November - Queensborough Community College

Q U E E N S B O R O U G H
COMMUNIQUE
Volume XV, No. 5
November 2000
PRODUCED BY AND FOR THE STUDENTS OF QUEENSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE
New Testing Required for QCC Students
BY JULIANN DIAZ
Tack on another test to your schedule here at
QCC. The new test being administered this fall is
called the CUNY Proficiency Exam (CPE) which
will replace the old CUNY Writing Aptitude Test
(CWAT). And I’m sure most students are asking,
“Why?”
Well, as QCC students are aware, the CWAT
was used for many things. For example, it was
used as a placement exam, an exit from remediation, and a transfer exam to exit a two-year college
and enter a four-year college, and to transfer from
a sophomore to a junior in a four-year college. The
test was being used for too many things. It had not
been tested nationally, just within CUNY.
As Linda Stanley, coordinator on QCC campus for the citywide university program, said, “Its
fairness and reliability had not been tested on a
national scale.” On the other hand, in May 1998
and Spring 1999 two pilot CPE tests were given
here at QCC and the results were impressive.
The purpose of the CPE is to encourage students to organize their thoughts well and to test
skills developed through coursework, for example, books and material. Right now most students
are probably wondering, “How do I know if this
affects me?”
The students required to take this test are
those who have accumulated 45-60 credits, or a
sophomore student in a four-year college entering
the junior year. Also, this test will only be administered to students who were admitted in
September 1999, or later, and have completed 4560 credits.
The reason for taking the test after completing 45 credits is to have the time to retake it
before graduation. Officially, the first test was
given on October 12 and October 13 on campus.
And as of now, there are 82 students eligible. Out
of the thousands of students here at QCC, only 82
took either 14-15 credits per semester. The next
test will be administered in March 2001.
“Its fairness and
reliability had not been
tested on a national scale.”
Don’t be alarmed QCC. There are many
ways to prepare for the exam which is divided
into two parts as follows: Part One: The
Analytical Reading; and Part Two: The Writing,
analyzing and integrating information from graphs
and texts. Preparing for part one is simpler
because it consists of three passages to read, two
of which are sent to the student in advance in
Helayn Cohen, Testing Director
photo by Farhan Ali
order to study. The third passage is given later on
the day of the test. Preparing for part two is a little tough because the material is not given in
advance, but it doesn’t have to be because there is
plenty of tutoring available.
The Writing Center is running a four-week
series of workshops beginning in February. Every
week will be spent covering a different topic. The
topics range from the following: close reading and
comprehension, analytical writing skills, understanding charts and graphs and a review of a practice test. So good luck, QCC!
IN THIS AGE OF “@ Dot Com”
QCC HAS NO PLANS TO BE LEFT BEHIND.
BY DINA R. NIBAR
In the basement of the
Kurt R. Schmeller Library of
Queensborough Community
College, work is in progress to
educate and update the faculty
and staff with cutting edge
technology and programs.
A new office and a computer lab just for faculty and
staff is on its way. No professor will be left behind
in this computer generation age. Each will be
trained on programs specialized to help and make
QCC a better learning environment for both students and faculty members. Many home bound students who are finding it hard to get to school will
be able to study at home via the computer and
internet.
Mr. Bruce Naples, the director of Academic
Computing Studies said, “ we will be able to reach
students that are home bound with computer courses online by the fall of 2001.”
Currently, there is not very much that students
can tap into online at home from QCC. But with a
valid QCC library card, any student can access
“CUNY libraries licensed resources” for research
papers. There are many journals and periodicals available online for students to use. Check with the library
staff for more information on what you can access
from your home computer from the QCC library.
To get online simply login www.cuny.edu/
and it will take you into the home page. There you
can double click on “CUNY licensed resources.”
There are only two options currently to choose
from available to QCC students.
1. Info Trac Web: Expanded Academic
Business and Co.
2. Info Trac: Health (Academic)
Just click on either, and a window will appear
which will ask for your QCC library card 14 digit
number. Your QCC card has to be valid for you to
get access.
According to Mr. Charles Prancil from the
Academic Computing Lab, “Within a month and a
half, students of QCC will be able to register from
home online for the courses they wish to study. No
need to come to the college to register.”
Also, “The QCC Communiqué newspaper will
be online for students to read and refer to,” said
Professor Linda Reesman of the English Dept.
Many students and faculty of QCC are pretty
excited about the plans that are in progress currently. Some can hardly wait to get online at home and
access the QCC library information, instead of
going to the library to use the computers.
Computer Lab – basement of Kurt R.
Schmeller Library
Photo by Farhan Ali
Computers and internet access is the future of
technology, fast and easy access to the world of
information and services. No one can stop QCC now;
it’s on its way to educate and make life easier for students and faculty members. Lots of training and computer services will be available online and on cam-
Table of Contents
Making Waves on Campus . . . . . . . . . p.3
Petitioning for a WQCC Renewal . . . . . p.3
Drowning in the High Costs of Books . . p.3
Learning to Lead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p.4
Wellness Works Wonders . . . . . . . . . . p.4
Transferring: A Smooth Transition . . . . p.6
Diversity Sounds a Familiar Note . . . . . p.6
Dedication Drives Success . . . . . . . . . . p.7
Fashioned with French Culture . . . . . . . p.7
Napster: Off-line? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p.8
Reviews. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p.8-9
Disney on the Move. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p.9
Juggling Social & Academic Demands . p.9
A Getaway Trip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p.10
A Place To Relax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p.10
A Walk in the Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p.10
Spring Registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p.10
Yankees Take Express Route. . . . . . . . p.11
Yanks Take Over NYC. . . . . . . . . . . . p.11
Men’s Basketball Schedule . . . . . . . . . p.12
November Calendar of Events . . . . . . p.12
Queensborough Communiqué, November 2000
2
QUEENSBOROUGH
COMMUNIQUÉ
Student Government Building
56th Ave. and Springfield Blvd.
Bayside, N.Y. 11364
(718) 631-6233
EDITORIALS
These editorials represent the opinion of the Editorial Board of Communiqué, which is solely responsible
for its contents. These are not necessarily the views of the Queensborough Community College
administration and staff. Communiqué welcomes any letters or editorials for the population of QCC.
Submit work to Communique, H-428. The Editorial Board reserves the right to edit letters for spatial
needs and grammatical accuracy.
STAFF
Agatino Accardi
Nicole Azo
Tequa Banks
Ana Carrillo
Eugene Chun
Crystal Cruz
Adam M. Delvalle
Juliann Diaz
Timothy Graham
Karina Holmfred
Eric G. Jenkins
Thomas Leto
Dina R. Nibar
Joseph Pennacchia
Patricia Ramirez
Devon N. Roberts
A Time For Thanks
As the year comes to another end, so begins
the commencement of theme holidays.
Halloween had parents and children shopping for
the latest decorations and costumes known to
man, buying everything from simple masks of
presidential candidates to high tech gadgets to set
the perfect environment. Halloween was a success both for stores and families. Sales for this
holiday were at the highest ever. But around the
corner waits the day of feasting with family and
friends. Costumes are put aside for turkey,
parades and contemplation of what we are all
thankful for.
The staff here at Queensborough took time
away from their demanding deadlines and put
some thought into what we were all thankful for.
This particular day helped us all realize that materialistic things were not as valuable as friends,
family and the opportunities we have living in this
country. “I’m thankful for close family and all
we’ve been through together,” said Tom. “I’m
thankful for having the opportunity to go to
school and being in a class that can hopefully contribute to my career as a journalist,” said Devon.
This holiday helped those also appreciate the fact
of life. “I’m thankful for the air I breathe, for
being healthy and for the safety of my friends,
family and all creators,” said Ana.
So during this time of Thankgiving before the
traditional feast of turkey begins, try to think of
what you’re thankful for. Whether it’s a second
chance, a loved one or the day itself, take some
time out to be grateful. Appreciate what you
have, for some of those around you aren’t as fortunate and Happy Thanksgiving.
Vito Salamone
A Thank You to the Mets and Yankees
Tara Whiston
BY VITO SALAMONE
CONTRIBUTORS
Farhan Ali
Gary Flanagan
Corinne Trachtenberg
FACULTY ADVISOR
Linda Reesman
Don’t just
READ all
about it!
WRITE all
about it!
JOIN THE
NEWSPAPER STAFF
Call Prof. Reesman at
718-631-6302
We need:
REPORTERS
REVIEWERS
ARTISTS
PHOTOGRAPHERS
The 2000 Major League Baseball Season
could not have concluded in any other fashion for
New York baseball fans. We had our first Subway
World Series in 44 years. The series was won by
the Yankees, four games to one, giving the
Yankees their 26th World Series championship,
their third consecutive championship and their
fourth in the past five seasons.
Since it is November and Thanksgiving is
vastly approaching, I would like to give thanks to
both the Mets and Yankees for giving baseball
fans five of the best games of the season. The
series had everything, from great pitching to big
homeruns to great defensive plays to a potential
bench-clearing brawl. In the end each game was
decided by one or two runs. Giving this series the
ultimate flair of dramatics.
As a lifelong Met fan, I am extremely proud
of what the team accomplished this season. The
season was filled with memories. All Met fans
will remember Benny Agbayani’s game winning
grand slam in Japan, the team’s dramatic comeback over the Atlanta Braves on June 30 and their
second consecutive Wild Card berth.
This Playoff run for the Mets was filled with
even more dramatic moments. We saw the Mets
defeat the San Francisco Giants in four games. All
Met fans will remember the pitching performance
of Bobby Jones in Game four of the series. Next
the team dominated the St. Louis Cardinals to win
their first National League Championship in 14
years.
Although the Mets run at a championship
came up short, all Met fans should hold their
heads high as the prospects for the future are
bright. And hopefully it won’t be another 14 years
until our next World Series berth.
NEW
ONLINE VERSION OF
Q U E E N S B O R O U G H
COMMUNIQUE
www.qcc.cuny.edu
Click on “News and Events” on menu
Queensborough Communiqué, November 2000
Making Waves on Campus for a
QCC Radio Station
BY CRYSTAL CRUZ
High hopes are soaring among fellow QCC QCC already once had a radio station, much of the
students as Adam Delvalle and Mike Rojas try to equipment needed is already stored on campus.
rekindle an old flame. A love for music and long- The only problem is that due to old age, it needs to
ing for school spirit has provoked these two stu- be updated. Adam Delvalle is hoping to have our
dents to open lines for communication through station back on the air during club hours each day
of the week. A variety of music such as Hip Hop,
restarting QCC’s old radio station.
When speaking with Adam Delvalle, the Reggae, Classical, Jazz, Rock and Latin would be
Parlimentarian of QCC, opening the lines for com- playing in the quad for all students to enjoy.
munication was his top priority. When asking him
what steps have to be taken in order to hope to
restart the radio station, he made them clear.
Delvalle explained, “The first step is to gain the
support of the students. We will be the ones to participate, run, and receive the hands on training that
Delvalle also indicated that our radio station
our radio station will provide. The next step is to can expand our education department. As well, it
meet the approval of our president, Dr. Marti, and can serve as an internship for our students and it
vice president, Dr. Evanoski. Our third step, after can give them hands on experience that they might
being approved by our president, will be to find a need to pursue a career in communications. It can
faculty advisor and corporate sponsor.”
serve as a club and as a class. Adam Delvalle
These students are actually are looking toward made it very evident that QCC can benefit very
major corporations such as Sony, RCA, and La much from this. It is up to the rest of the students
Mega radio station for financial support. Since to make it happen!
“The first step is to gain the
support of the students.”
Drowning in the High
Costs of Books
BY TEQUA S. BANKS
Are the rising costs of textbooks burning a
hole in your pockets? Then you are not alone.
Each semester the average student spends approximately three hundred dollars on textbooks alone.
Research shows that the rising cost of books is not
just a problem for students at QCC, but it is a
problem for CUNY students abroad.
Natalie DaCosta, a single mother of three,
said, “I am a full time student at LaGuardia and
my book voucher does not cover the complete
cost of books, so I am forced to photocopy many
of my assignments.”
A student at QCC named Eric explained,
“Last semester I spent $92 on my biology book
alone, and that is a lot of money for someone who
doesn’t really have it.” Eric is a full time student
who works at a local factory part time.
These complaints seem to be mirrored by the
majority of the students surveyed. Some believe
the answer is to increase the book voucher, but
what about the students who do not receive book
vouchers? The bottom line is that the cost of textbooks needs to be reduced.
Who is to blame for the rising cost of books?
Most believe that it is the bookstore, when in fact,
it is the publishers who regulate the prices. It is
also the publishers who receive the majority of
the revenue, 67 percent to be exact.
Ms. Wendy Shea, the QCC bookstore manager says, “We do not price the books here, the
books are priced by the publishers.”
In actuality the bookstore only receives 10
percent of the revenue, which is used toward
salaries, supplies and maintenance. Another 9 percent is given to the college for academic programs. For most students the idea of selling books
back to the bookstore is not even an option. The
bookstore claims to pay 50 percent of the selling
cost, but students complain of only being offered
a fraction of what they paid only to see the books
back on the shelves for $40 to $50. It appears that
someone is making a lot of money at the expense
of the students. Maybe professors are right when
saying it is best to keep books for future reference. It may be the only way to get what you pay
for.
For students struggling to make a way in life,
bombarded with rent, bills, car notes, and those
who even have to worry about childcare, it is not
fair that every semester textbooks are added to
that list. It is up to the students to ban together
and take action.
If you would like to complain about the rising
cost of textbooks, please write to:
The Association of American Publishers
71 Fifth Avenue
New York, N.Y. 10003
As the student, you have the power to make
the change.
3
Petitioning for a
WQCC Revival
BY ADAM DELVALLE
The radio is one of the best forms of communication. In the past we’ve had a radio station here
at QCC, but it faded away just as your car stereo
would fade while driving through the Lincoln
Tunnel.
With the support of all of our students combined we are trying to find our lost signal. We
recognize the problems and difficulties in managing the radio station in the past and we are carefully planning the comeback of the WQCC.
There are more than a handful of students that are
helping with the signing of a petition. The petition
is important to sign because this will show that
you have a voice to be heard and would like to
show the administrators that you have an interest
on what goes on here at our school.
Vicky, of the future teachers club, Heather, a
night student, Nieves Diaz, works at the café,
members of the student government and NYPIRG
are all a part of the team effort. This team effort
will not only electrify the students, but the whole
campus as well. Adam Delvalle and Mike Rojas
are just two of the 10,000 students who attend
QCC, asking students to sign a petition which is
carried by them every day. The support that is
given by every student that signs this petition is
greatly appreciated, and any help, ideas, and support that anyone would like to contribute are welcome. This is a slow process and will take some
serious interest, time and effort. Remember this is
phase one and this can only grow along with the
interest of the students. All you have to do is
come to the lower level of the student union and
see Adam Delvalle.
Where there is a great amount of school spirit, there is a greater sense, understanding & appreciation of community.
REMINDER TO GRADUATES OF 2001
• File application for degree and/or
certificate in Registrar’s office
• The Graduation Fee is to be paid
at the Bursar’s Office
HOLD ON TO YOUR RECEIPT
4
Queensborough Communiqué,November, 2000
LEARNING TO LEAD
BY GARY FLANAGAN
The Queensborough Student Association,
Student Government, in cooperation with the
QCC Office of Student Affairs, jointly co-sponsored a “Student Leadership Conference” weekend which was held September 22 through
September 24.
Leadership students from QCC
photo by Gary Flanagan
Charlene De Gregoria, director of Student
Activities who oversees all activities that are
planned by student government, described briefly
the purpose of the event, “Most CUNY schools
sponsor a leadership weekend.., We reinforce the
skills necessary to the successful governance of
various clubs, organizations, and leadership positions students may have responsibility toward.”
De Gregoria also expressed an urge toward
the engenderment of students in specific skills:
profound leadership skills, dynamic communication, stress reduction, group cohesiveness, cooperation, and student government insights.
“My goal,” stated De Gregoria, “ is for everyone to enjoy themselves, and become more
empowered through information’s available; too,
I’d like to see participants bond more closely, if
possible.”
Vice President Stephen Beltzer is the original
pioneer of this annual sojourn into student
empowerment. Beltzer modestly stated that he had
organized the first QCC student leadership week-
end in 1970.
“Our agenda then as now,” stated Beltzer,
“was to expose the student to timely matters of
import through scenario and dialogue, then allow
participants to practice a positive channel of
response.”
The student mentors who devoted their time
and energy toward the event included Dr. Eduardo
Marti, Vice President Howard Lapidus, Vice
President Stephen Beltzer, Vice President Patricia
Evanoski, Dean Sandra Bygrave-Dozier, Dean
Karen Steele, Charlene De Gregoria, Gisela
Rivera. The aforementioned faculty mentors contributed individually in some unique capacity.
A few of the more memorable workshops
included: “Stress Management Workshop,” by
Dean Bygrave-Dozier, with Gisela Rivera; “The
Art of Negotiation” by Senior Vice President
Howard Lapidus and Vice President Patricia
Evanoski, and “Campus Concerns, A Round Table
Discussion” with President Eduardo J. Marti, Vice
President Howard L. Lapidus, Vice President
Stephen Beltzer, Vice President Patricia Evanoski,
Dean Karen Steele, Dean Sandra ByGrave-Dozier.
Topics of discussion ran the gamut from academic advisement to part-time, adjunct professors
and again from staff insensitivity to capital
improvement projects.
President Marti, in a response to the staff’s
insensitivity comment, remarked, “Nobody ever
comes to work not wanting to do their job... but
the environment sometimes changes a person; it’s
called an ‘institutional attitude.’ “
“But students at QCC have the same right to
quality service as students at St. Johns and
Columbia... try to work with your faculty and
administrators.”
Student Leadership participants each had a
reason for attending the conference.
Katherine from the Humanities Club stated, “I
want to have fun but be educated at the same time.
My goal is to be a teacher, so the conference may
help me be a better role model.”
Lisa, the Humanities Club president said,
Wellness Works Wonders
BY CORINNE TRACHTENBERG
Come to the QCC Health Fair to learn how wellness can work wonders
for your feelings of success and happiness. It is scheduled to take place in
the lobby of the Science Building on Thursday, November 30, World Aids
Day, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Free asthma testing will take place in an Asthma Van provided by New
York Hospital Medical Center of Queens. Lung information will be available as well. Learn how to eliminate air pollution that damages your lungs
and weakens your heart.
There will be many different types of screening available at the health
fair. High cholesterol is dangerous and keeping an eye on it is very important. Check your height, weight and body fat at the fair. Too many sugary
snacks are easily obtained on college campuses. High blood sugar often
leads to diabetes. Heavily salted foods may raise your blood pressure. Find
out what your numbers are. Are you feeling depressed? There will be
depression screening taking place as well.
There will be tables for information available. The tables for
HIV/AIDS, Women’s and Men’s health, STD’s, and Child health care will
have material set up only during the day. The others will be set up for both
day and evening. Areas that will be included are smoking, nutrition, prenatal
care assistance program, traffic safety (helmets, seatbelts, DWI), and oral
hygiene (tooth brushing, flossing etc.).
Just as you take care of your car to keep it running, you must not ignore
your body. Taking an interest in your health is part of the job of maintaining
a happy and healthy lifestyle. Although we can’t control our genetics, we
can do our best in the areas we do control, through diet, exercise, and physical examinations. Take a break from studying and enjoy the QCC Health
Fair.
The Wellness Festival welcomes students, faculty, staff, and members
of the community. This well organized fair is co-sponsored by the
Department of Student Affairs/Office of Health Services and the
Department of Nursing.
“I’m a little shy, so my goal is to grow as far as
public speaking.”
Imonite, Vice President of the Computer
Science Club, hoped to “gain some insight into the
mechanics of government; while Jamel, our
Drama Society senator expressed interest in the
“Relax and Retreat” element of the trip.
Located three hours north of New York City
in Kerhonsen, New York, program participants
indeed, found very little down time to enjoy the
handsome accommodations afforded them at the
luxurious European style, Hudson Valley Resort.
Still, interested persons of the 2001 Student
Leadership Conference should submit applications
now. Faculty referrals will also be considered;
requirements include a minimum 2.1 GPA and a
course load of 12 credits.
From left to right: Stephen Beltzer, vice
president; Howard Lapidus, vice president;
Eduardo J. Marti, president; Patricia
Evanoski, vice president; Dean Sandra
Bygrave-Dozier.
photo by Gary Flanagan
Thank you again to the QCC faculty who participated in this event. Your vote of confidence
was not lost on this student; and finally congratulations to the “Team Leadership 2000” student
participants: N. Thomas, Julian Gordon, Vanessa
Hetmeyer, Ziomara Zamora, Angelo Wooten,
Gary Flanangan, Lisa Vera, Heather Grass,
Michelle White, Gaumarlee Jean-Paul, Edwin
Mann, Melissa Robinson, Danny Pichardo,
Pamela Romascindo, Jolie Serrano, Issam
Zourkani, Adam Delvalle, Katherine Ganiaris,
Victoria Slavik, April Woods, Jamel Williams,
Imonite Okhiria, and Thihira Mangal.
Queensborough Communiqué, November 2000
5
6
Queensborough Communiqué, November, 2000
Transferring: A Smooth Transition
BY TIMOTHY GRAHAM
Considering the number of students at Queensborough Community
College who are thinking about transferring to another college, the counseling
center can help to end the confusion. Dr. Martin Jacobs, transfer coordinator
at the counseling center, explained the transfer process and what QCC is
doing to help students prepare for their futures.
The counseling center has catalogues for over 400 CUNY, SUNY and
private colleges, plus brochures on these schools. They also have all the
forms that are needed to apply to the student’s school of interest. There is a
computer program called SIGI PLUS which allows students to check and see
if their Queensborough credits will be transferred to the school which they are
interested in. For example, Baruch College will not take MA120 if a student
is applying for a business degree. Students must take MA128 (tech. Calculus)
as a prerequisite to enter their business courses.
What grade point average and credits do students need to transfer? - a
question commonly asked. Students need 24 credits and a GPA of 2.0 to 2.5.
Dr. Jacobs recommended that students complete their AA degrees at QCC and
then transfer out.
Dr. Jacobs suggested that students take advantage of the scheduled transfer events on campus and meet with representatives from the schools they are
interested in learning more about. Students need to become aware of the special requirements these schools want a student to have in order to transfer.
Dr. Jacobs also encouraged these visits as a way to make personal contacts
with someone from the school. Students should bring their transcripts and
CWAT scores with them when they come to an event.
Upcoming transfer events on campus include workshops, limited to 15
students each, which will run through December 13, 2000. The instructors for
these workshops are Dr. Martin Jacobs and Dr. Victor Defazio; groups meet
in Room 428, 4th floor Library Building. Students should notify the counseling center in advance for which days they would like to attend.
Campus college visits inform students how to prepare for transfer, all
about majors, course acceptance, financial aid, future careers, and more.
Several campus visits which have already taken place during October and
November include City College, Hunter and Baruch. Queens College will
visit QCC on November 15, Wednesday, from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Science
Building, Room 111.
Students should watch for future postings about a college fair in March
Timothy Graham, left, and Dr. Martin Jacobs, right, meeting for a
counseling session.
Photo by Farhan Ali
2001. There will be 65 to 70 colleges there. Dates will be posted as soon as
possible.
For further questions about the transfer process, visit or call the counseling center, located in the Library Building, Room 428, and open from 9 a.m.
to 5 p.m. Contact Dr. Martin Jacobs for an appointment at (718) 631-6370.
DIVERSITY SOUNDS A
FAMILIAR NOTE
BY AGATINO ACCARDI
Every year Queensborough Community College has many foreign students arrive. They come from all over the world, all walks of life.
For some QCC is just another school having the same objectives as all
the other schools. However, for others it can be seen as a place for new hope
and great expectations. It is also a place which students can call home.
Some foreign students come for economic reasons; some come for family
reasons. But for whatever reason they come, it gives QCC a great culturally
diverse school. The foreign students at QCC who are first time freshmen
make up about 45 percent of the school’s population, states a poll taken from
the fall and spring of ‘99. The foreign students at QCC come from over 100
countries and speak over 40 languages.
So just what do the foreign students think of our school?
Just two years removed from her native Yugoslavia Daniela Stankovic
seems to appreciate what QCC has to offer. When asked if secure here at
QCC, Daniela stated, “At first it was a bit hard. It was very nervous because I
didn’t know what to expect. It’s definitely turning out to be a great place for
me.”
Daniela found out about QCC through family members who live in the
New York area. She was planning to continue her education in New York. It
looks like she picked the right place.
Also, when the same question was asked to Efe Olaner, whose parents
live in New York and just arrived from Turkey this summer, he replied, “I
already knew about QCC through relatives from here. The school has a very
welcoming feeling to it. It was very easy for me to get the hang of it for me.”
Efe also plans to join the QCC soccer team next year.
The fact that QCC has many diverse cultures from around the world
gives our school a great reputation throughout the city. It shows that the
school is very open-minded and loves to learn new things. Giuseppe Canzani
left Italy two years ago and is a freshmen at QCC. When asked what was his
favorite aspect of QCC, he responded, “The staff at QCC is great; the professors and administrators are all very nice.” Giuseppe also found out about
QCC through family. “I lived in Italy, but I had relatives who attended QCC.”
Also Mark Mnencheko, when asked what was his favorite aspect of
QCC, responded, “QCC has helped me right from the start. When I first came
to QCC, I was a bit nervous. But I felt welcomed, I saw many welcoming
signs and many counselors if I ever needed something.” Mark who is a second year student here at QCC same from Russia three years ago. Mark found
out about QCC through his friends.
So QCC has proved itself to be a great place for all students from every
part of the world. From continent to continent from country to country, QCC
is making its reputation recognized. It is safe to say for all our foreign students that QCC is just like home.
Queensborough Communiqué, November 2000
7
Dedication Drives Success
BY DEVON N. ROBERTS
How would you feel if one day you received a call from someone telling
you that you won a $1,000 scholarship? Well, this particular student, Blanca
Bedoya, felt happy, but she didn’t really expect to receive a lot of attention by
winning it and thinking that people would be interviewing her.
Aside from her winning this prestigious award from the Coca-Cola TwoYear Colleges Scholarship Foundation, she is a student in the
Interdisciplinary Arts Program at Queensborough Community College and
has been for two years. She works part-time as a dance therapy assistant for
the Association for Retarded Children for the past four years, since 1996. She
also participates in recreation programs, one of them being the AHRC sponsors. In Corona, Blanca had volunteered as a dance therapist last semester.
This outgoing student found out about the scholarship through Dr.
Sandra Bygraves-Dozier, who is the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs.
Dozier had gotten Blanca’s information because she had applied for other
scholarships and applied late, so her file was kept back just in case “something good came up,” said Blanca. This scholarship was not opened to the
public, but instead, students were selected. Blanca was not the only one chosen for this scholarship. Four hundred students across the country were
selected as well.
In order to be eligible for the scholarship, certain qualifications had to be
met. Blanca met the requirement of community service by working 100 hours
for a year volunteering as a teacher’s assistant in P.S 14, as a student aide
over at Registrar’s, as a peer mentor for the Physical Education Department at
QCC, as well as devoting her time to launch a project with her husband called
the AIRDS, otherwise known as the Association for Integration, Realization,
and Devotional Service, to serve the community. The average for the scholarship had to be above a 3.75 GPA. As well as these requirements, a student
must be involved in a two-year college and also a resident. Blanca received
two letters of recommendation. The first one was received from Dr. Peter
Alimaris, who is part of the Social Sciences Department, and of course, one
from Dr. Sandra Bygraves-Dozier. Blanca really didn’t know what her
Fashioned with French Culture
BY ANA CARRILLO
Wouldn’t you like to be involved in extracurricular activities? Aren’t you
tired of having nothing to do during those huge hour gaps in between your classes? Tired of eating alone in the cafeteria?
Well, if you are interested in learning and would like to acquire some
knowledge of French culture, you are cordially invited to the club meetings of
the language clubs.
As a student of Queensborough Community College, you should have some
previous knowledge or information about the many activities of the French club,
taking place at QCC.
Did you know that by joining a club membership, you are actually promoting the existence of the club, improving yourself as a person, interacting with
other students, and enhancing the quality of the clubs, as well as, the image of
your college? The chairman of the Language Department, Professor Anne
Marie Bourboun, delegated all the functions concerning the club events to
Professor Avens, a faculty member currently in charge of all the events since the
fall of 99.
The mission of the French Club is that you get a clear understanding of the
French and Francophone traditions, culture and customs. You personally gain
not only knowledge, but as Professor Avens said, “You get to meet the faculty
members and be involved with other students from different cultural backgrounds, who speak other languages as well.”
To be a member of the French club, you have to be a student at QCC. There
are no requirements concerning gender, political preferences, or religious issues.
As Professor Avens said, “Anyone who is interested in the French, or
Francophone cultures is welcome to come to the club, and you do not need to
speak French.”
About expenses, who said anything about expenses? There is no fee to enter
the French Club. But, if you want to be a member of the French Club, you must
speak to either, the faculty advisor, that is Professor Avens, or the president of
the club, who is Ana Carrillo.
Meetings are scheduled only every two weeks, for an hour and a half, in the
Humanities Building. You can come to either the French events only, which are
held in Room H-213, or, if the activities are being co-sponsored by the French
Club, events will be held in Room H-207.
A recent campus event was a French film called Hate which has received
promising reviews in France, and recounts a controversial story about an interracial friendship in Paris. This film was scheduled for presentation on October 25
in Room H-213.
Concerning the activities off campus, one is going to be a Broadway musical, which has not been decided yet, and an international holiday party which is
going to be on December 6.
The events are regularly posted on the bulletin board outside the Language
Department. For more information about off campus events or concerns about
club activities, you should contact Professor Avens, or call (718) 835-4365. The
course of events is open to discussion, if you have any suggestions about
improving the quality of the club, you could come to the meetings and freely
speak your ideas to Professor Avens.
chances were for receiving
the scholarship.
Blanca
attended
Queensborough in 1995,
but due to financial reasons, she wasn’t able to
continue. Finally, in the
fall of 1998, she had the
opportunity to pick up
where she left off. She
hopes to graduate this
semester.
Sandra
BygraveDozier described Blanca as
Blanca Bedoya
“a very special young
photo by Farhan Ali
woman.” Dozier also said,
“She’s bright. I think she’s an excellent example of the students we have here
at Queensborough.” Dr. Sheena Gillespie, chairperson of the English
Department, who helped Blanca to write and revise her essay for the scholarship, had this to say about her: “Blanca is an intelligent and dedicated student
who is committed to sharing her talents with others and has a deep sense of
social responsibility. I am proud of all of her achievements including the
scholarship from the Coca-Cola Foundation.”
Blanca credited Dr. Peter Alimaris for her achievement, but unfortunately, he was not available for comment. She thanked the teachers who contributed to helping her win this scholarship: Dr. Peter Alimaris, Dr. Sheena
Gillespie and Dr. Sandra Bygrave-Dozier. She also thanked the faculty in the
Administration Building (Registrar’s) who supported her, allowing her to
have this opportunity.
Blanca expressed hope for other students’ success: “It’s not hard to really
keep up a good GPA,” and said that, “it is just a matter of having the discipline
and a matter of having the willpower to do it.” She believes that discipline
and dedication are the key to obtaining a successful education.
Despite the fact that Blanca wasn’t able to go to school for two years, she
was able to pick up the pieces and continue from where she last ended.
Students who are in this predicament can also bounce back, working their way
up by taking classes, which are always offered at Queensborough. You don’t
have to go for scholarships and win like Blanca did, but you can still pick a
career and be successful in whatever you do.
8
Queensborough Communiqué, November 2000
Napster: Off-line?
BY EUGENE CHUN
Music admirers that download off the internet
who are furious over the court ruling against
Napster.com can now give their voice of opinion
with a few simple words. A few months ago a
judge made a decision to cease Napster’s service
to the people. With the concern of sales, musicians helped put this convenient way of listening
to music to a standstill. Nevertheless, no regulations will stop the continuous sharing of compressed music files over the net.
In today’s advanced society more laws are
being constructed. Most of these new laws are
concentrated on the information super highway.
Many people have shown and spoken for their
concern but most have profited from the net. It is
a new world still young and unexplored. Those
familiar with the technological territory use it for
the purpose of good, helping others by making
lives simpler, or the opposite, by stealing and terrorizing the unaware. Napster is basically a web
site where numerous people log on and share files
that they have. Napster and other music downloading sites where MP3 files can be found and
circulated are seen as both right and wrong.
“Napster helps both the
artist and the buyer
and shouldn’t be put
to an end.”
“Napster helps both the artist and the buyer
and shouldn’t be put to an end,” said Young who
is an active user. Buyers have been more conscious of what to buy with Napsters help. It gives
customers and listeners a chance to hear a certain
album or type of music. This gives people the
advantage of not buying unwanted songs.
Napster also has supported underground
artists. Not all musicians are mainstream and
shoppers have a hard time finding certain titles,
but Napster solves these problems by helping the
sales of those musicians who aren’t as popular.
“Napster was cool, it helped me get many
songs that I couldn’t find in stores. It also helped
me make CDs of songs that I liked,” said Navdip
Hans, a student here at Queensborough.
Napster’s service is favored and popular but
is also rejected by some artists who have gained
public fame such as Metallica. The reason is that
Wellness Works
QCC HEALTH FAIR
Information Tables and Screenings
HIV/AIDS
Nutrition
Smoking
Oral Hygiene
Safety (DWI, Helmets)
Child Health Plus
Women’s Health Plus
Men’s Health
Children & Family Services
Height/Weight
Blood Pressure
Asthma
Depression Screening
Thursday, November 30, 2000
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Science Lobby
For more information call Health Services
(718) 631-6375
Queensborough Community College
Presented by the Dept. for Student Affairs
MP3 files can be downloaded and saved to anyone’s hard drive. Once downloaded a person can
record this file to a blank CD with the proper
equipment. This somewhat decreases the record
sales and hard working musicians are cheated
from their well-deserved money. This is the main
cause of why officials are trying to put a stop to
Napster.
However, the popularity of Napster, which
did help to increase sales for some records, won’t
change court decisions. People who favor this
web site and who disagree with the settlement can
now give their opinion. Idrather.com is another
site by Jim Mulligan making trends with its
bumper stickers. This dot com business made
national news with their bumper stickers during
the political season advertising amusing and sarcastic remarks based on politics or any current
event. These stickers can be attached to the rear
of your car or wherever one desires. With their
new lineup of bumper decorations saying, “I’d
Rather Be Downloading Illegal.mp3s” and “I’d
Rather Be Downloading.mp3s” to choose from,
Idrather.com gives people who live a life online a
chance to express their feelings, just as those
bumper stickers of parents do who have children
on the honor roll.
Napster is still up and running. Students
interested in its service can go to Napster.com to
get the files needed to start downloading free
music. But act fast because no one really knows
the exact date this service will be terminated. To
the students who want those witty bumper stickers, go to Idrather.com and be a part of a fad that
breathes in our society still today.
STOMP:
A THEATRE REVIEW
BY TOM LETO
STOMP: The toe tapping, hand clapping off
Broadway play of the year!
Spectacular, hilarious and fun. These are the
words that come to my mouth when thinking
about the off Broadway play STOMP. The interactive play will have you literally stomping away
as you clap and are participating along with them
as they perform.
The play is one of no words but they are not
needed! The actors are entertainment enough as
they bang away on trash cans and ruffle newspapers to magically make music. “ Unbelievable”
said one spectator. “How do they get it all work
together like that? They even used sinks with
water in them!” With a little laughter I said with
practice!
The actors themselves are in a league of their
own! They come together time and time again to
make each scene different even though the stage
setting is still the same. The stage setting may be
the same but what makes the difference is the
actors. The actors great skills and the right lighting of course help as the different beats arise.
The strange thing is that the background
seems to change as well. One example is how they
go from a beat you would normally hear in a club
to a concert with no hesitation. You feel like you
are in different places and yet nothing has
changed! That’s one of the things that make the
play so interesting. The size of the theater is small
but quaint and puts you in tune with the performers themselves as they try to amuse you.
The comedic parts played by Anthony Sparks
as well as the rest of the cast had the audience
rolling with laughter and wanting more.
“Fantastic,” Says Lorena, my guest for the
evening, and her comments were the same as
mine! Lorena said, “ it was the most fun I have
had at a play before! Usually they are not that
exciting, but this one I would definitely come see
again,” The play has so many great features that it
is impossible to name them! You will just have to
go and see for yourself! I promise that you will
not be disappointed. So if you get the chance
don’t pass it up because you never know when
another great play like this will come up.
Anger
Management
Tour:
A CONCERT REVIEW
BY NICOLE AZO
The much-anticipated hype surrounding the
first stop on the Anger Management Tour at the
Continental Airlines Arena lived up to its expectations.
The tour’s bill included little known rapper
Xzibit who wowed the still arriving crowd with
his short but intense set. The tone was set for the
rest of the night’s line-up.
After a quick set change, Papa Roach took the
stage and preformed to what was now a packed
house. Lead singer Coby Dick’s vocals were a bit
drowned out by the ultra intense base. The crowd
didn’t seem to mind and roared their approval
when Coby jumped into the audience to crowd
surf. The band left their two well-known songs,
“Broken Home” and “Break Stuff,” for the end of
the set.
Once Papa Roach’s set was over, the curtain
went down and after an excessively long set change,
rapper Eminem took the stage to a parody of the
Blair Witch Project on the screen behind him. By
the sounds of the screaming “I Love You’s” from
the teenage girls you would have thought they were
at an N’SYNC concert instead. The rapper even did
a spoof of N’SYNC’s “Tearing Up MY Heart,”
cheesy dance steps and all.
Eminem brought out Detroit rappers D-12 to
accompany him on a number songs including “I’ll
Kill You.” British singer/songwriter Dido was
brought on stage to lend her sweet vocals to the
song “Stan.”
Eminem’s seemingly never-ending set was a
bit choppy between songs because of the fact that
he changed outfits more times than Cher. But
what was still evident throughout the set was
Eminem’s skill as a rapper and performer.
Anticipation among the crowd was building
for the opening of the night’s last performers,
Limp Bizkit. The band played a number of songs
off their new album, Chocolate Starfish and the
Hot Dog Flavored Water, for the first time live.
They pleased the crowd with strong renditions of
“My Way, My Generation and Rollin’.” They
also brought out an old favorite “Break Stuff,”
during which lead singer Fred Durst continued his
on-going feud with teen pop star Christina
Aguilera by negatively commenting on their
“duet” at the MTV music awards.
Fred Durst’s status as a modern day sex symbol was evident by the number of female undergarments thrown on stage at him. Durst even
playfully commented about the collection that he
had backstage.
Xzibit joined the band on the stage for a
“Getcha Groove On.” The stage became alive
during “Take A Look Around” with pyrotechnics
that lit up the arena. During this particular song
Durst spotted good friend Carson Daly, host of
MTV’s Total Request Live, in the audience. The
two playfully cursed each other with Fred leading
the way from the stage.
The band left to thunderous applause from the
full capacity crowd after a concert that lasted
almost five hours that saw all of the performers
give their all.
Queensborough Communiqué, November 2000
Disney on the
Move
Cable TV News
BY DINA NIBAR
“DISNEY WHERE THE MAGIC LIVES
ON” is moving from channel 67 to channel 49 on
Time Warner Cable franchises as of November 1,
2000. There will no longer be a fee of $9.00 for
Disney. It has become a standard channel.
The cry was loud and everyone heard.
“Disney took ABC from you,” said Time Warner
to millions of it subscribers on May 1, 2000. It
was a painstaking day for all employees of ABC
and Time Warner. At the end the customers benefited from a free premium channel of their choice
for one month. Time warner gained premium subscribers and now Disney is part of standard service. Voila!
Disney once cost $9.00 and will now cost
nothing if yo subscribe to standard cable at a cost
of $38.57. This is your basic standard and the cost
for the equipment rental plus taxes.
“Oh, how wonderful, I love Disney it is my
favorite thing,” said Tim Graham, A QCC Senior
student. “I should get cable now,” he added.
Dino, a classmate of mine, said, “Disney is
all I watch on cable, I like it, the cartoons, etc.
that is a good thing. I will be saving $9.00 a cable
a month.”
A lot of folks like Disney. A typical Saturday
morning at Disney begins at 6 a.m. and ends at 12
noon. It is definitely “Where the magic lives on”.
06:00 Duck Tales
06:30 Little Mermaid
07:00 Rupert
07:30 The Bear and the Big Blue House
08:30 Rolie, Polie and Olie
09:00 PB & J Otter
09:30
Out of the Box
10:00 Catch Rolie, Polie and Olie again
10:30 Z Games
11:00 Total Circus
11:30 Boy Meets World
12:00 Disney Music Videos
parent, who wishes not to have her name mentioned, said, “I will stick to basic cable. My kids
like to watch too much television right now.”
“PBS, Channel 13 and Channels 2 and 21 are just
good enough for them. During the summer I order
standard cable and when school begins for the
fall, I disconnect standard and keep just basic
cable.”
This is what Basic offers on Channels 2, 7
and 21 on a Saturday morning:
Channel 2
07:00 Blue Clues
07:30 Dora the Explorer
08:00 Little Bear
08:30 Little Bill
Channel 7
08:00 Dogh
08:30 One Saturday Morning
10:30 New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
11:00 Pepper Ann
11:30 Sabrina the Animated Series
Channel 21
07:30 Zebby’s Zoos
08:00 Arthur
It is up to the parents to control what their
children watch. While there are choices, Basic 2,
13, and 21 everyone loves Disney. “It’s where the
Magic lives on.”
With Disney now becoming a part of standard cable, there will be more children’s programming. Will it help them or will it distract them? A
Artwork by Dina Nibar
Juggling Social and Academic
Demands
BY ERIC JENKINS
A college education for many is a very
important factor to secure a better future. During
these times, a college degree is needed to get a
good, well- paying job. So getting a college education is vital to one’s life. But what about if one
meets that special someone, what does one do?
One may ask himself or herself, Is a relationship
really that important when in college?
Many college students agree with having a
relationship while in school. These same people
feel that as long as you keep your grades up you
can have a boyfriend or girlfriend. One student in
my class named Eugene said that “It also depended on if the relationship was serious or not. If it
isn’t that serious , then school is the number one
priority. But if it was serious then one would have
to juggle both.”
On the other hand, some disagree with the
idea of having a relationship in college. These
students believe that school should be the only
priority to have on the mind. Another student in
my class named Tequa, explained to me that
“relationships come and they go. Even if the relationship is serious, getting my education will bet-
ter me more than a man could. After I finish
school and establish my career then I’ll start
searching for my soul mate.” Tequa also felt that
relationships, when serious, are too distracting.
When polled, one out of every three college
students agree with having a relationship while in
school and one out of every five disagreed. So
that means a greater amount felt that having a
relationship in college was okay to have.
Other college students interviewed (Brian,
Susan, and James) admit that having a relationship will benefit and also damage your lifestyle.
For example, it benefits one by always having
someone to talk to and spend time with. It damages you by taking too much of your time.
Relationships can also be distracting. This is a pro
versus con situation.
Basically, it’s up to the individual and only
the individual to make that choice of having a
relationship or not having one in college. One
must make that right choice. If not one may cause
himself or herself problems for the future.
So, what’s your opinion?
9
MOBYA Techno Craze
BY KARINA HOLMFRED
On Sunday night, October 22, I attended a
spectacular show. The main event was Moby at
Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City. He
played there three nights during the week of
October 15-22. Every night was, of course, sold
out.
The concert opened up with another techno
band “Hybrid,” consisting of two DJs presenting
great digital sound. This is another upcoming
band, and this was a good appetizer for what was
to come: Moby.
Moby opened up with an explosion of light
and sound. He totally captivated the audience
with his music and hyperactive stage performance. He played his version of old rock songs
by The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, and others,
and proved to everybody that he is a multi-talented all around musician, who plays almost any
instrument. So to everybody that thinks techno
music is all about computer geeks playing on
their keyboards, you are so wrong!
By now Moby is widely known, and his
music is everywhere, mostly because of his last
album Play, which has been on the top charts the
last six months. Maybe some people still don’t
know Moby, but they sure know his music,
which has been used in numerous ads for cars,
computers, and major department stores. The TV
show “Veronica’s Closet” and the two movies
The Beach and The Next Best Thing also used his
music.
Songs from Play have been licensed a stunning 700 times, making it one of the most
licensed albums ever, probably before he became
aware of the success that was awaiting him.
Moby is actually the great-great grandnephew of
Moby Dick authored by Herman Melville, if
somebody wonders where he got his name from!
To me this music is truly art and creativity, a
beautiful genre of music, and it will only go further from here. Moby has established himself as
the first electronic superstar and made New York
underground music more visible and acceptable.
As Moby said before he performed
“Porcelain,” “This is to everybody that ever
found themselves wandering the streets of
N.Y.C. at 4 a.m.”
10
Queensborough Communiqué, November 2000
A Getaway Trip
BY PATRICIA RAMIREZ
Have you ever been stuck on what to do on a
weekend? Not enough money to spend? Want to
do something fun and relaxing? Well there is a
place where you can go and indulge yourself in
a great outdoor atmosphere, Mohonk. Mohonk is
a historic landmark resort that offers its guests a
view of the perfect getaway for recreation.
This mountain house is located at the top of
the Shawangunk Ridge. Their rock formation is
immense above the water. In addition to the lake,
their majestically Victorian castle still stands.
Whether a person is interested in sports, history,
nature, or just in need of change, Mohonk has a
lot to offer.
There are activities such as hiking, row boating, horseback riding, stables, winter sports and
many more. This vast tree-lined wilderness offers
a spectacular view of colorful mountains and an
enormous mountain house. There is one thing that
Rock Formation
Mohonk, historic landmark resort
and balconies.
mostly everyone goes there for - hiking! Hiking is
The observation point known as the Sky top
one of the best things for relaxation and to forget
tower is the plae everyone should stop and take a
about the outside world. The trails and roads give
look, so that you can enjoy the beauty of the
people the opportunity to really appreciate the
scenery that this place has to offer. And because
astonishing natural setting, whether they are durof the beauty of this scenery the Smiley brothers,
ing the spring or the autumn. Hiking definitely
founded and owned the Mohonk mountain house
lets a person experience the feeling of excitement
in the year 1969. Both brothers purchased the
once you are climbing the rocks.
property when it was a ten-room motel that no
People of all ages are capable of enjoying
one knew about. Many years passed and this
this adventure. The trails are decorated with large
because what it is today, a gracious accommodatrees where an individual can appreciate the beaution for about 500 guests.
ty of their height and diversity of colors. One of
If you feel that your life needs a change for
the greatest highlights of this trip is “the lemon
something different or the stress is taking over
squeeze.” It is a part of the hiking where people
your body, then Mohonk is the place to go. From
are to literally try to squeeze themselves and
New York, go north on Thruway (I-87) to exit 18,
climb up in between two gigantic rocks that are
New Paltz. After leaving exit 18, turn left at the
close to each other. This part of the hiking defitraffic light onto route 299/Main Street. Follow
nitely challenges your ability to climb and how
Main Street immediately after crossing the bridge
well you are physically fit.
over the Wallkill River, turn right (follow
The weather is a perfect cool atmosphere,
“Mohonk” sign). After 1/2 mile, bear left at the
which lets a person smell the pure clean air. Day
fork and follow Mountain Rest Road and Mohonk
hikers pay an entry fee of about $13 per person,
signs to the Gatehouse. If any questions call (845)
although prices may vary depending on the day or
255-1000, or reach them at AOLthe holiday. As of the winter of the year 2000,
www.LakeMohonk.com.
Mohonk will be opening a new 18,000 square
If you are a person who enjoys nature and its
ring where people will be able to hockey in addichallenges, then do not hesitate and go visit Lake
tion to the 35 miles of ski trails and ice skating.
Mohonk. This mountain house can really show a
Their resort facilities, which include 261 guest
person a gorgeous sight of nature and different
rooms, six guest cottages, and three dining rooms
face of New York City.
are one of the most comfortable rooms to spend a
weekend in. Most of the rooms contain fireplaces
Spring 2001 Registration
It’s new, it’s fast,
and it’s convenient!
All students will register for the spring 2001 semester using
Queensborough Community College’s new telephone or Internet registration
system. It’s easy to use and can be done from home using your touch-tone
telephone or computer, or if you prefer, at the Registration Center (A-119). So
don’t wait, follow the steps below so you can complete your Spring registration
before the end of the semester.
• When you receive your academic advisement log and summary form in
the mail make an appointment with your academic advisor to select your
Spring 2001 courses.
• Bring your completed and signed academic advisement log to the
Registration Center, located in the Administration Building, A-119 to get a registration appointment. An appointment is required to use the new registration
system. Registration is scheduled to begin in mid-November.
• Read the Schedule of Classes and plan your Spring 2001 program. Be careful not to schedule classes that meet at the same time. This is known as a conflict.
• Make sure you have completed or are currently enrolled in the prerequisites for your spring courses.
• Select alternate course sections in case your first choice is filled.
• Plan ahead to pay for your spring tuition. If you applied for and received
Financial aid for the Fall 2000 semester, you do not have to apply again. If
not, you should go to the Financial Aid Office, located in the Library building,
room 409 and complete a Financial Aid application.
• You can apply for an interest free tuition payment plan with Academic
Management Services (AMS); applications and additional information are
available by calling 1-800-635-0120 or at their Web-site www.amsweb.com.
• You cannot register if there is a hold on your record. If you are not sure if
there is a hold, ask at the Registration Center when you pick up your registration appointment.
Detailed step-by-step instructions for using the telephone and computer
registration systems are included in the spring 2001 Schedule of Classes.
Don’t wait, get advised and register for the Spring 2001 semester.
A PLACE TO RELAX AND
DE-STRESS WHEN THE GOING
GETS TOUGH:
Oakland Lake
BY DINA NIBAR
No time to enjoy the beauty of nature, too many books to read, homework to do, papers to write? In your own backyard, nature screams out to
you. Birds singing their own melody, ducks quacking at the swans, turtles
taking a long and slow walk as fish splash the water to escape the Canada
geese who search the water’s edge for fish and insects.
A long walk stretches along the pathway that surrounds a majestically
beautiful haven of sparkling crystals when the sun bursts in all its glory at
dawn. The water of the lake seems like a carpet of crystals waiting to be
raked and filled in buckets, to satisfy the thirsty. Who can resist such a
sight? Not even a statistic lesson can be too hard when your mind is relaxed
and refreshed by the beauty of nature itself.
The young, the old and even the turtles tread the path that surrounds the
lake. What a way to exercise the body and mind. Birds singing, ducks
quacking and the leaves of the oak and weeping willow play the tune for
you to jog your extra weight away.
Many benches, rocks and shady spots under trees provide great places
to study and do home work in the warm weather. In the winter, a long walk
can still heal a weary soul, as the water whispers quietly to itself: “It is too
cold, I need a blanket.”
Anyone can still take a refreshing walk. It is a yearlong haven, filled
will tranquility and peace for the mind, body and soul.
For just a long walk or to meditate and rejuvenate your spirit, Oakland
Lake is the place to go. Whether it is cold or warm, the mere beauty of the
lake is just a peaceful and relaxing sight.
Queensborough Communiqué, November 2000
Yankees Take Express Route
to World Series Win
BY VITO SALAMONE
It was the stroke of midnight when New York
Yankee outfielder Bernie Williams caught the long
fly ball off the bat of New York Met Mike Piazza,
for the final out of the 2000 World Series. The
new day brought the 26th World Series championship to the New York Yankees, their third
straight championship and fourth out of the last
five seasons. However, this World Series win is
the sweetest of them all for the Yankees as they
defeated their cross-town rival the New York
Mets, in a “Subway Series.”
This “Subway Series” was the first in Major
League Baseball since 1956. This series not only
matched two New York Baseball teams, but it pitted their fans against each other. For two weeks
Met and Yankee fans ceased to coexist in any area
of the city. Fans battled in the subways, on buses,
in the workplace and in the classroom. The World
Series itself is a special occasion, but to have two
New York teams playing each other is extra special. This World Series is one of the bragging
rights to settle the question: who is New York’s
best baseball team?
The Series began on Saturday, October 21,
2000 at Yankee Stadium. Game one of the series
matched two of baseball’s top left-handed pitchers; Al Leiter for the Mets and Andy Pettitte for
the Yankees. The pitching duel lived up to its
billing through five and a half innings as both
pitchers didn’t allow a run. With two out in the
bottom of the sixth inning the Yankees broke the
scoreless tie when David Justice hit a double that
scored two Yankee runs. In the top of the seventh,
the Mets had cut the Yankee lead to 2-1. Bubba
Trammell came into the game as a pinch hitter
with two outs in the seventh and hit a single that
scored two runs to give the Mets a 3-2 lead.
The score would remain 3-2 going into the
bottom of the ninth inning when the Yankees
would load the bases off Met closer Armando
Benitez. Chuck Knoblauch stepped up to the plate
with one out and hit a sacrifice fly that scored Paul
O’Neil from third base, tying the game 3-3. The
Yankees would go on to win the game in the 12th
inning when Jose Vizcaino singled home Tino
Martinez to win the game 4-3. At four hours and
fifty-one minutes this game would go down as the
longest game in World Series history.
Game two of the Series brought the heavily
anticipated meeting of Yankee pitcher Roger
Clemens and Met catcher Mike Piazza. In a regular season game on July 8 Clemens threw a fastball which hit Piazza in the head giving him a concussion. In their first encounter of game two,
Piazza hit a foul ball that shattered his bat. A piece
of the bat landed in the direction of Clemens on
the pitching mound. He picked up the bat and
threw it in Piazza’s direction. Clemens would later
say that he didn’t do it on purpose and that he just
lost his composure. The Yankees had a 6-0 lead
going into the ninth inning when the Mets scored
five runs to cut the lead to 6-5. That would be the
game’s final score as the Met comeback fell one
run short. Unfortunately, this game will be remembered by Clemens throwing the bat at Piazza and
not for the eight shutout innings he pitched.
Game three, the series shifted to Shea
Stadium. With the Mets down 2-0 in the series,
they were in dire need of a victory. Standing in
their way was Yankee pitcher Orlando “El Duque”
Hernandez. Hernandez had an 8-0 lifetime pitching record in the post-season entering game three.
Hernandez did not disappoint Yankee fans. He
struck out 12 Met batters in a little over seven
innings pitched. In the bottom of the eighth inning
Met first baseman Todd Zeile hit a ball that just
went past Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter. The next
batter was Benny Agbayani; he hit a double all the
way to the outfield wall. Zeile came around to
score the eventual game-winning run. Hernandez
lost his first ever post-season game and the Mets
had crawled back into the series down only 2
games to 1 with the next two games being played
at Shea Stadium. The Yankee loss also snapped
their string of 14 consecutive World Series wins
dating back to 1996.
When you have a
champion on the ropes,
you have to deliver a
knock-out punch.
With the Mets back in the Series down 2-1,
they looked to tie the Series in game four. The
game could not have started in a worse situation
for the Mets. Yankee Derek Jeter hit the first pitch
of the game thrown by Met pitcher Bobby Jones
into the left field bleachers. Before anyone could
settle into their seats, the Yankees were up 1-0.
The Yankees would score one run in the second
and third innings to take a 3-0 lead. In the bottom
of the third Mike Piazza hit a two-run homerun off
Yankee pitcher Denny Neagle to cut the Yankee
lead to 3-2. Unfortunately for the Mets that would
be the game’s final score. The Yankee bullpen
held the Mets scoreless for over five innings. The
Yankees had taken a 3-1 series lead and looked to
finish the Mets off in game five.
With their backs against the wall, the Mets
turned to game one pitcher Al Leiter to stave off
elimination. Leiter pitched one of his best games
of the season. He allowed only two runs through
the game’s first eight innings, both solo homeruns
from Bernie Williams and Derek Jeter. The Mets
could not give Leiter the run support he would
need to win this game. The Mets only managed
two runs in the second inning on two Yankee
errors in the field.
With the game tied at two entering the ninth
inning Mets manager Bobby Valentine allowed
Leiter to continue pitching. He struck out the first
two Yankee batters in the inning, but the next two
reached base. With the go ahead runs on base an
unlikely hero stepped to the plate, Yankee backup
infielder Luis Sojo. On Leiter’s 142nd pitch of the
game, Sojo hit a groundball back up the middle of
the field to score the final two runs of the game. In
the bottom of the ninth inning with the Yankees
leading 4-2, Mike Piazza stepped to the plate with
a runner on third base. He hit a ball hard enough
but not long enough to leave the ballpark off
Yankee closer Mariano Rivera. The ball was
caught by Williams in centerfield and the Yankees
were World Series Champions.
Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter was named
World Series Most Valuable Player. Jeter had a
.409 batting average in the five game series, with
two big homeruns in games three and four. Jeter
also extended his World Series hitting streak to 14
games, which is the third longest in World Series
history.
Never has a World Series in which a team had
won four games to one been so close. In the five
games the Yankees outscored the Mets 19-16. The
Mets didn’t get the big hit when they needed it.
They left a total of 17 runners in scoring position
throughout the five game series. To use a boxing
analogy - when you have a champion on the ropes,
you have to deliver a knock out punch.
Taking nothing away from the Yankees, this
series could have gone either way. The Yankees
got the big hits when they needed them and until
the next subway World Series the Yankees will
hold the title of best in New York.
11
YANKS TAKE
OVER NYC
BY TARA WHISTON
The New York Yankees are the 2000 World
Series Champions. Fans celebrated by showing
their Yankee pride. Hats and T-shirts flew off the
shelves in minutes. The fans couldn’t wait to
show their love and support at the Yankee ticker
tape Parade.
The parade was held on Monday, October
30, 2000, from 11-3 p.m. The parade started at
Battery Park. It made its way through the Canyon
of Heroes and ended at City Hall. The parade was
grand marshaled by none other than hall of fame
catcher Yogi Berra. This was the biggest celebration yet. They not only beat the NY Mets in the
subway series, but they have officially been
named a Dynasty with 26 world championships
under their belt and 14 straight word series game
wins in the past three years, the Yanks have
proven that they are the best team in baseball history.
At the parade, there was so much enthusiasm. Devoted fans had slept overnight and even
lined up as early as 4 a.m.! They brought chairs,
sleeping bags and made themselves comfortable!
Fans were loud and changed let’s go Yankees the
whole time. Fans feel that this should be a national holiday. There were a lot of fans playing hookie from work and school. Mayor Giuliani said it
was OK for kids to take off from school with
their parents’ permission. Chancellor Harold
Levy feels the parade is no reason to skip school.
Fans came decked out in all Yankee gear.
They had socks, gloves, hats, clothing, and jewelry. Women had their nails done with the Yankee
colors. Some even painted their faces, dyed their
hair blue and white. There are loyal fans, who
even have Yankee tatoos! Some cops even had
their Yankee boxers on. One cop said, ‘I’ve never
seen so many Yankee jackets in my life!”
Maria Vega from Queens said, “I’ve been
here once before but I was never this close! Last
time the subway stations were all closed off and
the cops kept us running around in circles! I ran
into a QCC student Mayra Velasco who said,
“This is my first parade. I’m glad I came to experience this. I wouldn’t have missed it for the
world!”
The best thing about going to a parade is
because they hand out free stuff! This year they
handed out posters, balloons, newspapers and
much more. You could buy the authentic team
merchandise, or you could buy the fake t-shirts
and flags for a lot less. You could not walk three
inches without men trying to sell you clothing.
On that chilly morning, the line for hot chocolate
and bagels were longer than you could imagine.
This tends to be the normal parade ritual for
Yankee fans.
Fans were keeping themselves entertained by
throwing toilet paper to each side of the street.
They played with the beachball and had a lot of
fun. Sometimes too much fun can get ugly. Some
fans began to act stupid by throwing a countless
number of harmful objects. They threw bottles,
eggs, apples, oranges, CDs, batteries and newspapers which were rolled up. Anything you could
imagine-the Yankee fans threw at each other.
Some Met fans appeared in the crowd and were
not treated with a warm response. The parade
functioned very well. The cops did their very best
to make this a fun and safe parade.
The floats were so beautiful and creative.
People had put a lot of time and effort into building them. The marching bands kept the fans
entertained with songs pertaining to baseball.
The NY Yankees had so much fun at the
parade. They threw confetti into the crowd, and
they waved to the excited fans. Derek Jeter,
(Continued on Page 12)
12
Queensborough Communiqué, November, 2000
MEN’S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE
2000-2001 SEASON
(Continued from Page 11)
YANKS
TAKE OVER
some of the Yankee players who brought their
video cameras with them to tape the parade and
the fans. You would think that since the parade
has made it’s way up the Canyon of Heroes four
out of five times these past few years that fans and
players would get bored of it. It’s the complete
opposite. The crowed get larger every year and the
players get more wild and crazy on the floats!
This year had to be the most confetti thrown out
of the windows! The sanitation workers did their
best to push it along side the street.
Each fan were so excited to see a glimpse of
their favorite team players. Fans eagerly screamed
and took pictures. Two girls named Nicki and
Christine arrived to the parade at 6 a.m. They
were extremely upset because they were on the
wrong side of the street when Derek Jeter passed
by on the float. They didn’t get to take a picture of
their favorite Yankee.
Majority of the fans were not able to get tickets to the world series. This was their chance to
celebrate with the Yankees.
The grand finale of the parade was a number
4 train being pulled by a truck. A mob of fans
were crowded into the subway car, going wild and
crazy. I bet you couldn’t guess what happened
next . . . more confetti thrown! There was so much
that little fires began to appear. Luckily the fire
fighters handled it quickly and no one was injured.
If you were one of the lucky fans who had
tickets, you were able to attend the rally at city
hall. The mayor gave his speech and then gave the
Yankees the keys to the city. Every year, attending the Yankee Parade has been a great tradition
and a lot of fun. If you haven’t gone to one yet,
you must go. It’s a great experience, one you’ll
never forget. Hopefully we’ll get to do it again
next year!
DAY
DATE
OPPONENT
PLACE
TIME
Tuesday
Nov.7
Sullivan CC
Away
7:00 PM
Thursday
Nov. 9
Kingsborough CC
Away
7:00 PM
Thursday
Nov. 16
Suffolk West CC
Home
7:00 PM
Tuesday
Nov. 21
Nassau CC
Away
7:00 PM
Thursday
Nov. 30
Westchester CC
Away
7:00 PM
Tuesday
Dec. 5
Monroe CC
Home
7:00 PM
Thursday
Dec.7
Suffolk CC
Home
7:00 PM
QCC Calendar of Events
November 2000
November – Registration for Continuing
Education course, “Organizing Files and Folders
in Windows 95/98.” This two-session course is
designed for those who want to manage and organize their systems more effectively. Mel Eisner,
lecturer. Actual course will be held on two
Saturdays, January 6 and 13, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Fee:
$60. Call the Office of Continuing Education at
(718) 631-5343.
Wednesday, November 2:00 p.m.: QCC’s
Department of Health, Physical Education and
Dance will present the lecture “Assessing
Personal Health Risks,” as part of its Frank Egan
Memorial Health Lecture Series. Ms. Donna
Ethan, New York Academy of Medicine, will
address risky health behaviors and behavioral
change. Dr. Rosemary Iconis, faculty sponsor.
Room G201/202. Free event. For information,
call (718) 631-6322.
November – Registration for Continuing
Education course, “Holistic Health and Healing.”
This three-session course will cover alternative
and conventional avenues to health and healing.
E.S. Tammany, lecturer. Actual course will be
held on Tuesday, January 9, 16 and 23, 7-9 p.m.
Fee: $50. Call the Office of Continuing Education
at (718) 631-6343.
November 15 at 2:15 p.m., November 16, 17
and 18 at 7:30 p.m.: “Student Actors’
Showcase.” A production of mini-plays: Comedyfarce-drama with student actors, and faculty
directors. Sponsored by the QCC Department of
Speech Communication and Theater Arts. Free.
Shadowbox Theater, Z Building. Limited seating.
For information call (718) 631-6284.
November – Registration for Continuing
Education course, “Be Your Own Boss.” This
one-session course will cover the pros and cons of
being your own boss. Philip Schoenberg, lecturer.
Actual course will be held on Wednesday,
December 6, 7:30-9:30 p.m. Fee: $25. Call the
Office of continuing Education at (718) 6316343.
Saturday, November 18, 8 p.m.: “Anything
Goes.” Cole Porter’s always-delightful, ever-delicious champagne cocktail brims with one hit tune
after another. Presented as part of QCC’s
Professional Performing Arts Series. QCC
Theater. Remaining tickets are $26 and $23. For
information, call (718) 631-6311.
November – Registration for Continuing
Education course, “Microsoft Word Connection.”
This three-session course will focus on learning
how to send or receive graphics and text via email, prepare a document in HTML format, work
with bookmarks and URLs, and create a web
page. Actual course will be held on Monday,
January 8; and Fridays, January 5 and 12, 6-9
p.m. Fee: $90. Call the Office of Continuing
Education at (718) 631-6343.
Wednesday, November 19, 3:00 p.m.: “The
Queensborough Orchestra,” Martin Canellakis,
Music Director, will present a 30th anniversary
celebratory gala concert. Program will feature
such popular works as Eber’s Overture to Oberon
and Symphony #5 by Beethoven. Soloist to be
announced. QCC Theater. Tickets: $14; $12
senior citizens. TDF vouchers accepted in full.
For information call the Box Office at (718) 6316311.
November – Registration for Continuing
Education course, “Introduction to Parliamentary
Procedure.” This one-session course is designed
for those who feel lost, bewildered, mystified,
frustrated or shortchanged at co-op, condo or
other organizational meetings. Actual course will
be held on Wednesday, December 6, 7:45-9:45
p.m. Fee: $30. Call the Office of Continuing
Education at (718) 631-6343.
Sunday, November 26, 3 p.m.: “Charlotte’s
Web,” E.B. White’s popular tale of selfless love,
bravery and the true meaning of friendship, by
Theatreworks USA. Presented as part of QCC’s
Professional Performing Arts Series. QCC
Theater. Tickets: $12; children under 12, $8. For
information, call (718) 631-6311.
Wednesday, November 29, 2:15 p.m.:
“Collegium Musicum Concert.” Barry Goldsmith
and Carlo Valte, directors. A concert of chamber
music by QCC students and faculty. Kurzweil
Recital Hall, H-144. Free event. For information
call (718) 631-6393.
November – Registration for Continuing
Education course, “Tai Chi Chuan Yang Style.”
This four-session course will focus on basic Tai
Chi Chuan forms and other related chi kung exercises, including Tai Chi Sword. Actual course
will be held on Sundays, January 7, 14, 21 and
28, 9-11 a.m. Fee: $110. Call the Office of
Continuing Education at (718) 631-6343.
Wednesday, November 29, 2:00 p.m.: QCC’s
Department of Health, Physical Education and
Dance will present the lecture “Mental Illness: Is
It All In Your Head?” as part of its Frank Egan
Memorial Health Lecture Series. Dr. Rona
Novick of The North Shore/LIJ Health Systems
will address the causes of emotional illness and
its treatment. Dr. Rosemary Iconis, faculty sponsor. G201/202. Free event. For information, call
(718) 631-6322.