oh boy. Another game of the week, another Double Take. Except this time, there are two games of the week. I don’t know why this is necessary, and to be honest, I really don’t care. So instead of taking the time to write two double takes (which would make me dizzy), I’m going to pretend that the Yankees and the Red Sox are teaming up against the Devil Rays and the Royals. I thought this would be fun because, apparently, people who are Yankees fans generally hate the Red Sox, and vice versa. Well, that’s too bad, because in my imaginary world they are going to have to join forces to defeat the Royal Devil Rays. In my imaginary world, the teams are also going to have to use light sabers instead of baseball bats. And instead of uniforms, they should all wear black cloaks. But that’s a given. Plus, it would probably make the game a lot more entertaining. So, where does one really go from there? Well, let’s also pretend Derek Jeter is Darth Vader (nothing personal against Mr. Jeter, he’s just the only player I know). Evil never prevails. The Yankees and the Red Sox are going to lose, because they don’t have the power of the Force, unlike the Royal Devil Rays, who actually all look like Yoda. Now one would think that since they are the Devil Rays, they would be evil. But, in fact, remember, this is my world, and things are never quite what they seem. Anyway, nobody cares what my predictions are, much like I don’t care about who wins the games. So instead of sitting down to some MLB television this week, I’m going to settle in for a Star Wars marathon… because that sounds far more entertaining than any baseball game. �SPORTS APRIL 3, 2007 19 Rival to join Freedom Conference Misericordia to compete in 2008-09 season BY GERARD HETMAN Beacon Staff Writer In the world of college athletics, few things bring out the passion and spirit in players, coaches and fans more than a local or regional rivalry. Players get a chance to compete in front of fans who often know and remember them from earlier in their athletic careers, and school communities are able to enjoy packed arenas infused with school spirit for these contests. For the Wilkes University athletics community, one of those rivalries recently opened an exciting new chapter when College Misericordia announced it will begin competition for all of its sports programs in the Freedom Conference of the Middle Atlantic Corporation (MAC), beginning with the 2007-2008 school year. “Misericordia offers a tremendous package to our conference in terms of both the academic and athletic components we are seeking at institutions when we were looking to expand the conference”, said Ken Andrews, MAC executive commissioner for the Freedom Conference. “This addition will help the conference further establish itself in a part of the mid-Atlantic region in terms of things such as media coverage and recruiting, where several of our current institutions have had great success over the years.” Misericordia will be coming to the Freedom Conference from the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference (PAC), of which it was a founding member when the league was formed in 1992. The Cougars will be joining Wilkes and fellow MAC Freedom member King’s College in a new conference alignment that is expected to reap benefits for student-athletes, coaches and fans alike. The close proximity of the Misericordia campus will enable Wilkes athletics teams to play more conference contests on weeknights, making scheduling and travel arrangements much easier for coaches and officials at those schools. “We’re thrilled that Misericordia is coming into the conference,” said Wilkes men’s basketball coach Jerry Rickrode, whose teams have regularly competed against Misericordia in a non-conference format during his 15-year tenure as head coach. “They’ve got an excellent basketball facility and a very solid athletics program, while producing some very competitive teams during their history. We’re looking forward to competing with Misericordia as a conference opponent in the near future.” For Misericordia, the move carries with it many of the same advantages and benefits in terms of travel time and proximity that are beneficial for Wilkes. The Dallasbased school boasts excellent facilities for all of its sports teams and has traditionally been very competitive in the PAC, winning 26 conference championships since the league’s founding. This strong foundation is expected to help make the Cougars immediate competitors in the Freedom Conference. The move will also allow the Cougars to find a league for their swimming and track & field programs to compete in neither sport was sponsored by the PAC and as a result, those sports operated without a conference affiliation at Misericordia until this decision. Sports fans and student-athletes at both Wilkes and Misericordia are both set to enter an exciting new chapter of the sports history between these two institutions. “For many years Wilkes and Misericordia have competed against each other in a non-conference format,” Wilkes University athletics Director Addy Malatesta said of the move. “Now, we have the opportunity to develop a great conference rivalry that will benefit both schools and their athletics programs for years to come.” The Beacon/Todd Weibel The Lady Colonels look to add a “W” to their record Wednesday against Scranton. Weekend Recaps Baseball The Colonels baseball team suffered two conference losses at home in their doubleheader matchup against FDU-Florham on Saturday. Junior Kyle Follweiler drove in the team’s only run in both contests as they lost 8-1, and 9-0. The Colonels drop to 9-5 overall and 3-3 in the Freedom conference. Softball The Lady Colonels fell in close battle on the road to crosstown rival King’s College 2-1. Sophomore Nichole McCloskey scored an unearned run for the Lady Colonels in the 5th inning, but could not close the deficit following a King’s 2 run spurt in the bottom of the inning. The Lady Colonels are currently 6-7 overall and 0-1 in the Freedom conference. Lacrosse Widener University picked up their first Middle Atlantic Conference women’s lacrosse win of the season with a 17-4 victory over Wilkes University on Saturday afternoon at Ralston Field. The win improves the Pride to 2-5 overall and 1-3 in the conference, while the Lady Colonels fall to 0-5 overall and 0-3 in conference play. NUMBERS OF THE WEEK 8 Number of strikeouts by Wilkes senior Laurie Agresti in loss to William Paterson University. 5 Number of goals by Wilkes freshman Ashley Leggio in loss to Centenary College. 2 Number of RBIs by Wilkes junior Kyle Follweiler in the win over Drew University. 0 Number of earned runs allowed by Corey Helfrich in a 2 hit, complete game win over Drew University. �Sports APRIL 3, 2007 20 Preview of the Week: Baseball vs. DeSales The Colonels get ready for their fight against the Bulldogs this Thursday BY CARLTON HOLMES Beacon Asst. Sports Editor In baseball, there is nothing like watching two evenly matched teams duke it out on the field as they look to notch a win on their record. Colonel baseball fans get ready to bear witness to a classic Freedom Conference contest as the Colonels go on the road to square off against DeSales University. “We’ve been getting good pitching and playing good defense, and that’s why we have been winning. As a team, we need to keep that up,” said head coach Joe Folek. Despite the Colonels recent losses in their doubleheader match-up this past Saturday away against the FDU Devils, Wilkes still boasts a comfortable record of 95, and 3-3 in the conference. During the Colonels road trip to New Jersey, pitcher Cory Helfrich gave up 8 runs on 11 hits in only four innings in their final game of the doubleheader. “Our sole drive right now is to make it to the playoffs to play FDU and beat them when it counts,” stated junior Brad Woznisky. The first conference loss of the season for the Colonels happened Friday against the Devils 15-5. Centerfielder Kyle Follweiler led the Colonels with 2 runs, while 5 players split a single RBI. Leading the Colonels scoring attack is senior first baseman Justin Popovich, who racked up a team high 12 RBIs. The lead batting average goes to junior Kyle Follweiler with .439 who has started in all of the Colonels 14 games. The Colonels pitching staff is doing a solid job combing for total of 60 strikeouts on the season, and a 5.53 ERA, while their opponents combine for a 6.17 ERA against the Colonels. Junior pitcher Brad Woznisky leads the Colonels with 22 strikeouts and believes that in order for the Colonels to win, “We have to go in with a better mindset and just keep working hard and staying at it. If we do that, eventually everything will come together.” The Bulldogs are a tough team led by a coach with an impressive resume, and will be looking to fight the Colonels until the last out of the ninth inning. Head Coach Tim Neiman is in his 18th season as the Bulldogs head coach. The Bulldogs have won 423 games under Neiman and have a .656 winning percentage. He is ranked 35th in the nation among active coaches in winning percentage. The Bulldogs are currently 9-5 overall, and 4-0 in the MAC Freedom conference. Junior Anthony Heard is big dog in the dugout with a .481 batting average, and has smacked in a team high 26 hits. The Bulldogs all around offensive attack consists of 7 players with double digit RBIs, and 3 homeruns by junior first baseman Scott Matejicka. If the Colonels See BASEBALL page 17 The Beacon/Todd Weibel Senior Justin Popovich will look to help lift his team past the Bulldogs en route to a huge conference victory. Campus Calendar. Tuesday 4/3 * Wilkes University Faculty Exhibition, Sordoni Art Gallery, 12 PM, All Week Wednesday 4/4 * Women’s softball vs. Keystone - 3 PM * Men’sTennis @ Scranton - 3:30 PM * Women’s lacrosse @ Scranton - 4 PM Thursday 4/5 * Women’s softball@ DeSales - 1 PM * Men’s baseball 3:30PM Monday 4/9 * Men’s baseball vs. DeSales - 1 PM Tuesday 4/10 * Blood Drive, Henry Student Center Ball room, 10 AM * Men’s tennis vs. Lycoming - 3:30 PM * Women’s lacrosse vs. King’s - 4 PM Wednesday 4/11 *Climbing the Sales Ladder, University Center on Main, 8 AM * The Power of Pat terns, The Woodlands Inn - 9 AM * Men’s tennis vs. FDU, 3 PM * Women’s softball vs. Miscericordia - 3 PM * Men’s baseball vs. Miscericordia, 3:30 PM Thursday 4/12 *Women’s lacrosse vs. Messiah - 4 PM Friday 4/13 * PoetrySeries, Barnes & Noble, Arena Hub Plaza - 7 PM Find this Picture on Campus and... WIN CASH This photo was taken somewhere on Wilkes University’s campus. When you find it, email us the answer at: wilkesbeacon@gmail. com. Be sure to put “Campus Picture” as the subject heading, as well as your name, phone number, and either campus mailbox or mailing address in the body text. A random winner will be picked from the correct responses and will receive a $10 cash prize courtesy of the Programming W ILKES UNIVERSITY PROGRAMMING BOARD Board. - Congratulations to Adam Butler who correctly identified last week’s picture, which was of a plaque in front of Evans Hall. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon Newspaper Collection, 1947-present Description An account of the resource <p>This is Wilkes University's <em>Beacon</em> Newspaper collection, 1947-present. We also have digitized copies of the <em>Beacon's</em> predecessors, <em>The Bucknell Bison Stampede</em>, 1934-1935 and <em>The Bucknell Beacon</em>, 1936-1947 June. It should be noted that Wilkes University does not have a complete set of issues for the Bucknell Bison Stampede and Bucknell Beacon. For researchers who are interested in seeing the complete issues for these publications, please contact <a href="https://researchbysubject.bucknell.edu/scua">Bucknell University's Special Collections Department</a>.</p> <p></p> <p>Missing Issues:</p> <p>1947 August 8th<br />1947 September 5th<br />1947 October 3rd<br />1947 October 17th<br />1947 October 31st<br />1947 November 21st<br />1947 December 19th<br />1948 September 9th<br />1950 April 28th<br />1953 April 10th<br />1962 February 2nd</p> Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Beacon staff is comprised of Wilkes University students who are advised by a full-time faculty member of the Communication Studies Department. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1934-present Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright of the Wilkes Beacons is retained by Wilkes University. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Professor Emeritus Harold Cox digitized the collection from 1934-1970 and created a <a href="https://beaconarchives2.wilkes.edu/">legacy website</a>. Digital Archives student John Jenkins digitized the collection from 1970-present. Special thanks goes to Communication Studies Professor Dr. Kalen Churcher, Editor-in-Chief Kirsten Peters, Beacon staff member, Emily Cherkauskas, and other Beacon staff for their help in acquiring digitized copies of the Beacons from 2006 onward. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon 2007 April 3rd Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2007 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/e09a0df7d19794d79526eb016662df17.pdf 20b3da1a51f62fe25137c5c4e751aaa3 PDF Text Text Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA The THE NEWS OF TODAY REPORTED BY THE JOURNALISTS OF TOMORROW Volume 59 Issue 18 www.wilkesbeacon.com MARCH 27, 2007 Dr. Ronald Verret named as finalist for provost position Candidate to visit campus to assess his ‘fit’ with university BY ANDREW SEAMAN Beacon Asst. News Editor After a six-month process, the search for a new Provost appears to be winding down as Dr. Ronald Verret plans a return to campus to negotiate details and further assess his fit with the university culture. Dr. Paul S. Adams, Vice President for Student Affairs and chair of the provost search committee, told The Beacon last week that, “President Gilmour hopes to announce a new Provost by the end of April.” Adams noted, “The University has invited Dr. Reynold Verret to return to campus to further our discussions about the Provost position.” Verret is the current Dean of the Misher College of Arts and Sciences at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia and will be “returning to learn more about the University and to further assess his sense of his ‘fit’ with Wilkes,” Adams added. He also noted that “it allows him, and his family, to explore in depth our community - its different neighbor- hoods and schools.” “We are absolutely delighted that Dr. Verret’s interest in Wilkes has grown,” Adams continued. “He is an academician of great intellect with a rich teaching and administrative background. He has a demeanor that is warm, welcoming and engaging. His breadth of experiences in the sciences, in the humanities and with pharmacy programs is uniquely suited to our needs at Wilkes. We think he’s an excellent match for us.” Dr. John Koch, professor of math and computer science and one of the faculty members on the search committee, agreed with Adams and said, “He [Dr. Verret] fits very well.” Koch also liked the idea of having someone with Verret’s background serve as provost because historically the administration has been populated by people from history, political science and other humanities backgrounds. Verret is a professor of chemistry and biochemistry. Verret is scheduled to visit campus in early April according to Adams. The Beacon/Nick Zmijewski Dr. Ronald Verret takes questions from faculty and students during his recent visit to the University. He is scheduled to appear again in early April. Wilkes announces 2007 graduation speaker Academy Award winning actress Marlee Matlin to address grads BY NICK PODOLAK Beacon News Editor Vice President for Student Affairs, Dr. Paul Adams confirmed last week that hearing impaired actress Marlee Matlin will deliver the keynote address at the University’s 60th annual spring commencement to be held on May 19, 2007. “I think her story is great...what she’s overcome,” he said. The Morton Grove, Illinois native, lost most of her hearing as a child after a bout JUST WEAR IT. Page 7 with roseola infantum, but still managed to defy odds by taking on the role of Dorothy in a stage production of The Wizard of Oz at age seven, her very first acting role. After being discovered in the stage production of Children of a Lesser God, a story that takes place at a school for the hearing impaired, she was cast to star alongside William Hurt in the film version. Receiving critical acclaim worldwide in 1986, Matlin won the Academy Award for Best Actress in her silver screen debut at age 21---making her the youngest recipient of the prestigious honor, and only one of four actresses to win in their motion picture debut. Since then, Matlin has appeared in various sitcoms on television shows such as Picket Fences, The West Wing, The Outer Limits, Spin City, Desperate Housewives, My Name is Earl, and most notably, Seinfeld, where she played a deaf tennis player in a popular episode. “You name it, she’s been in it,” Adams commented. But it is her spirit---not just her talent--that makes her such a great choice to speak at this year’s spring commencement, Adams noted. Matlin currently serves as the national celebrity spokesperson for The American Red Cross, was a major force in persuading Congress to pass a federal legislation in 1992 for all television sets to be equipped with a closed-caption technology, and serving on the boards of other charitable organizations such as the Easter Seals and the Children Affected by AIDS Foundation. See PROVOST page 4 In This Issue... G R E A T Page 9 D E S I G N S To Dye For! Index P a g e 12 News................................1-5 Opinion.............................6-8 Features.........................9-11 Arts & Entertainment....12-15 Sports...........................16-20 �NEWS MARCH 27, 2007 2 In search of Provost Going all Mac Student Goverment Notes Harrisburg Trip 2 3 4 5 Committee selected to find VP for Finance and Support Ops Frantz chosen to head search committee for Byers’ replacement BY ANDREW SEAMAN Beacon Asst. News Edior A search committe charged with the task of finding a new Vice President for Finance and Support Operations was named late last week. The committee will be chaired by Vice President for Enrollment and Marketing, Mike Frantz. The remainder of the committee is analytical capabilities; proven understanding of current and emerging technologies, customer service orientation, and a collaborative and open management style.” Byers currently oversees all of the university’s financial operations; support operations including public safety, facilities and custodial; information technology; and serves as general counsel. to use his insight into law to extend his leadership on campus as General Counsel. Frantz said that the school does not require a law degree with this position since Wilkes has always received outside legal counsel from a local law firm. President Tim Gilmour, in a previous story, acknowledged that Byers’ degree is a unique combination. Jamie Gwynn, a sophomore communications major, who will be serving on the committee as one of the two student representatives, told The Beacon he will be keeping an eye out for the best candidate Frantz that offers a combination of key professional characteristics. “Without hearing any opinions from the student body yet, the areas that I believe would benefit the students most, and what they would like to see in a candidate would be regarding ethical values, leadership, and of course, the innovative ideas that candidate will present to make Wilkes University better in all aspects,” Gwynn said. Gwynn also shared his thoughts on serving on the committee. He said that he believed “having a student’s perspective on a search committee offers a fair chance for a representative voice for the entire student body....You wouldn’t think it means a lot for a student to be on this committee, but not only am I learning valuable things for my future, but I’m also representing the Wilkes community.” Representing the Wilkes community as fully as possible is a driving factor in the creation of search committees for faculty and administration. The president appointed a chair, in this case Frantz, who then fields suggestions from people from around the university as to who should serve on the Byers has such talented individuals in his organization that any person coming into this position will be fortunate to have great leadership already in place. -Vice President of Enrollment and Marketing, Mike comprised of: Board of Trustees member, Susan Shoval; faculty members, Dr. R. Gregory Peters, Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Dr. Thomas Hamill, Assistant Professor of English, and Dr. Nandita Das, Assistant Professor of Accounting; staff members, Controller Anna Rusnak Noon, Manager of Capital Projects Paul Kaspriskie Jr., Athletic Director Adelene Malatesta and students Sherri Homanko, Jamie Gwynn. Sott Byers has announced his resignation of the Vice President position and will leave no later than May 15 to take a position at Diversified Information Technologies based in Scranton, PA. Wilkes has advertised on the website of The Chronicle of High Education, and notes that the committee is looking for someone with a minimum of a “master’s degree with significant education and senior-level experience in financial management, planning and operations.” The ad also states that an “ideal candidate will possess highly developed financial and Frantz, who is the Chair of the search committee, told The Beacon that Byers’ replacement will be “coming into a very good position.” One reason Frantz gave for this is because of the administration that he referred to as a “strong team.” In addition, “[Byers] has such talented individuals in his organization that any person coming into this position will be fortunate to have great leadership already in place,” Frantz said. Another selling point for this position is the timing of the opening. According to the ad for this position, the priority deadline for applications is April 15, 2007. Byers’ replacement will start after the budget for the following school year is set and will be able to “get the lay of the land,” as Frantz put it. The search will also benefit from the fact that the committee is, at this point, not looking for someone with a law degree. Byers, who holds a Juris Doctorate from American University, was able committee. Staff and students are selected based on these suggestions. Faculty are elected by their colleagues and the president or the chair of the committee generally asks a member of the board of trustees to complete the team. Frantz also noted that there will be a “great amount of consistency” between this new search and the search that is currently in the process of finding a new provost for the university. One concern that may be raised in this search is the amount of time it will take to find the replacement, but Frantz added that the committee has been told to “move the search along as rapidly as possible.” To do so, ads have been placed in the most high profile locations for this field, including The Chronicle of High Education, The Wall Street Journal and on the National Association of College and University Business Officers’ website. An update can be expected sometime after the priority deadline in mid April. B E ACON Serving the community through fair and accurate reporting while supporting the views and opinions of our readers. Editorial Staff Editor-in-Chief: Curran Dobson Email: wilkesbeacon@gmail.com News Editor: Nick Podolak Email: news.beacon@gmail.com Op/Ed Editor: Kristyn Ostman Email: thebeacon.oped@gmail.com Features Editor: Nora Jurasits Email: thebeaconfeatures@gmail.com A&E Editor: Stephanie Debalko Email: thebeaconae@gmail.com Sports Editor: Ariel Cohen Email: beaconsports@gmail.com Photo Editor: Nick Zmijewski Advertising Managers: Stephanie Yachim Dana Zlotucha Email: thebeacon.ads@gmail.com Advisor: Dr. Andrea Breemer Frantz Established in 1936 PA Newspaper Association Member Printed on Mondays during the academic school year. 130 S. River St. First Floor, Conyngham Hall, Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 (570) 408-5903 wilkesbeacon@gmail.com www.wilkesbeacon.com �MARCH 27, 2007 NEWS 3 New Macs on campus garner national attention BY MARK CONGDON, JR Beacon Staff Writer Wilkes University recently took a big juicy bite out of Macintosh’s newest computer technology. The University will be one of the few college campuses nationwide to exclusively use and service Macintosh computers. The new Mac computers are able to run both Windows and Mac applications, and will save the university money, according to Mike Salem, Chief Information Officer. “Our end users get the flexibility to choose the system, Windows or Mac, and the application that best suits their needs. Switching to one system has made the computer classrooms and labs more flexible. Gone are the days when we had dedicated rooms for one system or the other. This conversion allows us to make better use of our campus resources, allowing Wilkes to save more than $150,000,” said Salem. Salem added, “One needs to understand that we are embracing a hardware platform in the new Intel based Macs that allow our students, faculty and staff to choose the best Windows or Mac application to suit their needs. The Wilkes community can now have the best of both worlds. This is what is different about what Wilkes has done as we are among the first campus to use the new Intel based hardware to run both the Windows and Mac operating systems and the application software of both on the same computer.” As a result of this change, Wilkes University has received both local and national attention, notes Christine Seitzinger, Associate Director Marketing Communications. “The Mac news has garnered local and national media attention. National media placements have included the Chronicle of Higher Education (online), Computerworld and now the Wall Street Journal. More than 40 online sources and blogs have picked up the story. Also, [Scott] Byers will be a live guest on Your Mac Life Show, a traditional podcast that has more than 170,000 listeners per week,” said Seitzinger. Salem said, “It will take about three years to replace most of the 1,700 computers on campus with the new Intel Mac systems.” He added that when the project is complete, it will have cost the university about $1.4 million. Joshua Walker, freshman mechanical engineering major, believes that the switch could be beneficial as long as the computers aren’t too complicated to figure out. “If they are user friendly to those who don’t have Mac computers, it should be beneficial for Wilkes,” said Walker. The Beacon/ Cara Coster Students work on Macs in the library which is just one of several buildings on campus that have new hybrid computers. Suzanne Cochi, sophomore undeclared Windows applications, there is no need for major, agreed that Wilkes should benefit. anyone to switch over to the Mac side un“Students will be able to ac- cess all less they wish to,” said Salem. Salem concluded by saying that, “There the software from both types of computers on one system now, and this should save us is more to this initiative than just changing time. We now don’t have to go to another computer if we need an application; now it will all be in one,” stated Cochi. However, Cochi said that it would be a good idea to offer training to those who don’t know how or have trouble using Mac computers. “If A 12-ounce bottle of beer has the the university could give same amount of alcohol as a a small training session standard shot of 80-proof liquor or a brief overview to students, faculty and staff on (either straight or in a mixed drink) how to use the new comor 5 ounces of wine. puters, I think that it will help people get the most -Sponsored by Health Services out of them,” said Cochi. “Apple will be providing resources to assist with training on Mac applications. However, since these computers run http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/CollegeStudents/alcoholMyths.asp A l c o h o l M y t h B u s t e rs : “Beer doesn’t have as much alcohol as hard liquor” [][ computer hardware. Wilkes and Apple executives met last month to discuss how we can work together to pioneer advances in the use of technology in academics.” Sundance Vacations Inc -Sports/ Event Marketing! -Flexible Schedule -Weekends & nights a must -GREAT PAY! $100 to $200/day -Transportation a plus Public interaction marketing at various events in your area CALL NOW! 1-800-233-1613 �NEWS MARCH 27, 2007 4 television movie based on the true story of a landmark Supreme Court case that addressed the experimental sterlization of mentally challenged women. Most fans who have seen Matlin’s performances on television or in film agree that her ability to speak is so refined that they cannot tell she is hearing impaired. “She is someone who has lived most of her life without being able to hear. She’s become a tremendously accomplished actress, performer as well as a philanthropist and somebody who does advocacy to all of those less advantaged. I hope the respect will resonate with the graduates,” Adams said. Wilkes University has a long history of offering a sign language interpreter for its graduation ceremonies. There is no word as to whether Matlin will sign for herself throughout the speech. MATLIN from FRONT PAGE The Beacon/Nick Zmijewski On Saturday, March 24 Wilkes University hosted over 200 accepted students and their families at their annual VIP Day. Students were treated to tours and classes presented by Wilkes faculty members. Courtesy Marketing Communications Wilkes 2007 graduation speaker Marlee Matlin. “She’s a very talented lady if you look at the list of things she’s done, but she gives back. She’s very philanthropic, the sort of character Wilkes would want for a commencement speaker,” said Dr. Bonnie Culver, English professor and director of the MA in creative writing program, whose screenplay Raining Rainbows was optioned by Matlin’s production company, Solo One Productions. Culver’s ties to Matlin are what ultimately led her and Dr. Adams to bring her to campus. “I’ve never met her in person, so it will be great for me to meet her,” Culver said. “I’m just as excited as everyone else.” Matlin has played the lead role in Against Her Will: The Carrie Buck Story, a made for SG Notes -l#lK[S UNIVfRSJTY- At the March 21, 2007, Student Government (SG) meeting: Courtesy marleematlinsite.com Marlee Matlin in her Oscar winning debut in “Children of a Lesser God.” @@@~@~~~~~~~~~~~~~@ i @ i i @ i --- @ 'webuy and5ell i ,,s i i l\llll5 YIY PS2 XBOX NINTENDO VDE8GADS llsllMl45s @ @ I I I !i IUSIOL ENEIGI !I ~ @ 59 north main -- wilkes barre ,_ 829-2929 @ . - - - -- - - - - - - , @ i we have hundreds of posters!! i @ .____ _ _ _ _ ____, ~ @~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Courtesy http://student.valpo.edu @ New Business Spring Fling and Budget: Spring Fling will be held at the Waterfront on March 31 starting at 6 p.m. The total cost of the event will be $10,567.50, but with ticket sales, the cost comes down to $8,067.50. Student Government Election: Student Government elections will be held on Monday, March 26 to Wednesday, March 28. Voting will take place over email. Casino Night: Casino Night was held on Friday, March 23 at 8 p.m. in the ballroom. Prizes included gift cards, televisions, game systems and Wilkes attire. SGA Summit: Student Government will host a summit for area Student Government organizations on April 14. Block Party: OCC will once again be holding block party with food vendors, games and bounce houses on April 21. Events Wilkes Idol - March 27, April 3, 10 Spring Fling - March 31, Waterfront @ 6 p.m. �NEWS MARCH 27, 2007 5 Students lobby in Harrisburg on financial aid issues Courtesy of Rob Donahue Students met with representatives and state senators from the Wilkes-Barre area including John Yudichak, Mike Carroll, Eddie Day Pashinski and Lisa Baker to lobby for an increase in student funding for higher education. Junior hisory major Robert Donohue said, “They seemed like they were all for the idea of more FIA, especially Mike Carroll and Eddie Day Pashinski since they too, used to work in higher education.” MIDNIGHT MADNESS A large cheese pizza + an 8pc Breadsticks , CinnaStix or Cheesybread $9.99 +TAX VALID 12AM-CLOSE Expires 5/31/076 IMM I FREE BROWNIES Buy a large pizza at regular price and get a 1 Ope order of our new warm brownies FREE Expires 10/8/06 ITV I Courtesy of Meredith Rogers Wilkes University student, Mary Balavage, poses with Pennsylvania State Senator Lisa Baker (R) on a recent trip to Harrisburg. Wilkes-Barre 570-829-2900 154 s. Pennsylvania Ave Sun-Thur 11 am-2am Fri & Sat 11 am-4am �Opinion Harvard Sex Ed Angry Rant: Immigration 8 MARCH 27, 2007 6 Civilian protection Public apologies don’t always ring true Sticks and stones may break your bones…but words can never hurt. Oh? Recently media maven Ann Coulter came under fire for comments she made before a CPAC gathering in which she referred to Democratic Presidential hopeful John Edwards as a “faggot.” Conservatives and liberals alike decried her use of the term as bigoted and nasty. In her response to the public outcry, Coulter explained that she had intended the comment as “a joke.” Effectively, this was meant as an apology. Did Coulter’s comment cross the line? Obviously, such a volatile somehow shame these people into an apology, such statements would not be even remotely sincere, so what’s the point? Why should Washington apologize? It is clear that he meant what he said, or he would not have repeated it on multiple occasions. Therefore, any apology he makes is purely to please sponsors and the public. Obviously, making derogatory remarks toward any race, culture, religion or sexual orientation is not acceptable, but insisting on Courtesy of oneresolve.wordpress.com Aleksander Lapinski an apology is fruitless. The same to promote our separate ideas or rights that allow us to lifestyles, no matter how ignorant feel free to live differ- some of those opinions might be. ent lifestyles also gives The legal limit is, of course, that crass people the right to we cannot say things that infringe have another opinion. upon others’ rights or make others Last year, at a Beacon feel threatened. Did Coulter’s or staff meeting, there was Washington’s comments threaten? a back-and-forth debate No, though we could argue that over public displays of they contribute to a culture of ingay pride and homo- tolerance that can, indeed, threaten sexuality. One side em- given enough weight. In the end, phasized freedom of ex- though, their comments simply pression and the right to afforded clear glimpses into the pursue what makes them speakers’ characters. happy. However, the flip The more serious attacks on gay side did not want to be rights are not coming from Ann bombarded by messages Coulter or Isaiah Washington. Insbout a lifesyle they dis- stead, we should focus on more agreed with. They felt in pressing matters, such as South this their rights were be- Carolina officially banning gay ing violated. Both sides marriage. Not everyone is going made compelling argu- to think progressively and we canments and neither apolo- not all agree on the same things; gized for their views. however, taking away rights that This is how the Ameri- will at least put us all at equal can free speech system levels is more of what we should works. worry about than which celebrity We are a culture born should put a shine on the latest in the tradition of dis- public apology to save face. sent. We have our rights to speech and assembly remark was made purely for shock value and the widespread press coverage it received has certainly ensured she hit the mark there. We think the use of such language is not only bigoted, but also displays ignorance among some we might otherwise look to as media savvy. Another case in point: Actor Isaiah Washington, of Grey’s Anatomy has been rumored to possibly lose his contract after his repeated antihomosexual comments directed at co-star T.R. Knight. Suddenly he began making public apologies as angry activist groups began to protest the program. For her part, Coulter is not particularly apologetic. Washington has made efforts. But the point is that if the media and the public A Sight for Sore Eyes 8 Beacon Anti-gay statments not easily forgiven BY THE BEACON EDITORIAL BOARD 7 Poll Results The following are results of a poll that The Beacon conducted online this past week. The poll was unscientific, and does not claim to reflect the overall attitudes of students on campus. Results are based on 52 responses. The Beacon asked: What is the best kind of bottled water? • • • • • • • • • • Dasani - 35% Aquafina - 19% Other - 13% Figi - 10% Poland Spring - 10% Evian - 8% Perrier - 4% Deer Park - 1% Nestle - 0% Dannon - 0% Next Week’s Question: What is the most irritating word misuse? • • • • • • • • • • There/Their/They’re Two/To/Too Whether/Weather Loose/Lose Effect/Affect Than/Then It’s/Its You’re/Your Are/Our Other Visit www.wilkesbeacon.com to cast your vote. Results will be published in next week’s issue of The Beacon. �MARCH 27, 2007 OPINION 7 Harvard’s True Love Revolution aims at ‘mindless sex’ BY ADRIENNE RICHARDS Beacon Asst. Opinion Editor Sex ed. We have been learning the male and female anatomy since middle school. We had tests on the “boy parts” and “girl parts.” Movies have repeatedly made a mockery of this sex education while classrooms full of students have giggled and blushed trying to put a condom on a banana. Now, Harvard University has formed an abstinence group to fight against what they call “mindless sex.” Two students at the Ivy League school discovered a student health center’s advertisement for FREE LUBE, a promotion of the mindless sex they are fighting against, so they opted to offer an alternative. Interestingly enough, the two who have created this group are dating. They have called their group True Love Revolution and have over 90 participants on their Facebook.com page. According to the homepage for the group, “TLR is a new, non-sectarian student group at Harvard College dedicated to the promotion of premarital sexual abstinence...[the group’s] efforts focus on community outreach, publicity, and support for those who wish to remain strong in or have recommitted themselves to this cause.” It was evident my freshman year that sex-talk was normal conversation at Wilkes. I remember it being thrown in my face the moment I walked into the dormitory. Baskets of individually lubricated condoms filled the common room, along with flavorful dental dams. Some wiseguy always found it amusing to display these sexual protection mechanisms as artwork around the dorm. And stickers were randomly placed around the halls with the black bold words JUST DO IT printed on a white condom. In short, sex is everywhere. As freshmen we were encouraged to attend group discussions about practices of safe sex and the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). However, we have moved from STDs to sexually transmitted infections (STIs). In a recent conversation with my mother, she was unaware of the switch from STDs to STIs. I will once and for all separate the two. STDs have symptoms. However, organizations The Beacon/Cara Koster have begun using the term STIs because these infections can be passed from one individual to another even when there are no apparent symptoms. So, has sex on college campuses become mindless? Are universities promoting sexual behavior when they provide their students with the means to conduct such activity? When too much alcohol is consumed everything and/or anything will become mindless. So, yes, when alcohol is mixed into the equation sexual intercourse will be mindless. On the other hand, having condoms around the dorm is not an advertisement to have sex, but a safe option for those who choose to do so. Freshmen year students are breaking away from the strict reins their parents had on them all through grade school and struggling with their newly claimed freedom. It is my hope that as Evans Hall is revamped into an all freshmen dorm we see a lot more of these prized baskets in that dormitory. And it is very convenient that health services is in the same building--it shouldn’t be moved. Maybe Wilkes will not see a True Love Revolution group on campus anytime soon as we do not have that sort of prestigious reputation to uphold. But the basis on which Harvard formed its abstinence group is still applicable to Wilkes and any college campus. Will abstinence ultimately become the dominant social practice on campuses across the nation? Perhaps not. But education is key. Awareness of risks is essential. And easy access to means of protection should people not choose abstinence is very important to maintaining a healthy climate. News coverage of tragic events acknowledges humanity BY ANDREW SEAMAN Beacon Asst. News Editor Last Saturday I worked at VIP Day as an admissions ambassador, but also as a student from the communication studies department helping with various classes that prospective students attended. One of the classes I helped with was Mass Media. This topic is huge and cannot be fully covered in one fifty minute session, but many things did come up in conversation. One subject was the shock value of certain news items and why people watch them. I brought up the point that just because you see a house fire on TV and like to look doesn’t make you a bad person. As expected, some in the crowd reacted to my comment as if I were an axe murderer. Staring at the accident on the road, listening to the television news story about the murder across town, or reading the account of war in Iraq doesn’t make us sick and twisted. And don’t get me wrong. I do not hope houses burn down or people get into accidents. But craning our necks to watch images of these events does not make our society depraved. It makes us human, and indeed, such events connect us. Think for a moment about the circus, or any other form of entertainment based on thrilling an audience. In a circus, for example, we hold our collective breath when the high wire artist fakes a slip or those hurtling through the air on the trapeze miss a hand off. The truly daring circus is the one that doesn’t offer a net, and it’s also the one that sells the most tickets. Why? Audiences are not interested in seeing death, per se, but they are interested in being thrilled--we are fascinated by the unusual, the daring, the brightly colored and the shocking. Humans seek out those things in life that are not mundane. Just because audiences come night after night to see if a high wire artists might walk out of the tent as a pancake doesn’t make them evil. People are simply hard-wired to take in their surroundings and be curious about what is going on. Scientifically the term Schadenfreude means to take pleasure in someone else’s misfortune that draws such audiences. But I’m not sure it’s acutally pleasure. I think that curiosity is what drives an audience to keep watching, and the thrill of What if. When you pass a car crash, you look. What is ethically wrong with that? It is natural to be attracted to the image that is not of the norm. The same holds true for the news. If our media published half of the shocking images taken from hot spots around the world such as the Sudan, Iraq, or Afghanistan, or regularly offered video feed from natural disasters like tornadoes, hurricanes, or earthquakes, audiences would go insane from how much sadness there is in the world. So, we’re offered a few, often sanitized, images, and they remain out of the ordinary. There is a reason why the fire is the lead story on the local news. There is also another reason as to why audiences find out that “The family is now looking for temporary housing. They did not have insurance,” instead of hearing their truly personal stories about what each person lost. News gives shape to community. When reports of the unusual, the fantastic, the shocking filter into our headlines and images, it’s not necessarily a ploy to sell more papers or increase viewership. Disasters, wars, loss, and yes, even death, define a key component of human experience--one that the rest of us are curious about. News shapes society, and as gatekeepers news directors, editors and producers have a huge responsibility because they choose how the community reacts. If the media offers an in-depth story about a family who lost all of their possessions in a fire and the single father of six children who lived in the house has terminal cancer, viewers or readers are more likely to send the family a card with a $1,000 check in it. If the stories that emerged from 9/11 taught us nothing else, they showed that stories of human loss ultimately bind communities and bring people together. Yes, the interest is born of curiosity, but it’s also born of compassion. News coverage of tragic events is necessary, and while some may be attracted to such stories as vouyers, the majority are attracted to such stories because they are simply human and need connection with one another. �MARCH 27, 2007 OPINION 8 Civilians should never be seen as fair game in war BY CURRAN DOBSON Beacon Editor-in-Chief I recently participated in a debate in my history class about whether or not the United States should have dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki to end World War II. Needless to say, it got heated. And I fell confidently on the side of those who thought we should have found a better way, a more diplomatic, humane way. My main argument was that there should be a distinction between military lives and civilian lives. When a government decides to wage war, it makes the conscious decision to expend the lives of the men and women serving in the armed forces in order to accomplish a goal, in order to win power, in order to take power away from those countries bent on destruction and greed. Men and women sign up for war knowing that they place their lives on the line for their country. If you ask them, they will state that they know the risks and decide to fight anyway. Civilian lives are more often than not the lives these men and women are fighting to protect. As a country, we have gone to war to defend or protect or assert our way of life. In World War II, we fought to stop the rise of a misguided dictator who held no respect or regard for human life. And, we fought because Japan made an unprovoked attack on our soil with the intent of drawing us into the war. We responded with the full force of our military might, which included the atomic bomb. And, while it ended the war and prevented the loss of more American military personnel, our grandfathers and uncles and possibly grandmothers, we killed innocent people to bring Japan to her knees and bring a b o u t surrender. It is this act that I took so much issue with during the debate. And while I realized that a life is a life and the loss of a military man or woman is felt just as keenly as the loss of a civilian, I held firm on the idea that civilian men, women, and children should be protected from the acts of war. It’s why we have rules of en- gagement and people can be tried for war crimes. The existence of war trials suggests that certain acts are not tolerated in war and will be punished, thus destroying the concept of “All’s fair in (love and) war.” My classmates argued that Japan had bombed us at Pearl Harbor and initiated this war and that this was simply our retaliation for what they started. But, we responded on such a large scale, one many times greater than what occurred at Pearl Harbor and Graphic by Kristyn Ostman on civilian lives. Yeah, yeah, I’m beating a dead horse with the civilian thing, but take for instance the attack on 9/11. While in America it was viewed as unprovoked and from a faceless enemy, for those hijackers and members of al-Qaeda, it was far from unprovoked and was done with the express intent of declaring war on America and our way of life. And, no, I am not defending the actions of those men. I consider them horrific, unfeeling monsters just like every other red-blooded American. What I am asking Americans to consider is that our attack on those cities may have seemed to the Japanese very similar to the way we perceived the attack on 9/11. Those hijackers upped the ante in terms of the way war can be waged by intensifying the game, identifying civilians as fair targets and using our own conventional means of transportation against us. In many ways, we upped the ante in World War II by successfully developing and employing a catastrophic weapon of war and using it against civilians. I recognize that war is inevitable and in some cases necessary. And, yes, I am glad that the war in the Pacific ended when it did and both of my grandfathers came home alive. What I wish, however, is that we could have found a better way, a way that didn’t send a message to the global community that war could be so destructive and that young children, grandmothers, and men and women alike were fair game. The Angry Rant: Hazleton Immigraton Ordinance BY TIM SIEGFRIED Beacon Asst. Sports Editor It’s probably just me, but maybe the ACLU should spend more time defending people who are actually citizens of this country. Perhaps I’ve sounded too critical of the ilPure ridiculousness. That’s how I describe legal immigrants thus far, but it is my firm the current hot button issue that is illegal belief that if you want to live in this country, immigration. then you need to become a citizen and conFor those not in the know, it seems that tribute to the American workforce. there are citizens from other countries I’m all for coming into America without the proper identification or without an someone leavapparent desire to attain such idening their hometification. to find a If people are committing a crime, and illegal immigration is clearly that, then why is there land And so it is, this problem has better life in the even a debate over what we are doing? turned into quite an epidemic, as it United States. seems that more and more illegal After all, immigrants are coming into the weren’t most of country every day. our descendants If people are committing a crime, immigrants and illegal immigration is clearly that, then ACLU, have filed complaints that the act is ter or any additional resources to someone when they first arrived on the shores? why is there even a debate over what we unconstitutional and would end up hurting who just robbed a bank, you are held reOur country is built around the principles sponsible for your actions as well, as there that this is the land of opportunity and that are doing? the town in the end. This debate has been brought to light in First of all, I’ve been waiting for Hazele- is a crime that does prevent ordinary citi- you can find your way by working towards our area recently, thanks in part to the deci- ton to announce an official language for a zens from aiding and abetting felons. it. It’s also beyond me how the ACLU, which sion made by Mayor Lou Barletta of Hazle- long time. Personally, I was campaigning You just need to do it legally. for Polish, but whatever. means the American Civil Liberties Union, ton. Secondly, those business owners who are can be on the side of the illegal immigrants. The Immigration Relief Act was passed in order to punish those who were assisting illegal immigrants through employment or housing. As such, fines were issued to those who were renting to or employing illegal immigrants. In addition, the act also made English the official language of Hazeleton. In response, several groups, including the providing employment to illegal immigrants are committing a crime, simply because they are paying their employees under the table (no taxes!), not to mention they are withholding jobs from other citizens who aren’t willing to work for five dollars an hour and no bathroom breaks. Also, let’s not forget that if you offer shel- -======---- �FEATURES MARCH 27, 2007 Historical buildings Relay for Life 10 10 9 University College shapes lives, offers direction The programs and services that University College offer were created to lend guidance and assistance to all students through any challenges they may face as they go through the transitional stages of personal and intellectual growth. These programs include: Academic Advising Services, Act 101 Program, Career Services, Disability Imagine walking into a room, unsure and Support Services, ESL Program, First-Year fearful of what your future holds. You may Program, Learning-Skills Program, Supplefeel alone, confused and possibly overmental Instruction, Tutorial Services, Undewhelmed. Now imagine leaving that same clared Major Program and Upward Bound room a little while later with an idea of Program. where you want to go and what you want For seven years, Karen Riley has held the to achieve, with the confidence to make it position of Act 101 assistant director and happen. has seen the positive impact that the proFor Wilkes University students, this gram has on students. “room” exists on campus. University Col“I love working with students because lege, located in Conyngham Hall, is the each student is unique and has something to Wilkes version of the “Center for Student offer in making a difference in our world. I Success.” am able to see students feel successful and University College was first established achieve their goals,” Riley said. in 1826 by London philosopher Jeremy Many Wilkes students participate in the Bentham. Bentham insisted that education programs during the course of their studies be available to everyone regardless of genhere. der, race, or religion, therefore he opened Mike Fox, a 2006 Wilkes grad, is a former his doors to all students. lacrosse and football player. Fox is just one Blake Mackesy, assistant director of of the countless students over the years who has benefited from University College. During his freshman year in 2002, Fox entered University College for the first For a regular time. tank He said the most important aspect top, cut at least anthat helped him through his undergraduate inch experience was knowing that he had help away from the slee ves, to him at any time. available “If es I slipped, I knew [Karen Riley] was and two or more inch going to be there to kind of guide me.” down from the neck Fox attended the peer tutoring sessions offered through University College, which line. are open to everyone, while he was struggling through Calculus II. “They spent time working on homework problems with me and they were just students at that point that were doing some tutoring, so I think that really helped and got me back on track to the point where I was at least doing better in the math classes that I was struggling in.” The majority of students who take advantage of these programs and services that University College has to offer see a great amount of improvement in many areas, Riley said. “Student improvement can vary at all different levels, but is mostly reflected in better semester grade point averages, betMike Fox, a 2006 graduate of Wilkes, now serves as an admissions counselor ter decision-making when contemplating at the university. Fox used the services available through University College important choices, better guidance in acato help him succeed as an undergraduate. demic advisement and better confidence in BY NICOLE FRAIL & JAMIE GWYNN Beacon Correspondents Part I: Breaking the Stigma University College, is one of the many caring individuals that continue this tradition. “I try to help students make connections between their Wilkes experience, both their classes and out of class experiences, and their personal lives, values, hopes and dreams. Individuals who achieve great success often do so with the assistance of others.” Since 1976, the Act 101 program has been one of the programs that helps students reach these goals. Through this program, students are assigned personal academic counselors who listen to their concerns and share strategies and ideas to help students set and achieve goals. Act 101 is open to any Pennsylvania resident who demonstrates financial need to attend college, and there is no cost to be a member. The Act 101 program provides a variety of services, including academic, career, and financial aid guidance, and professional and peer study sessions in selected courses. Although Act 101 is for specific students, all students have the potential to benefit from at least one program that University College offers. approaching either academic or personal situations.” “Considering University College is [available for no additional cost on tuition], I think you are kind of a fool not to use [their resources] to your advantage,” Fox added. So why aren’t more students involved with University College? “I think that every time you have to go for help, there’s a stigma, you know, that [it’s] wrong,” Fox said. Riley agreed. “From a student’s perspective, he or she may feel that others see him or her as weak in that subject area and may not be able to do the work. So that individual may avoid seeking out help for his or her concern.” It’s important to remember that Bentham’s purpose in opening his doors to all students was so that every student, no matter their differences or capabilities, could get the education he or she deserves. Students who turn to University College are not viewed as weak and are not stereotyped into negative categories or groups. Fox said that no matter who you may be, there is no shame in asking for assistance if you need it. “You are not necessarily inept or incapable of doing something… I think there is a possibility for every student on campus to get something out of University College.” Whether a student is trying to raise their GPA or declare a major, one result that the student will see that Fox, Mackesy and Riley agreed on is an increase in his or her confidence. “The best tool to have is the confidence to seek help,” Mackesy said. Mike Fox used the resources from University College to his advantage, and currently he is an admissions counselor for Wilkes. Still think it’s not “cool” to get free help? In Part II, we’ll take a look at Supplemental Instruction and Tutoring (peer and professional) available to all Wilkes students through University College. �10 FEATURES MARCH 27, 2007 Wilkes buildings have ties to manners maven BY NORA JURASITS Beacon Features Editor Photos: The Beacon/Cara Koster Students living in Rifkin Hall no longer have an excuse to not be on their best behavior. The building, which was built in 1873, was designed by Bruce Price, who is the father of famous Etiquette author, Emily Post. According to the Walk Wilkes-Barre brochure, which provides information about historic buildings in the city, Rifkin Hall was originally designed for the Murray Reynolds family. Years before Wilkes acquired the building in 1989, another familiar name was associated with the building. Colonel Robert B. Ricketts, who donated Ricketts’ Glen State Park to Pennsylvania, resided in the house. “Colonel Robert B. Ricketts, a Battle of Gettysburg hero, lumber baron, and early conservationist, who donated Ricketts’ Glen State Park to the people of Pennsylvania,” once lived in the building that now houses Wilkes students. Wilbur Hayes, associate professor of biology, emeritus, has done research on Rifkin Hall, as well as Bedford Hall, which was also designed by Price. He said the building was donated to Wilkes in 1967. “At that time, much of campus was on one block, and there was now a new men’s dormitory.” Hayes added that Bruce Price and family, including Emily Post, only lived in WilkesBarre for three years, between 1873 and 1876, before moving to New York City. After moving, Price helped design Tuxedo Park, and according to greatbuildings. com, “The Shingle style houses Price built at Tuxedo, with their compact massing and axial plans, influenced several young architects including Frank Lloyd Wright.” Rifkin Hall, left, is located at 80-84 South River Street, and serves as a dorm for Wilkes students. Bedford Hall, located at 96 West South Street, house the department of Air and Space Studies/Air Force ROTC offices and the Institutional Research Office. Both buildings were designed by Bruce Price, father of Emily Post. Participants prepare for upcoming Relay for Life event BY NORA JURASITS Beacon Features Editor The Relay for Life is still a month away, but teams on and around campus are already preparing for the event by raising funds and awareness. John Botch, who is serving as the team recruitment co-chair, said there are at least twelve teams already signed up. The event is designed to raise money and awareness and to benefit the American Cancer Society. “The purpose is to raise cancer awareness. It’s also to raise money for the projects that the American Cancer Society wants to do, research, and get the information out to people so less people get cancer, and they know what to do to not get it, if possible,” Botch said. To raise money, teams have the option of enlisting area businesses to donate and relying on the donations of friends and family. Many teams are also fundraising through group events. “There’s one team that’s going to be doing a car wash, and other teams are selling t-shirts,” Botch said. Teams are encouraged to be imaginative with their fundraising. “There’s a wide variety of things they can do,” he added. “We have about 120 people signed up so far, and our goal is $100 per person to raise. Our goal is $20,000 as of right now, being the first year event for us. Once we get the business sponsors on, we should be good.” The majority of the teams are composed of students, but there are also two faculty teams, and a team formed by employees of Target. See RELAY, Page 11 �RELAY from Page 10 Botch said members of the community, as well as other local businesses, are welcome to participate in the event. Matt Crouse, P2 major, said his team is just doing individual fundraising so far, but they plan to do something soon to raise money as a group. “We want to do something creative that other people aren’t doing,” Crouse said. Crouse wanted to be a part of the Relay for Life because his grandfather and sister had cancer, and he wanted to do something to raise money and awareness so others may not have to suffer. “I think that everyone has had contact with a relative or someone they knew that had cancer, and I think events like this are a good place for people to learn about cancer and come together for a FEATURES 11 cure. It’s also great because survivors and people with cancer are going to be there, and it is great to show them our support and love and let them know they aren’t alone.” Crouse added that his team is prepared to stick it out for the 24-hour event. “I think [we’re] used to staying up late, if not all night, so I think we will be in good shape for the long haul.” Anyone who has an interest in registering a team is still encouraged to do so. Forms are being accepted until March 31, but Botch said they are willing to extend the deadline so as many people as possible are given the opportunity to sign up. To register, call 484-347-7237 and leave a voicemail, or e-mail Botch at john.botch@wilkes.edu. The Beacon/Nick Zmijewski MARCH 27, 2007 On Thursday, March 22, Dr. David Wyatt visited Wilkes University. Wyatt, who teaches at the University of Maryland in College Park, came to Wilkes to read from his latest book, And the War Came. Before reading in Kirby Hall, Wyatt joined students and faculty members for dinner, where he was able to learn about day-to-day life on campus. AS A COLLEGE GRAD , YOU MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR 2007 FJ CRUISER 2007 RAV4 2007 CAMRY HYBRID 2007 YARIS ANY NEW TOYOTA OF YOUR CHOICE* WWW.WINAYARISONLINE.COM† *NOT ALL CUSTOMERS WILL QUALIFY. CUSTOMERS RECEIVE $400 FROM TOYOTA TOWARDS LEASING OR FINANCING THE PURCHASE OF NEW UNTITLED TOYOTA MODELS THROUGH PARTICIPATING TOYOTA DEALERS AND TOYOTA FINANCIAL SERVICES. SEE DEALER OR VISIT WWW.TOYOTAFINANCIAL.COM/FINANCE FOR DETAILS. COLLEGE GRADUATE PROGRAM IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR TERMINATION AT ANY TIME. †NO PURCHASE IS NECESSARY. MAKING A PURCHASE DOES NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. TO ENTER YOU MUST BE A LEGAL U.S. RESIDENT AT LEAST 18 YEARS OLD AND YOU MUST HAVE A VALID DRIVER’S LICENSE. VISIT YOUR PARTICIPATING TOYOTA DEALER OR WINAYARISONLINE.COM FOR COMPLETE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS AND SWEEPSTAKES RULES. �A&E MARCH 27, 2007 12 Manuscript Redesign Decorating Eggs Crossword 13 14 15 Q&A with Giovanni and crew of A Perfect Stranger Dinner: Circles on theRibisi Square BY STEPHANIE DEBALKO Beacon A&E Editor Even though there is a virtual treasure trove of huge chain restaurants in town now, every now and then a girl just craves a quick lunch at a small, local place that is actually within walking distance (especially since the weather lately has turned from polar to pleasant). Luckily, Circles on Public Square in WilkesBarre fits that definition perfectly. The lack of seating is probably that first thing that jumpsA out to the average patron at Circles, but for me it was just fine, as I was feeling a bit anti-social anyway. Apparently, they have been “take out only since 1985” and quite proud of it. Circles caters to the eccentric in everyone, with an assortment of magnets, plaques (I plan on picking up the “Hippies must use side door” soon) and other gifts that are probably not easily found otherwise. ...and a Movie BY MIKE WILLIAMS Beacon Staff Writer In the short time since its opening on March 9, 300 has developed quite a media buzz for itself; and after pulling in over $70 million during its opening weekend alone, it would appear that the buzz is paying off. Luckily for moviegoers, 300 is one movie that lives up to the hype. Adapted from Sin City creator Frank Miller’s graphic novel, this epic tells the story of the legendary battle of Thermopylae, where a small band of Spartan warriors bravely held their own against the massive invading forces of the Persian Empire. Of 300’s virtual army of heroes, Sparta’s brave king Leonidas, played by Gerald Butler (Dracula 2000, Reign of Fire), stands head and shoulders above all others. After receiving a message from his trusted oracles, warning him not to march the full force of his army against the invading Persian forces, King Leonidas is faced with the decision between defying his gods and his council by leading an attack on his enemies, or obeying the oracles and sitting idly by as his people and his kingdom fall to the mighty Xerxes, “God King” of the Persian Empire. Unable to choose between the two rather unpleasant options before him, Leonidas creates his own option. Deciding that he can’t surrender his people into bondage, Leonidas leads a small force of 300 hardened soldiers to defend the mountain pass that the Persian army must travel through The locale also features a variety of sandwiches with, I must say, some very interesting names. Craving some roast pork and cranberry preserves (because who wouldn’t be)? Try the ‘Carl’s Candygram.’ More of a beef person? Give the ‘King Biscuit’s This’ll Fix It’ a whirl. The quirky titles were probably my favorite part of my dining experience, and after-as always-much debate, I finally decided to order the ‘Market Street Bridge.’ The service was so fast that I barely had time to peruse the assortment of knick-knacks and gourmet chocolates lining the walls before my order was up. But, while deciding what to order, I did have the opportunity to notice the wide range of sandwiches Circles offers. They basically have something to suit everyone, from vegetarians to hard-core carnivores, and the customer can feel very free to add and substitute to their heart’s desire --~Dinner and a Movie I gave the sandwich that extra something spe(sometimes for a small fee). After locating a place to dig in, I was able cial, next to the sprouts, of course. My only to find out exactly what a “Market Street regret would be that I wish I had realized I Bridge” is, and apparently cheese is the first could have ordered half of a sandwich inthing that came to the minds of the creators stead of the entire thing. The sandwich was of this sandwich when thinking about a huge huge. Overall, if you’re looking for a quick bite concrete overpass. With a combination of smoked mozzarella and American cheeses to eat without much hassle, Circles is defion whole wheat bread, the sandwich also nitely the place to go. The service was fast, included tomato, cucumber, red and green the food was decent and the meal names peppers, sundried tomato, sherry vinegar, were a refreshing break from the sandwich mustard and alfalfa sprouts. monotony some larger restaurants fall into. Oddly enough, my favorite part was prob- Circles is truly a unique characteristic of a ably the sprouts, as I don’t see them as often changing downtown. as I would like to and I feel they are a highly Grade: B+ underrated ingredient. The cheeses also went surprisingly well together, as did the vinegar and mustard, which I was leery about Giovanni Elaine at first. And the sundried tomatoes definitely Ribisi Goldsmith in order to reach the Dead) the film city of Sparta, while was shot almost his queen, played by entirely in MonLena Headey (The treal, heavily utiCave, The Brothers lizing blue and Grimm), attempts to green screen techconvince the council nology to create to allow the rest of the stylish, stunthe army to march, ningly realistic reinforcing the king Greek kingdom against the invaders. and the sweepOnce in position, ing, carnage-ridthe 300 Spartans den battle fields await the oncoming featured throughbattle with the seemout the film. ingly unstoppable Other than the forces of Xerxes, elaborate, comwhich numbered puter generated in the hundreds of sets on which thousands and was the three hundred comprised of warSpartans do battle, riors from all of the the combatants lands conquered by on both sides are the “God King.” The quite impressive battle that ensues is themselves, espeCourtesy of www.impawards.com cially those on the known for bravery and sacrifice made side of the invadby the 300 Spartans, and has become famous ing Persians. Consisting of wave after wave as one of the greatest “last stands” ever made. of fearsome warriors, the Persian forces range Unfortunately, those who paid attention during from infantry to explosive-throwing wizards history class will know how the battle ends. to the menacing, iron-faced Immortals. Even In addition to delivering a great story, 300 more impressive than the appearance of their explodes onto the screen, delivering one of the soldiers are the “beasts” they bring with them, most visually stunning films in years. Under including elephants and rhinoceros armored the direction of Zack Snyder (Dawn of the for battle, along with some interesting mon- sters such as the gigantic, blue-skinned, razor fanged “Uber-Immortal” (played by former WWE wrestler Robert “Kurgan” Maillet), or the “God King’s” saw-armed executioner. Most impressive of all is Xerxes himself, portrayed as a gravel-voiced, hairless, 8 ft. tall giant, adorned with gold, seated on a thrown carried on the backs of his slaves. From beginning to end, Frank Miller’s 300 is an all out cinematic tour de force, combining elements of epic storytelling, stunning visuals and heart-pounding action. However, though it may come from the pages of a comic book, it is certainly not a film for children. From the instant that the Persian army sets foot onto Spartan soil, the violence begins as the heads start to roll and the blood starts to spray. Other than the violence, the film also earns its R rating through several scenes of nudity. On the upside, though they may be vicious killers on the battlefield, the Spartan army has incredibly clean mouths, as there is virtually no bad language. Nevertheless, the film’s combination of sex and violence make 300 one for the big kids. So, if you’re in the mood for a visually stunning, adrenaline driven epic full of powerful acting and breathtaking battle scenes, go out and see 300. If you’re not into that sort of thing…go out and see it anyway, even if it’s just to see what all the hype is about. Grade: A+ �MARCH 27, 2007 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 13 Manuscript redesigns with help of Paper Kite Press BY CHRISTA SGOBBA Beacon Correspondent When members of the Manuscript staff thought their literary magazine was looking rather drab, they decided to take that problem into their own hands-literally. Wilkes University’s literary magazine, the Manuscript, will show off a new, revitalized design when its next issue comes out in May. New technology will help make the content more lifelike, while a simple pair of hands will bring a fresh look to its cover by fastening it with original bindings. “We wanted to reflect more creativity with our product,” said faculty advisor Dr. Mischelle Anthony. “Manuscript is so creative at every level that we wanted our final product to reflect that.” The Manuscript prints twice an academic year, once each semester. Founded in 1947, The Manuscript welcomes creative submissions from anyone from the Wilkes community, including students, faculty, staff and alumni. According to Anthony, it publishes work that “makes the ordinary extraordinary.” The Manuscript includes both visual and print art, such as drawings, paintings, poetry and fiction. Since the fall of 2003, the magazine has featured its current design-straightforward black and white pages slightly larger than those of a paperback novel. “It’s been safe,” said Kacy Muir, executive editor of Manuscript. Muir, a junior English major with literature and writing concentrations, has been involved with the magazine since she was a freshman. Members of the Manuscript Society decided they wanted a change, but needed some direction in how to implement their ideas. So, they enlisted the help of Jennifer benefit from the workshop because it will teach them how to incorporate their creativity into different parts of their lives. “They’ll learn how to bring their creativity into a fairly limited process,” she said. The Beacon/Cara Koster The Manuscript Society meets every Thursday to edit content, plan layout and learn book-binding techniques. They are working hard to get the new book finished in time for the unveiling on May 1. Hill-Kaucher and Dan Weber of Paper Kite Press, a small, independent press on South Franklin Street. Hill-Kaucher and Weber offered to hold a bookbinding workshop so the students could learn how to add more personality to their magazine. At the workshop in April, members will learn how to bind magazines by hand, using materials such as rubber bands, string, hemp, ribbons or lace. They will have a week to bind 300 copies of Manuscript before the May 1 unveiling of the new design. Anthony believes that the students will “Usually bookbinding isn’t seen as something really creative, but we’re going to make it be.” Changes will be made to the interior of the magazine as well. Manuscript will grow to standard 8x11 size and include full color and glossy photographs. A noticeable homage to the ‘60s and ‘70s will be evident in the style and design. “We’re going back to the old Manuscript style,” said Muir. “We’re tapping into that ‘archaic’ layout and incorporating it in a modern way.” The magazine will be modernized further by technological advances that promise to make the pages seem more lifelike. The University Print Shop, which is printing the pages at no charge for the organization, uses a high definition copier that copies submissions in their original form. Handwritten pieces, doodles, paperclips and editorial marks will all be visible in the new design, giving the magazine an original, edgy feel. Muir believes that the new design will visually stimulate readers with its three-dimensional look. She hopes its new design will prompt a broader audience to appreciate the creative works of the contributors. “Their work stands alone,” she said. “We’re just packaging it.” While Manuscript’s next issue will show a major revitalization, Anthony doesn’t think the invention should end there. “My goal is for it to be different each semester, to reflect who we are as a group,” said Anthony. “I want it to be bursting at the seams.” When the fruits of their labor are revealed to the public, Muir hopes that Manuscript sparks conversation, whether positive or negative. “Any reaction is good,” she said. “Any emotion whatsoever shows that it’s doing something, and that’s what we want. We want people to take something away from it.” 0dVdbc�k�!��&� h-Y7ILKESv�IS�COMING� \hfX[ZTb�fX[ZTb�TSd FP]c�P]�X?^S. E^cT�U^a�h^da�UPe^aXcT�<hFX[ZTb�_^acP[�STbXV]�^]�<PaRW�!&���!(�Ua^\� ¾ X]�cWT�BcdST]c�2T]cTa�P]S�QT�Pdc^\PcXRP[[h�T]cTaTS�c^�fX]�P�"�61�X?^S� 6^�c^�\hfX[ZTb�fX[ZTb�TSd�U^a�\^aT�STcPX[b�P]S�c^�e^cT� 7),+%3 <HG9<;5C �14 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT MARCH 27, 2007 Turning the plain egg into an artistic masterpiece orat dec You may ne ed t o ter de al w ng as er. Th e Be a co n ar may seem simple enough, when you experiment with decoration methods, it actually takes some testing and practice. Be prepared to lose a few eggs in the process. And it takes some patience as well, because certain things take a very long time to dry, and the curve of the egg is pretty awkward to work with. Now go to the grocery store, grab a carton of eggs, and start decorating. iss s hillip aP done. ta But while the traditional route will supply a bunch of pretty, pastel eggs in minutes, using the same methods every year gets a bit dull. Beyond the standard food dye, holiday adventurers may opt for paint, stickers, magazine clippings, markers, glue, and glitter, among other things. Ultimately, there are countless alternative methods to decorate an egg. But while the possibilities may seem endless, the thing to keep in mind is, a great idea doesn’t always guarantee success. There are many ways to decorate an egg, but believe it or not, there are also many ways to fail at decorating an egg. Here are a few alternative ways to decorate eggs, as well as some advice to keep your decorating fault-free. Before actually beginning the decoration, there obviously needs to be some ith ggs before b bad e eco ew mi f a m Eggs d and ecorate Mari d by ssa Phill Dennis ips. Con dus you choose to hard-boil your eggs, avoid spray paint. It seems like a cool idea, but any moisture on the egg will also make it impossible to dry. If you are going to use paint, it’s important to pay attention to the kind of paint you’re using. An acrylic paint is probably the best choice, while watercolors and oil-based paints would be poor choices beause it takes far too many coats for any real color to show and artists may find themselves still waiting in June. One creative method involves using colored cotton balls and glue. Coat the egg in rubber cement and paste little puffs of different colored cotton to cover the entire surface. It’s important to place the egg in a holder throughout this process to avoid the mess of directly holding the rubber cement covered egg. Once the egg is covered in cotton, its size has increased dramatically and may not exactly look like a chicken egg anymore, but heck, you can toss it and run less risk of breakage with the new padding you’ve created. There are obviously plenty of other materials to decorate eggs, and the only limitation to color and design is really the artist’s imagination. Just realize, that while it a If you think about it, the smooth white chicken’s egg is simple perfection in its plainness. But humans are known to crave color ad texture and have sought throughout history to change the blank canvas to fit our individual visions of art. At this time of year especially, the plain white egg becomes the ultimate challenging canvas for would-be artists. When it comes to the art of decorating eggs, it’s usually simple enough; put a few drops of food coloring in a cup of water, dye the egg and you’re egg preparation. While there’s the traditional method of hard-boiling the egg, another method is to remove all of the insides, keeping a hollow shell. To do this you take a safety pin, poke a moderate-sized hole on each end, and blow the egg yolk out of the shell. While the method might seem a little gross, it’s better than boiling the egg since in time a hard-boiled egg will spoil, but with the insides removed, these egg shells can be saved indefinitely. If the egg is hollowed, it’s usually helpful to immediately apply a base coat of strengthening material so that the egg isn’t as fragile when working on it. Interestingly, some use acrylic nail strengtheners for this base coat. Others will put a simple coat of white paint down as the base. To actually decor a t e t h e egg, o n e easily access i b l e material to use is a permanent marker. They’re simple, neat, and save the mess of water and dye. The thing to keep in mind is, although the markers are permanent, it’s still important to take care when making marks on the egg. Artists need to allow at least 20 seconds for the marker to set before touching the egg, or the design will smudge. Another method to use is decoupage. Clip brightly colored images from magazine or use strips of tissue paper. While both produce an interesting effect, tissue paper is the preferred material because the thickness of the magazine clippings becomes irritating to deal with due to the curve of the egg. Use a jar of adhesive/ glaze (such as Modge Podge) to adhere the pieces to the egg. Depending on the color of tissue paper used, this method can turn an egg into a spherical stained glass window if done well. Puff paint is another possibility, but stay away from glitter paint and glue, which takes an eternity to dry. Also, if /M BY MARISSA PHILLIPS Beacon Asst. A&E Editor Schedule of Events Monday, March 26 -Blitzkid, Lugosi’s Morphine and Sorrowsun performing at Backstage at 6 p.m. -Maria Dubiel performing at Fuse. -Karaoke with Scott Stevens at Slainte. Tuesday, March 27 -Corporate Karaoke w/Mitch & Dancin’ Frank at the Woodlands. -Beauty and the Beast performed at the Kirby Center at 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 28 -David Crosby and Graham Nash performing at the Kirby Center at 7:30 p.m. -The Marty Edwards Jazz Band performing at Bart and Urby’s. -Open Mic at the River Street Jazz Café. -Go Go Gadget performing at the Woodlands at 10 p.m. Thursday, March 29 -Trophy Scars performing at Backstage at 6 p.m. -Ken Schmidt lecture in the Darte Center at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 30 -Mason Dixon, Silhouette of a Soldier, Symera and the Plague of Ruin performing at Backstage at 6 p.m. -The Sw!ms, Zolof the Rock and Roll Destroyer and Losing Caufield at Cafe Metropolis at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 31 -Blue Suede Bombers, The Von Horribles and Cunnilingus performing at Backstage at 6 p.m. -An Albatross, Hot Cross and Everyone Meets Sharp at Cafe Metropolis at 8 p.m. Sunday, April 1 -Wilkes University Faculty Exhibit opens in the Sordoni Gallery at 2 p.m. �15 MARCH 27, 2007 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Kudracross BY CHRISTOPHER KUDRAK Beacon Correspondent ACROSS 1 Cronies 5 An impulse 9 Ambitions 14 Reed instrument 15 Work again 16 MC’s lead-in 17 Historical job of the Wyoming valley 19 Facial hair 20 Attire 21 Epic narrative 23 Leg parts 25 University speaker 29 Ledge 31 Major European river 32 Radiance 35 Abolish 38 “All ___ Need is Love” 39 Available resources 40 Anger 41 Cryptic 44 Mogul 46 Model 47 Monetary unit of Russia 49 Underground room 51 Raised (as in a child) 54 Those in favor 56 Ethically indifferent 58 High body temperature 62 Potentially harmful animal defense 64 Defendant’s explanation 65 Ceramic square 66 Finishes a cake 67 Shapeless protozoa 68 Agitate 69 Choose actors DOWN 1 Little (in Spain) 2 Approximately 3 Reluctant 4 Inconsiderate 5 Move with a twisting motion 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 18 22 24 26 27 28 30 32 33 34 36 37 39 42 43 44 45 48 50 52 53 55 57 58 59 60 61 63 Female bird “Beware the___of March” Ethically concerned Japanese grill Undivided School grp. Mess up Turf Used to express possibility Pathogens Rain and snow Oz man Live T.V. Style of an earlier time Talent Soap ingredient Type of chemical bond Leader Bring upon oneself Ending for Hallow Asian archipelago Substance used in styling hair Mosquito transmitted disease Find fault with Living only in the presence of oxygen Dr. Bunsen Honeydew’s Assistant Sleeps Susan Lucci soap opera role Goes out with Irritated state For fear that Airline regulating org. Nightmare street Strive in competition Recede A.K.A. Clay Answers 3.19 I B 13 A "R "F ,. D "A ' 0 's ' s R E A "0 I M p R A E E R A " I "'s :l5 N 0 u I A N D R y 3'I T s . H .s "A "E M u s s E Ill I D N E L A N ., s E 8 E R "E A This Week In History BY MICHAEL GIONRIDDO Beacon Asst. A&E Editor March 26 1979: In a ceremony at the White House, Egyptian President Anwar el-Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin signed a historic peace agreement, ending three decades of hostilities between Egypt and Israel and establishing diplomatic and commercial ties. March 27 1958: Soviet First Secretary Nikita Khrushchev replaced Nicolay Bulganin as Soviet premier, becoming the first leader since Joseph Stalin to simultaneously hold the USSR’s two top offices. March 28 1979: At 4 a.m., the worst accident in the history of the U.S. nuclear power industry began when a pressure valve in the Unit-2 reactor at Three Mile Island failed to close. Cooling water, contaminated with radiation, drained from the open valve into adjoining buildings, and the core began to dangerously overheat. March 29 1974: The unmanned U.S. space probe Mariner 10, launched by NASA in November 1973, became the first spacecraft to visit the planet Mercury, sending back closeup images of a celestial body usually obscured because of its proximity to the sun. March 30 1981: President Ronald Reagan was shot in the chest outside a Washington, D.C., hotel by a deranged drifter named John Hinckley, Jr. March 31 1492: In Spain, a royal edict was issued by the nation’s Catholic rulers declaring that all Jews who refused to convert to Christianity would be expelled from the country. Most Spanish Jews chose exile rather than the renunciation of their religion and culture, and the Spanish econ- omy suffered with the loss of an important portion of its workforce. Many Spanish Jews went to North Africa, the Netherlands, and the Americas, where their skills, capital, and commercial connections were put to good use. Among those who chose conversion, some risked their lives by secretly practicing Judaism, while many sincere converts were nonetheless persecuted by the Spanish Inquisition. The Spanish Muslims, or Moors, were ordered to convert to Christianity in 1502. April 1 1918: The Royal Air Force (RAF) was formed with the amalgamation of the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS). The RAF took its place beside the British navy and army as a separate military service with its own ministry. Note: All information is provided by the History Channel and can be found at http://www.history.com/tdih.do �SPORTS 16 MARCH 27, 2007 Cumberland Apartments Brand new luxury construction in an historic landmark building - 48 Efficiency Apartments $475./mo.* - 12 Efficiency Suites $675./mo.* *double occupancy add $150./mo. - Brand New Construction - Kitchen with appliances - Full Bath with shower - Secure Entry - Elevator - Laundry - Wi-Fi Internet - Free Water, Sewer, Trash Cumberland Apartments 17 West Ross Street Wilkes Barre, PA 18702 570-687-2220 www.cumberlandliving.com �MARCH 27, 2007 SPORTS Lacrosse club gears up for season with full roster BY ARIEL COHEN Beacon Sports Editor 17 son, but I am also terrified. It is completely different to be on the sidelines trying to explain to the players what to do rather than being able to actually go out on the field and do it for yourself.” In addition to being a team on the field, the Wilkes University lacrosse club is also a team off the field. According to McCaffrey, the team is heavily involved in community service and has even adopted the Montage Mountain/Davis Street exit of interstate 81 to ensure the environmentally clean area for years to come. As the team continues to develop and open up new possibilities for students and the university, the future for the team is looking good and may eventually grow into a full fledged varsity team once again. “If we received it [varsity status] tomorrow, I’d be ecstatic,” said Fox. A piece of athletic history has made its way back into the spotlight, uniting former teammates with new recruits and opening new opportunities to athletes. Originally formed as a varsity team in 1967, the Wilkes University lacrosse team has been brought back to life, although this time as a lacrosse club. The expectations of the team are no less; in fact, according to those associated with it, the dedication to the team is probably greater now both for current players and for alumni than ever before. Since its reincarnation in 2004 under the guidance and leadership of 1994 graduate Matt McCaffrey, the team has managed to not only recruit a large number of players to maintain a full roster, but has also joined the largest lacrosse club in the country, the National College Lacrosse League. Understanding the interest Courtesy of Matt McCaffrey and need in restarting a team at Wilkes after more than two The lacrosse club shows some love to the Back Mountain Bandits. The club recently provided Contact Ariel Cohen by email decades of silence, McCaffrey, community service to a brand new youth lacrosse league in the Dallas/Shavertown area. beaconsports@gmail.com who returned to the university as an admissions employee, has a long his- Would there be enough people to meet the return to the university,” said McCaffrey. As the season gets started, everyone intory of lacrosse in his blood from playing minimum roster number set of 28 people? to coaching. After transferring to Wilkes McCaffrey went ahead to comment that, volved is extremely excited and looking for his junior year, McCaffrey joined the “There has been a rousing success rate on forward to all that this season has to ofMen’s 2007 Wilkes intramural lacrosse club team which all levels. It is getting students involved and fer. “The one game that I have been lookLacrosse Schedule ing forward to is he played for during his two year tenure at the game against Wilkes. Between the time that he played for Millersville. In 3/31 @ Albright - 10:00 AM Wilkes and the time that he returned to Willast year’s game, kes as an employee, McCaffrey also spent 3/31 @ East Stroudsburg There has been a rousing success rate on all even though we time as an assistant boys varsity coach for - 2:00 PM levels. It is getting students involved and we have lost, Scilara, who one season at the Wyoming Seminary Up4/1 vs. Kutztown - 4:00 PM per School in Kingston and was the head managed to have a constant average roster of 25- is our senior goal4/14 vs. Penn College of ie, had 52 saves,” coach from 1995-1998 at the Wyoming 32 players. McCaffrey said. Technology - 4:30 PM Seminary Lower School in Forty Fort. The spring seaUpon his return to Wilkes in 1993 after 4/15 @ Lehigh - TBA taking five years off from the sport when he Matt McCaffrey, Lacrosse Club Advisor son, which must 4/15 @ Lafayette - TBA have a minimum took a job SUNY Maritime, McCaffrey was of eight games approached by then freshman, Mike Scilara, scheduled, will who was interested in getting a team started be one full of ups again. “In the fall of 2003, Mike came to me and we have managed to have a constant aver- and downs and surprises for both the Wilkes team and for the teams they will be playing. asked me if I would be interested in coach- age roster between 25-32 players.” ing the team, so after doing some research The benefits to the university have been Some of the other teams that the lacrosse about startup costs we proposed originally astounding in the current three year run of team will play outside of the Millersville to have a varsity lacrosse team but were told the team. “It has engaged an entire group of game will include Albright, Kutztown and we could just have a team as a club,” said Wilkes alumni from the varsity teams that Penn College of Technology. Former player and 2006 graduate, Mike McCaffrey. existed between 1967 and 1982, and, durSome of the concerns with being a club ing the homecoming weekend of 2005, we Fox, who is now an advisor to the team, was what the success rate would actually be. actually got 40 former lacrosse alumni to said, “I am honestly excited about the sea- �SPORTS 18 Commentary MARCH 27, 2007 One fan’s prediction: look for the Phillies in October Spring training wrapping up as MLB season starts April 2 BY TIM SEIGFRIED Beacon Asst. Sports Editor It’s officially spring now, and aside from the obvious changes such as the weather, there is an apparent change in the air, a sense that there is something different all around us. I speak, of course, of baseball season. Spring training has been underway for almost a month, and it is set to wrap up this week to make way for opening day on April 2. If there is one team overdue for a ring, it’s the Philadelphia Phillies. The City of Brotherly Love has been without a playoff berth since 1993, the year they were defeated in the World Series by the Toronto Blue Jays. Prior to that, they won the Big One in 1980 with a team led by Mike Schmidt, Pete Rose and Steve Carlton. Fast forward to 2007, a year in which the Phillies are led by reigning National League MVP Ryan Howard, All-star second baseman Chase Utley and young ace Cole Hamels. Could this finally be the Phillies’ year? In an off-season filled with many questions for Phillies fans as to how the team could be improved, one question loomed over everything else: could General Manager Pat Gillick put together a winning team after writing the team off in the middle of last season? After the last season surge that ended with the team narrowly missing the playoffs for the second straight season, Gillick became more proactive to build a winning club during the off-season. In what was the biggest move of the offseason, the Phils acquired starting pitcher Freddy Garcia from the Chicago White Sox for two minor league players. Garcia was crucial in helping Chicago win the World Series in 2005. That sparked a series of moves that saw the Phillies add third baseman Wes Helms, catcher Rod Barajas, as well as starting pitcher Adam Eaton and veteran relief pitcher Antonio Alfonseca. Things are certainly looking up for the Phillies, who led the National League in runs scored last season. They should have no trouble repeating that success in 2007. Projected lineup: 1. SS Jimmy Rollins: Rollins had a tremendous offensive season in 2006, hitting 25 homeruns with 83 RBIs(career highs). With his newly found power and speed, expect Rollins to have a similar year. 2. RF Shane Vi c t o r i n o : “The Flyin’ Hawaiian” took full advantage of his opportunity to play full time last season, and the effort resulted in a starting job in 2007. Vi c t o r i n o ’s speed makes him an ideal candidate to steal 40 bases this year, and his range in the outfield and his cannon of an arm Jimmy Rollins make him a threat to win a Gold Glove. 3. 2B Chase Utley: Utley’s first full season was a most successful one, as the Allstar played a vital role in the playoff push, culminating in a 35 game hit streak during the middle of the season. He led all NL second basemen offensively (.309, 32, 102) and was a catalyst for the offense push. Expect more of the same from Utley this season, who recently signed a seven year extension with the club. 4. 1B Ryan Howard: One question remains: What else can this guy do? 5. LF Pat Burrell: After unsuccessfully trying to trade Burrell in the off-season, the Phillies can only hope that he can turn it around this season and put up the kind of numbers he is capable of. 6. 3B Wes Helms: His power numbers should increase at Citizen’s Bank Park, and Helms should look to prove that his career high .329 average last year was no fluke. 7. CF Aaron Rowand: Rowand’s season started off with a bang in 2006, as he led the team in batting during the month of April, but his infamous collision with the fence and another collision that left him with a broken ankle made the gutsy outfielder on the disabled list for much of the season. If Rowand can regain his stroke, then he is capable of hitting over .300 and 20 homeruns. 8. C Rod Barajas: The power hitting catcher will help fill the void that has been Phillies catchers over the last few years. Along with Chris Coste and Carlos Ruiz, Barajas leads a great trio of talent behind the plate. Starting Rotation: Brett Myers: Myers really showed his potential last year, and despite some personal problems during the season, he bounced back nicely and led the team in strikeouts. A thinner, fitter Myers showed up at spring training to prove he is the ace of the staff. Cole Hamels: There weren’t too many pitchers that were better than Hamels in the second half of last season. Hamels himself has proclaimed that he will win 20 games this year, and the young lefty certainly has the chops to do so. Freddy Garcia: Garcia’s experience adds some much needed depth to the pitching staff, and his ability to pitch in big games adds to his value on the staff. Jamie Moyer: The 44 year old lefthander rarely throws over 90 mph, but his craftiness and wits on the mound keep batters guessing at every pitch. His experience is irreplaceable and he should prove to be a great leader of the staff. Adam Eaton: Eaton’s past injuries are a cause for concern, but a healthy Eaton could prove to be a solid number five on an already stellar rotation. Jon Lieber: Lieber is the odd man out of the rotation, and will most likely be moved into the bullpen unless he is traded for additional bullpen help. The one Achilles heel for the Phils is the bullpen. During the second half of last season, the bullpen began to break down and caused them to lose some crucial games in the late innings. With the health of Tom Gordon in question, the Phils are looking to the likes of Ryan Madson and Antonio Alfonseca to fill the void if needed. Rounding out the bullpen is Geoff Geary, who was one of the few bright spots in the bullpen down the stretch last season. Matt Smith will remain on as a left handed specialist. With a revamped lineup and one of the best pitching staffs in the National League, look for the Phillies in October. Contact Tim Seigfried by email beaconsports@gmail.com Photos courtesy of phillies.com Jon Lieber �SPORTS MARCH 27, 2007 19 SOFTBALL from PAGE 20 pitcher Laurie Agresti. The Lady Colonels enter the contest 6-4 overall, and have yet to play a conference game. Agresti will be leading her team’s defensive attack against the Lady Monarchs. “All I can do to help my team to victory is to pitch the way that I am capable of pitching,” Agresti said. Agresti is a monster on the mound. She has won four out of five games and her ERA stands at a near perfect 1.00. This season she faced a total of 118 batters and has only allowed a stingy 18 hits. Not to mention that out of 35 innings pitched, she has struck out 60 batters. Expect to see another outstanding performance by Agresti on Saturday. “I think we should be ready to play. Our pitchers have been throwing the ball well, and my biggest concern is defense,” said Matthews. Defense wins ball games, but you also have to be able to put runs on the board. Leading the Lady Colonels at bat will be Samantha Evanich. Evanich tops the rest of the Lady Colonels with twelve hits on the season and an impressive .480 batting average. Following her efforts is sophomore catcher Erin Plank with 9 total hits and 5 RBI’s. Gina Stefanelli holds the team’s only homerun for the season and will also look to make contributions to help the Lady Colonels come out on top in their doubleheader against the Lady Monarchs. Although the Lady Colonels are doing relatively well, two games against the Lady Monarchs will be no walk in the park. The Lady Monarchs are currently 9-5 and have a pitching trio of their own with Amanda Rizner, Kelsey Shreaves and Lindsay Hoerner. Rizner leads the team with a 1.09 ERA and has won three out of four pitching performances. Shreaves won four contests and holds the team’s strikeout lead with a total of 27 on the season. Hoerner chips in with a 2.13 and 19 strikeouts. Junior Leanne Harvey leads the Lady Monarchs offensive attack with an impressive 17 hits, 18 RBI’s and a .591 slugging percentage. “The King’s games are the most fun games. Besides the tournament games, the King’s games are the most intense games,” said Matthews. Ladies and gentlemen, get ready to watch the Lady Colonels leave their blood, sweat and tears on the field as they try to shut down the Lady Monarchs for their first MAC Freedom conference victory of the season. Contact Carlton Holmes by email beaconsports@gmail.com FREEDOM CONFERENCE STANDINGS (as of Mar 20, 2007) Team Delaware Valley DeSales King’s Wilkes FDU-Florham Drew W 7 4 9 6 4 0 L 1 2 5 4 4 1 T 0 0 0 0 0 0 Pct .875 .667 .643 .600 .500 .000 Colonels next game - Thursday March 29 @ William Patterson - 2:30 p.m. 1lltrll ' The Beacon/Todd Weibel Senior Salman Punekar responds to a serve during Sunday’s tennis match against Keystone College. Final results were unavailable at time of publication. MARCH MADNESS For all you bracket lovers, we have a recap from Thursday- Sunday for you. You ready? Let’s go! Friday, East Region #1 North Carolina defeats #5 Southern Cal, 74-64 #2 Georgetown defeats #6 Vanderbilt, 6665 Thursday, West Region #1 Kansas defeats #4 Southern Illinois, 6158 #2 UCLA defeats #3 Pittsburg, 64-55 Saturday, West Regional Finals #2 UCLA defeats #1 Kansas, 68-55 Saturday, South Regional Finals #1 Ohio State defeats #2 Memphis, 92-76 Thursday, South Region #1 Ohio State defeats #5 Tennessee, 85-84 #2 Memphis defeats #3 Texas A&M, 65-64 Sunday, Midwest Region #1 Florida defeats #3 Oregon, 85-77 Friday, Midwest Region #1 Florida defeats #5 Butler, 65-57 #3 Oregon defeats #7 UNLV, 76-72 Sunday, East Region #1 North Carolina vs. Georgetown, 5:05 pm "~ NUMBERS OF THE WEEK 8 Total games postponed this past week due to inclement weather. 3 The number of goals scored by Ashley Leggio during the Colonels lacrosse matchup against Kean College. 11 Goals scored by the women’s lacrosse team in their first two games of the season. 6 Number of wins for the softball team so far this season. The team is currently seeded fourth in the Freedom Conference. �Sports MARCH 27, 2007 20 Preview of the Week: Softball vs. King’s Lady Colonels look to begin their regular season against crosstown rival BY CARLTON HOLMES Beacon Asst. Sports Editor One of the biggest rivalries in the history of the Freedom Conference heads to the field this Saturday as the Lady Colonels softball team takes on the King’s College Lady Monarchs. The last time these two teams faced off, the outcome was one for the history books. With the anticipation of such an exciting rivalry, expect the bad blood to continue to boil this weekend as Wilkes and King’s go for another grueling doubleheader of softball. “In reality, this game is no more important than the other confer- Tuesday 3/27 *Ethics in Healthcare, UCOM - 9:00 AM *Senior Commencement Meeting for May Graduates, HSC Ballroom 11:15 AM *Women’s lacrosse @ Centenary - 4:00 PM Wednesday 3/28 *Sales Development: Climbing the Sales Ladder Workshop, UCOM 8:00 AM *Ethics in Healthcare, UCOM - 9:00 AM *Men’s tennis @ King’s 3:30 PM *Target Information Session for future interns and employees, Breiseth 206 - 5:00 PM ence games. But because King’s won six out of the last seven conference championships, and has been to the NCAAs seven straight years, it adds more emotion to the game,” said head coach Frank Matthews. That’s right. King’s has carried the MAC Freedom conference on its back, sweeping six straight championships. But in the 2006 season, both teams met at Ralston Field for the conference championship, and boy was it a dandy. Reigning MAC Freedom Conference Pitcher of the Year Laurie Agresti smoked twelve Monarchs batters on strikeouts in only five innings pitched en route to a Wil- kes 4-3 victory. The intensity of last year’s match-up led to an extra inning, until sophomore Samantha Evanich left the Lady Monarchs crying by smacking a homerun out of the park. With both teams displaying stellar performances last season, expect to see them pick up where they left off for another intense contest. “Games against King’s are always exciting because of the big crowds that they draw and the fierce rivalry that exists between the two schools,” stated senior See SOFTBALL page 19 The Beacon Archives Thursday 3/29 *Women’s softball @ William Patterson - 2:30 PM *Women’s lacrosse @ Susquehanna - 4:00 PM *Allan P. Kirby Lecture: Ken Schmidt, DDD - 7:30 PM - 1:00 PM *Spring Fling, Waterfront - 6:00 PM Sunday 4/1 *Wilkes University Faculty Exhibition, Sordoni Art Gallery - 12:00 PM *Men’s baseball @ King’s - 1:00 PM Friday 3/30 *Men’s tennis vs. Eliza- *Women’s softball vs. Manhattanville - 3:00 PM beth - 3:00 PM *Men’s baseball @ FDUMonday 4/2 Florham - 3:30 PM *Alumni Event, Rivercrest *Wilkes University Faculty Exhibition, Sordoni Art Country Club - 6:00 PM Gallery - 12:00 PM *Men’s baseball vs. BapSaturday 3/31 *Men’s baseball vs. FDU- tist Bible - 3:30 PM *Men’s tennis vs. SusqueFlorham - 1:00 PM *Women’s lacrosse vs. hanna - 3:30 PM *Women’s lacrosse @ Widener - 1:00 PM *Women’s softball @ Bryn Mawr - 4:00 PM *Jewish Passover Sedar, King’s - 1:00 PM *Men’s tennis vs. DeSales JCC - 6:00 PM The Lady Colonels get ready for another rival game with King’s. Find this Picture on Campus and... WIN CASH This photo was taken somewhere on Wilkes University’s campus. When you find it, email us the answer at: wilkesbeacon@gmail. com. Be sure to put “Campus Picture” as the subject heading, as well as your name, phone number, and either campus mailbox or mailing address in the body text. A random winner will be picked from the correct responses and VIILKES UNIVERSITY will receive a $10 cash prize courtesy of the PROGRAMMING BOARO Programming Board. - Congratulations to Sean Madden who correctly identified last week’s secret shot which was of the side of the admissions building facing Stark. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon Newspaper Collection, 1947-present Description An account of the resource <p>This is Wilkes University's <em>Beacon</em> Newspaper collection, 1947-present. We also have digitized copies of the <em>Beacon's</em> predecessors, <em>The Bucknell Bison Stampede</em>, 1934-1935 and <em>The Bucknell Beacon</em>, 1936-1947 June. It should be noted that Wilkes University does not have a complete set of issues for the Bucknell Bison Stampede and Bucknell Beacon. For researchers who are interested in seeing the complete issues for these publications, please contact <a href="https://researchbysubject.bucknell.edu/scua">Bucknell University's Special Collections Department</a>.</p> <p></p> <p>Missing Issues:</p> <p>1947 August 8th<br />1947 September 5th<br />1947 October 3rd<br />1947 October 17th<br />1947 October 31st<br />1947 November 21st<br />1947 December 19th<br />1948 September 9th<br />1950 April 28th<br />1953 April 10th<br />1962 February 2nd</p> Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Beacon staff is comprised of Wilkes University students who are advised by a full-time faculty member of the Communication Studies Department. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1934-present Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright of the Wilkes Beacons is retained by Wilkes University. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Professor Emeritus Harold Cox digitized the collection from 1934-1970 and created a <a href="https://beaconarchives2.wilkes.edu/">legacy website</a>. Digital Archives student John Jenkins digitized the collection from 1970-present. Special thanks goes to Communication Studies Professor Dr. Kalen Churcher, Editor-in-Chief Kirsten Peters, Beacon staff member, Emily Cherkauskas, and other Beacon staff for their help in acquiring digitized copies of the Beacons from 2006 onward. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon 2007 March 27th Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2007 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