2008_01_14 - Broward College

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Index
Campus News.......................................3-5
Collegewide.............................................6
Entertainment......................................8-11
Features..................................................12
Opinion.............................................14-15
Sports.....................................................16
Volume 22, Number 8
JANUARY 14, 2008
[email protected]
Collegewide
Entertainment
New Scholarship
oppertunities for
transfers
Page 6
Sports
Universal gets blue
Page 9
Heat and Dolphins
Better luck next time
Page 16
Students greeted with long lines
By Buzz Lamb
Staff Writer
First-time students at BCC
face the daunting task of making
sure all of their paperwork
is filled out correctly, all the
documentation is in order and
that they have spoken to all of
the right people.
There can be intimidating
lines which stretch out the
door of the admissions office in
January. Those lucky enough
to have been registered in
the previous semester (or the
previous year, for that matter)
have it easy. Go on-line, log in,
sign up and pay.
In an effort to provide better
service for first-time students,
Angelia Millender, VP of
Student Affairs came up with
an idea to make the registration
process less painful. “This is
all brand new,” she said. “It
is not the BCC Student Life
Ambassadors but rather a
supplement to the excellent job
the Ambassadors already do.”
Millender said she sent an
e-mail to all registered students
near the end of the Fall semester
looking for volunteers to assist
new students when open
registration began in January.
“I offered the first 30 to 35
students who applied a book
voucher for $100 if they would
be willing to help,” she said. “I
had to do it on a first come, first
Photo by Buzz lamb
Students wait on line to register for classes on North Campus
served basis because the response
was overwhelming…533 students
applied!”
Millender said the idea was
to have this group of volunteers
work to minimize the wait in line
and to provide hospitality for
the new registrants. “The staff
volunteers and the Student Life
Ambassadors worked the line
checking forms and documents
and the start-up group will sort of
direct traffic,” she said.
On the second floor of
Building 60 on North Campus
on Jan. 3, 2008 the line waiting
for the cashiers office snaked
all the way back to the entrance
doors. It moved at a snail’s pace
and Student Life worker Josh
Adams, 22, was telling people to
expect a wait of an hour or more
just to pay. Students who had not
previously registered had similar
waiting times at the admissions
office and at the advisement/
counseling office.
One poor girl at the end of the
cashier’s line lamented that she
had been to advisement and was
told she would have to take the
aptitude tests before she could
be admitted but, before she could
take the test, she had to pay for
class.
Adams, who studies Liberal
Arts on North Campus, said in
the past he has registered for
classes at both the Central and
North Campus locations. “It goes
a lot smoother here at North,” he
said. According to Adams, there
were a lot of students waiting in
the line who didn’t know they
could pay their tuition and fees
on-line. “This time of year the
college’s home page should have
a big banner across it saying ‘Pay
on-line’”, he said. “They really
need to get the word out to more
people. It would make it so much
easier.”
In Building 19 on Central
Campus, David Asencio, Dean
of Student Affairs welcomed the
help from Millender’s volunteer
team and even put her to work
answering the phones in the
Admissions Office.
Asencio
said he and his staff try to offer
as much information as possible
to the students waiting in line
so that they make it through the
registration process as quickly
▪ Registration
continued on page 6
Lost connection slows down BCC campuses
Bruno Niccoli
Sports Editor
The increased reliance on
computer technology turned
into a nightmare during the first
week of classes, as Broward
Community College faced the
biggest communication failure
in its history on Jan. 8.
The failure caused by an
AT&T equipment failure,
impacted BCC’s three major
campus: Central, South and
North.
Around
10:00a.m.
on
Tuesday, the second day of
classes after the winter break,
the entire BCC communication
system went down, affecting
the GroupWise e-mail, internet
connections and CID access.
AT&T is the communications
provider for BCC and their
equipment failure brought the
campuses to a technology crisis,
forcing BCC students and staff to
face the consequences of a major
network problem.
All students trying to signup for classes, acquire books
thru financial Aid and post the
payments for their classes were
deeply affected.
The failure lasted almost two
days. This was the longest BCC
has ever remained without any
form of computer communication
ever since the system was
first set in place. Temporary
communications problems do
occur at the campuses during
the year, but they are usually
located at just one campus and
are solved in a few minutes after
its detection.
Professors and students with
online classes were some of the
most affected by this problem.
Unable to attend their classes,
students will have to wait for their
teachers to find out what effects
this will have in their schedules, as
they also await BCC’s decisions
to come out after the problem
was solved. Students who attend
web-enhanced classes were also
directly affected, as the access to
the blackboard website was not
possible from the computers at
the affected campuses.
According to BCC, students
who were unable to pay for their
classes and had due dates for the
days affected by the failure, were
not dropped out of class, since the
system was not able to process
any data during those days.
BCC IT department had its
technicians working overnight
to solve the problem. After the
system was restored, most BCC
departments were still unaware of
what had happened.
The lines of students on the
registration and financial aid
offices were rapidly increased,
as they were informed that they
would finally be able to finish
filing their documents and register
for classes.
Angelina N. Millender, the
Vice President for Student Affairs
and Enrollment Management, at
the Willis Holcombe Center, sent
an e-mail to all BCC employees
informing that “Since we lost
a day and a half of registration
we will continue to run drop/
add trough Monday. [Jan. 14]”
She also informed that “Faculty
policies regarding allowing
students into classes after they
have met once still apply.”
Even after the problem was
solved, students and professors
▪ Connection
continued on page 6
The Observer
August 13, 2007
Central
JANUARY 14, 2008
Focus on the Nation
By: Jessica Beans
Central Bureau Chief
Celebrate MLK
By: Buzz Lamb
Staff Writer
Student Life on Central
Campus will once again sponsor a Martin Luther King, Jr.
Celebration Brunch. The wellattended annual function will
take place this year at the Library
(Building 17), Room 146, from
10 a.m. to around noon on Jan.
16.
According to Central Campus
Student Life director, Adrian
Carter, the affair is being arranged by two popular campus organizations; the AfricanAmerican Student Union (AASU)
and Student Programming and
Development
Entertainment
Series (SPADES).
Beatrice Blanc, Student Life
program coordinator, said the
presentation this year will be a reflection on the life of Dr. Martin
The Observer
Luther King, Jr. “Each year we
have a different theme. Last year
it was a birthday celebration, this
year we will have a “candlelight
reading,” Blanc said.
According to Blanc, students
will participate in the candlelight
ceremony by reading a passage
from one of King’s speeches and
then a candle will be lit in remembrance of his words. In addition,
a student from the Music/Arts department will sing the black spiritual “Lift Every Voice”. Blanc
said the selection of the main
speaker for the program had not
been finalized as of press time.
As in the past, a delicious
brunch will be served to all who
attend the popular occasion. All
students and staff are invited to
attend the free event.
The Holcombe Institute on
BCC Central Campus will be
hosting “Focus the Nation”. The
event will arguably be the most
influential social happening to hit
BCC this year. The “Focus”
will highlight the most
crucial
subject
matters
facing the world.
There will be
everything
from political analysis,
poetry, to the
growing consciousness of
global warming.
“Focus
the
Nation” is a nationally
recognized non-profit organization program. Colleges, universities, high schools, even places of
worship, are the primary targeted
groups. One of “Focus’” key
components includes a National
Teach-In which will take place on
Thursday Jan. 31. Thousands of
students from various campuses,
including faculty members, participate in workshops and panels
and are encouraged to brainstorm
about global warming solutions.
The idea is to create a sort of
whispering campaign; ask five,
ten, twenty faculty members to
stand up as educators and advocates to this cause.
BCC Central Campus will
have its own Teach-In on Jan.
24. This won’t be your average
meeting of the minds. The gathering will feature public speakers
and special screenings to make
it a fulfilling experience.
The sole intent is
to educate and
provide concentration
to the significance
of social
and ecological
issues.
If the
Te a c h - I n
is a success,
the next step
in the four-key
component is to escalate
to “Green Democracy”. This will
allow students to present their solutions for global warming to top
ten decision-makers in congress
via video-chat. The next step is
“Choose Your Future”. Students
then vote on five top solutions for
global warming. The week leading up to Jan. 31, votes are then
delivered to congress with a guarantee that your vote will be heard.
Finally “2% Solution”, a national
interactive webcast which will air
the night of Jan. 30, will also be
screened at the Central Campus’
Teach-In. The national goal is to
have 10,000 screenings and a purpose to stop global warming.
The Student Center patio of
building 19 will be providing all
sorts of information tables and,
like any good social event, food!
Students are strongly encouraged
to attend and take advantage of
these resources. This significant
event will be from 10a.m. to
2p.m. and, if anything, this will
be a good chance to meet other
people who share the pursuit of
global warming awareness.
For more info go to:
www.focusthenation.org
Central Campus
Upcoming Events:
January
Welcome Week
Tuesday 8: Club Rush: X-Treme Team
10 a.m.-2 p.m. Bldg. 19/Patio
Wednesday 9: Central Recess:
Club Rush, The Big
Chair
10 a.m.-2 p.m. Bldg. 19/Patio
Wednesday 16: MLK Breakfast
10 a.m.-1 p.m. Bldg. 19/Patio
Wednesday 23: The LoungeNight event: Food and
Entertainment
6-8 p.m. Bldg. 17/Circle
Monday 28: Peanut Butter &
Jelly Day
10 a.m.-2 p.m. Bldg. 19/Patio
South
The Observer
January 14, 2008
Events:
Adjust your focus Upcoming
South Campus
By: Kevin Rosenberg
Copy Editor
South
Campus’s
Second
Annual Environmental Awareness
Week will kick-off with a symposium called Global Warming
Solutions for America in conjunction with Focus the Nation on
Jan. 24. During the week of Jan.
28-Feb. 1, a variety of environmentally-focused events will also
take place.
Focus the Nation is
a national educational
initiative that focuses
on informing people
about issues that affect
the environment such
as global warming and
clean energy solutions.
Focus the Nation is
based in educational institutions
at over 1,000 colleges, universities, and K-12 schools.
Last year’s presentation was
used as a scare tactic to reveal
to the students how serious these
problems are, and this year will
focus on solutions to the problems
facing our environment, said Dr.
Patrick Ellingham, who is coordinating Environmental Awareness
Week at South Campus.
“I’d like students to think
about what they can do individually, as well as collectively as a
college, state and nation to help
the environment,” he said.
Focus the Nation will take
place 11 a.m to 2 p.m. in the Multi
Media Room of the new library
on Jan. 24.
“Faculty is encouraged to
bring their classes and actively
participate in the events,” said.
Dr. Ellingham.
On a national scale, the Focus
the Nation event will feature political leaders and candidates for
office who will participate in
round-table discussions regarding
global warming solutions. Each
BCC campus will then vote on
their top five national priorities
for global warming action, producing a campus-endorsed policy
agenda for the 2008 elections.
“We’re trying to get people
from different disciplines to
speak about how their area affects
the environment and these will be
presented to the president,” said
Ellingham.
The rest of the Environmental
Week activities include an
Environmental Fair, which will
feature free food, segway rides
and environmental infromation on
Jan. 30, and week-long viewings
and discussions of Who Killed
the Electric Car?, Kilkowatt
Hour, Affluenza and Inconvenient
Truth.
On Jan. 29, from 11a.m. to
12:30 p.m. Ali Parker, the Natural
Resource Manager of the City of
Hollywood, and Taylor Calhoun,
Manager of the Waste Water Plant
of the City of Hollywood, will be
discussing Energy and Water
Conservation, in the Southern
Breeze Café.
Professor Debbie Navarrete
will be doing a presentation
titled “Critical Perspectives
of Race and Environment”
on Jan. 31, in the Southern
Breeze Café at 11a.m.
There will also be a student
video contest, in which students
are encouraged to create a video
to promote environmental awareness. The video can be live-action
or animated and should be delivered on either a CD or DVD,
in Windows movie format or
Quicktime.
These videos should be submitted to Dr. Ellingham in building 68, room 246. The deadline
for video submission is Jan. 18.
For more information regarding
the video requirements, call 954201-8858, or email Dr. Ellingham
at [email protected].
Welcome Week 1/14-1/18
Monday
Candle Art
Caricature & Trucker Hats
10am-2pm Bldg 68 Breezway
10am-1pm Pines Center
Bungee Run Big Chair Photos
10am-2pm Bldg 68 Breezeway
10am-1pm Pines Center
Velcro Wall
10am-2pm Bldg 68 Breezeway
Tuesday
Wednesday
Time Management Workshop
1/16 2-3pm Bldg 68 Rm 133
Martin Luther King Luncheon
1/17 Noon Bldg 68 Southern Breezes
Inflatable Basketball Intramurals
1/17 10am-1pm
Pines Center
1/17 12:30-1:30pmPines Center
1/22 10am-2pm
Bldg 68 Breezeway
1/22 5-6:30pm
Bldg 68 Breezeway
Time Management Workshop
Inflatable Basketball Intramurals
Student Living Evening Cafe
Club Rush Day!
1/23 11am-1pm Bldg 68 Breezeway
Journey to Teaching: Title V Co Op Grant Workshop
1/23 11am-12pm Bldg 68 Southern Breezes
Strategies for Test Taking Workshop
1/24 12-1pm
Bldg 68 Rm 219
january 14, 2008
North
The Observer
New building on North Campus hits snag
By Buzz Lamb
Staff Writer
Legal jargon and loopholes in a
30-year-long contract signed over
three years ago raised concerns
of the BCC Board of Trustees
over the Junior Achievement of
South Florida, Inc. (JA) plans to
build a 59,169 square foot facility
on North Campus.
Under the current contact, BCC
will lease 4.799 acres of land on
North Campus in Coconut Creek
for $1 annually for 30 years (with
the option to renew for another 30
years at $1 a year) to JA of South
photo by buzz lamb
From left to right: Melissa Aiello, Levi William, and Dr.
Florida, a non-profit organization Barbara Bryan.
which provides instruction about
free enterprise to youths. The agreed upon.
her presentation, introducing
value of the lease is agreement is
Aiello said she could not numerous members of her staff
$2.4 million.
respond to the things Williams and members of the design and
BCC President, J. David has heard because she is not sure legal teams and displaying a large
Armstrong, Jr. introduced Action what he has heard or if what he artist’s rendering of the proposed
Item #IV.A, to the Board saying, has heard is true. “I can assure new facility. On several occasions,
“this is an outstanding opportu- you that this college will be very, Trustee Sosa-Douglass peppered
nity for BCC to work with Junior very happy that we are here,” she the presentation with question
Achievement, along with the sup- said. Aiello said they specifically after question regarding the legal
port of the Broward School Board targeted a college campus to build document associated with the
on this complex plan which con- their facility because it would lease. “I am going to ask that
tains a lot of major issues.”
be a win-win situation for the those contracts come back to us
Armstrong
asked
North college. “Bringing students to the with particular designations about
Campus Provost, Dr. Barbara campus at a young age would be a who BCC is in this contract,”
Bryan, to introduce the JA staff wonderful thing that would drive she said. “We (the Board) were
to the Board but before she could them back to that campus later on. told about six months ago that
get to the microphone to speak, We had offers from other colleges we had some major damage to a
Trustee Levi Williams called out but we chose BCC because Dr. building on Central Campus due
to Lourdes Garrido, “Madame Holcombe was a great fan of what to poor construction and it was
Chair, I would like to call for a we are trying to do,” she said.
some huge amount of money and
point of order. There are some
Aiello said she made phone we got stuck with it because the
questions I need
calls to contract didn’t state who was
to have resolved
B o a r d responsible,” she said.
“You had a plan, a
before I even
members
Aiello explained to the Board
listen to a pre- faction, which did not not
to members that JA had a closing
happen the way it was d i v i d e scheduled for December 19 and
sentation.”
Trustee
them, but they needed the BCC Board to
supposed to happen.”
Georgette
because sign off on the project for the
Sosa-Douglass
she was financial institution to release the
added, “I don’t know how many afraid the project “would go funds for the building project.
questions.”
away” if she did not keep the Sosa-Douglass responded that
Trustee Williams has, but I BCC Board members informed she felt the Board would need
know I have dozens and I would of the progress. “I admit that I to have a second reading on the
like to request a 10-minute break am the one that made the phone project and there would not be
because I feel this is going to be calls but I did not have any under- enough time to do that based on
lengthy.” Gasps could be heard handed tactic in mind,” she said their timeframe. “If you want a
as stunned audience members to Williams.
vote today, that’s fine with me,
looked to each other for answers.
Aiello then went on with but I will tell you right now I will
After the break, in the absence
of Chairperson Lourdes Garrido,
Vice-Chair
Paul Tanner called the meeting
back to order. Trustee Williams
asked JA President Melissa Aiello
to step up to the microphone.
“Three years ago you appeared
before us and told us the story of
JA and we were impressed. Now,
I need to clear the air…I can’t
hear anything else you have to say
until we clear the air,” Williams
said. “You had a plan, a faction,
which did not happen the way it
was supposed to happen.”
At this point the packed
room became uncommonly
silent. Williams told Aiello that
as a result of that he has great
concerns as to the future of the
BCC/JA relationship. Williams
also alluded to some tactics he
has been made aware of that the
JA Board used to attempt (in
his opinion) to divide the BCC
Board such as telephone calls to
individual members and a behindclosed-doors meeting (with Dr.
Larry Calderon) to try secure
more land than was originally
vote against anything you have to
offer,” Sosa-Douglass said.
With that having been said,
JA Foundation board member,
Les Campbell, indicated that if
a special meeting was required,
it would be difficult for them to
complete all of the legal work in
such a short time period but he
urged the Board to do their best to
meet before the Dec. 19 closing
date as they (JA) would continue
to work toward the closing.
At the urging of BCC President
J. David Armstrong, Jr., the BCC
Board members adjusted their
schedules to attend a special
meeting on Dec. 17 at 1 p.m. in
Room 1208 of the Downtown
Campus. Melissa Aiello said
in a phone interview on Dec. 5
that JA had not postponed the
closing date and they are looking
forward to meeting with the BCC
Board of Trustees to address their
concerns and move forward with
the project.
Tension was in the air. The
12th floor boardroom was packed
with nervous JA staff, board
members and supporters when
the members of the BCC Board
of Trustee took their seats. The
meeting was called to order and
President Armstrong made some
opening remarks detailing the
concerted effort of the support
and legal staff, on both sides, who
worked feverishly to resolve
Sosa-Douglass’ and Williams’
issues.
BCC
attorney,
Kevin
Fernander specifically detailed
each of the areas of concern and
at each juncture Sosa-Douglass
either had a question or asked for
a clarification. She left no doubt
concerning her displeasure with
the entire concept. Prior to the
vote, trustee Sosa-Douglass stood
up from her seat, pushed in the
chair and left the room.
Garrido called for a vote and
the motion to approve the project
was approved 4 – 0. Shouts of
joy filled the room and people
were shaking hands and patting
each other on the back. After the
meeting ended, Trustee Williams
said, “We are just trying to do the
job we have been assigned and
that is to protect the rights and
the money of the people of the
Stale of Florida. I tried to do my
best and I want everyone to know
that.”
The Observer
Registration process
▪ Continued from page 1
as possible. “If they need help,
we’re here to give it to them,” he
said.
Millender said she began
another new initiative over the
holiday break. “I set up a way
for students to get their questions
answered when the college was
Photo by buzz lamb
David Asencio, Dean of Students on Central.
closed. When they called in, they
were directed to another phone
number where I had a bank of
people working in the downtown
offices who were there just to
answer questions,” she said. “I
have got to keep working on ways
to provide some limited service to
students over the holidays.”
Millender said she will be
looking at the statistics of the call
center to determine if the idea
was feasible. “If it is justified
that we needed to be open during
the holidays, it is possible, but
not guaranteed, that we can get
students here sooner to reduce the
numbers,” she said.
$500,000 goes to
scholarships
Students that transfer to NSU might be eligible for
scholarships.
semester. “We are pleased to
make this opportunity available
to them,” he said. “On behalf
of the Board of Directors of the
NovaSoutheastern University BCC Foundation I would like to
(NSU) announced at the BCC express our deep appreciation to
Board of Trustees meeting on NSU for making this happen.” Nov. 28 a gift of $500,000 to the Rhodes introduced Ferrero to
BCC Foundation. The gift is to be the Board describing him as a
used to establish scholarships for visionary leader who is strongly
selected high-achieving students committed to the growth and
who complete their associate’s improvement of the university
degree at BCC and then transfer and the community it serves.
to NSU.
“Thank you for allowing
“This is really some us to join you during your very,
outstanding news,” said BCC very busy schedule,” Ferrero
President J. David Armstrong Jr. said. “I want to take the time to
Nancy Botero, Executive Director put this in perspective not only
of the BCC Foundation, said that for the [BCC] board but for
it was a historic day because it those who are in attendance here
marked the very first transfer- today.” Ferrero said he began
scholarship agreement between the process of developing the
the two institutions.
scholarship opportunity when Dr.
“This new program will benefit Larry Calderon was president of
our brightest and best,” she said. BCC. “This is not really new to
According to Botero, students who NSU from the stand point of your
complete their associate’s degree [BCC] graduates coming to our
entirely at BCC, maintaining a campus. You might say that is
3.5 GPA, will be eligible for up a little strange because NSU is a
to $10,000 in scholarship money private institution and therefore
to complete their bachelor’s it costs more to attend. Of the
degree at NSU. “The number one 199 students currently enrolled in
reason students do not reach their our honors program, 25 are BCC
educational goal is because of graduates,” he said.
overwhelming financial barriers,”
Ferrero went on to explain that
Botero explained. “In keeping in doing some research, NSU has
with the entrepreneurial sprit of discovered that the success rate of
NSU under the leadership of its transfer students is surprisingly
president, Ray Ferrero, the BCC high. “When we looked at the
Foundation has developed this 2003 statistics of students who
unique program to help BCC entered NSU as transfer students,
graduates,” she said.
the vast majority which came
According to an NSU press from BCC, we had a three-year
release, the gift sets the tone for success rate of 74 percent,” he
a unique partnership agreement said. “This alliance between a
which
represents
Ferrero’s public community college and a
commitment to reducing the private not-for-profit college, and
financial obstacles for students I am told this is the first of its kind
that are associated with college in the state, accomplishes two
tuition, and makes graduation important objectives; removing
from a four-year private university financial barriers and keeping our
attainable. “As an independent best and brightest students right
not-for-profit institution of higher here in South Florida,” he said.
learning, NSU strives to provide
Botero added that the
equal access to quality education gift will also be matched dollarfor deserving students,” Ferrero for-dollar by the Florida run
said.
Dr. Phillip Benjamin Matching
According to BCC Foundation Program, increasing the transfer
president, Lloyd Rhodes, over scholarship fund significantly. 1,300 BCC students are eligible The first graduates to benefit
for the scholarship and over 280 from this grant will begin studies
are graduating from BCC next at NSU in the fall of 2008. By Buzz Lamb Staff Writer
Collegewide
January 14, 2008
Check your connection
▪ Continued from page 1
still didn’t have enough information available to answer their
concerns. Professors were seen
cleaning their offices and walking
around the campuses, since there
wasn’t anything else for them to
do.
Dr. Barbara Nightingale,
an honors professor at South
Campus, told students during
class “It’s amazing! We are at a
halt here.” She also told them
that “You can see people walking
around handling messages.” Dr.
Nightingale is one of the professors affected by the impossibility
of teaching online classes.
Terri Justice, the Dean of
Academic
Resources
and
Instructional Technology at the
South Campus, informed that despite not having enough information to explain exactly what had
occur at BCC “We are very happy
just to have the computers online
gain.”
With almost two days of work
at the campuses having been held
back, BCC will need to rely on
its employees in order to have a
smoother second week of classes.
But this will only be possible with
a stable and reliable communications structure.
BCC does have a backup system on its network. The backup
occurs every night and missing files from the network harddrives can be restored, however,
if the access to the hard-drive is
blocked, BCC will again experience a return to the Stone Age.
november 19, 2007
The Observer
The Observer
Entertainment
January 14, 2008
Artists you oughta know Upcoming Events
Heather Cooper
Layout Editor
M.I.A.
Best known by her stage
name M.I.A., Mathangi “Maya”
Arulpragasam is a British singer
who does just about everything.
M.I.A. is not only a vocalist, but
she also is a songwriter, composer,
producer, and artist.
M.I.A.’s sound is a mix of
dancehall, electro, grime and
world music. Most of her success
in the US is due to her popularity
on the internet. Showbiz Records
released about 500 copies in
2003 of her independent single
“Galang.” By 2004, major record
labels caught onto the single’s
popularity and M.I.A. eventually
signed
with
XLRecordins
(home to the White Stripes and
Radiohead) since they agreed to
give her all creative control.
Later that year “Galang” was
re-released and accompanied by a
music video for the song. The video
featured a backdrop of M.I.A.’s
graffiti artwork brought to
life. Before dabbling in
music, M.I.A. was already an
accomplished artist. Most of
her work is candy colored
spray-paint
and
stencil
pictures which feature many
social and political issues, such
as the Tamil rebellion movement.
Her father was a political
activist in a Tamil militant
group, placing many hardships
in her life while growing up. Her
Mute Math
The New Orleans rock band,
Mute Math is slowly hitting the
main stream music world with
their new age, jazz rock and
ambient vocals.
The group is made up of Paul
Meany as lead vocals, Darren King
on drums, Greg Hill on guitars and
Roy Mitchell-Cardenas on bass
guitar. In 2004 the band released
their first Ep “Reset” under
Teleprompt Records, created by
Meany to independently control
releases after disagreements in
their contract with Warner Music
Group.
After touring for a short time,
Mute Math in their press kit photo.
father’s dangerous life helped her immigration due to her previous
to create her stage name M.I.A. visa and censorship problems in
standing for “Missing in Acton/ the US. M.I.A. was also featured in
Action.”
the song “Come
By 2005, her
a
She is one of the Around,”
debut
album
bonus
track
on
rare artists who
“Arular”
was
Ti m b a l a n d ’s
have a large
released, which
album “Shock
global outreach Value,” which
included
her
and mentality,
popular single
also appears on
“Galang.”
her album.
but not because
“Arular” mostly
M.I.A.’s
it ’s good
revolved around
fame
will
publicity.
lyrics touching
continue to grow
on her own
as she voices
experiences with identity, poverty her political and socials opinion
and war. It had bold, jarring in her catchy and unique music.
sounds and used cultural and She is one of the rare artists who
multi-lingual slang. M.I.A. ended have a large global outreach and
the 2005 year by joining Gwen mentality, but not because it’s
Stefani on her Harajuku Lovers good publicity. Through her art
Tour.
and music M.I.A. hopes to give
Two years later, M.I.A. released a voice to those who can’t be
her second album titled “Kala,” heard.
which Rolling Stone Magazine
went on to name best album
of the year. The main
theme of the record is
Shows:
01/13
01/16
01/16
01/19
01/20
01/25 01/27
01/31
02/20
Willie Nelson at the Hard Rock Live.
South Beach Comedy Festival:Kathy Griffin at the Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater.
Foo Fighters at Bank Atlantic Center.
The Machine: A Tribute to Pink Floyd at the Revolution Live.
Marilyn Manson at The Fillmore .
The Wu Tang Clan at The Fillmore.
Kiss Country 2008 Chili Cookoff at CB Smith Park.
Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Tour at American Airlines Arena.
Michael Buble` at the Hard Rock Live.
01/15
01/15
01/17
01/18
01/18
01/22
01/25
01/25
01/29
“Good Luck Chuck” is released on DVD.
The Collector’s Edition of “When Harry met Sally” will be available in stores.
“Cloverfield” hits theaters.
“Fanboys” along with “27 Dresses” will be released.
“Mr. Woodcock” on DVD hits stores.
The horror film “Saw IV” and “The Game Plan” will be released on DVD.
The new “Rambo” movie is released.
“Untraceable” and the film “Be Kind Rewind” opens in theaters.
“Daddy Day Camp,” the sequal to “Daddy DayCare” hits stores.
01/15
01/22
01/29
01/29
01/29
Ringo Starr’s album “Liverpool 8” is released.
Natasha Bedingfield’s long awaited CD, “Pocket Full of Sunshine,” hits stores.
Hannah Montana’s “Hannah Montana 2: Non-Stop Dance Party” will be released.
Simple Plan releases their new self titled album.
The Mars Volta will release their newest record, “The Belam in Goliath”
Movies:
Music:
Photo courtesy of osheaga.com
Mute Math released their first self with Conan O’Brien.” The group
titled album, “Mute Math” in Sept. also recorded the “Transformers”
2006, which sold around 10,000 theme song for the movie’s
soundtrack and
copies
within
the first month.
Mute Math has has performed
at festivals such
The album put
an exciting
as Van’s Warped
Mute Math on the
sound made
Tour.
cover of Billboard
Since
2007
up of a mix of
Magazine,
a
the band has been
feature in Spin
electronic
Magazine and on
rock, jazz, and seen opening for
The Fray and had
MTV’s “You Hear
smooth vocals. a brief headlining
It First.”
tour in Europe.
Since the release of their They also released an exclusive
first album, the success of the live DVD called, “Flesh And
band has grown tremendously. Bones Electric Fun,” along with
They have appeared on “Jimmy an accompanying North American
Kimmel Live” and “Late Night tour that hit over 43 cities.
The group plans on
releasing their second album,
which is due in Sept. 2008.
Mute Math will also be
returning to the road in 2008
opening for Alanis Morisette
and Matchbox Twenty’s
Exile In America Tour, which
kicks off in Hollywood, Fla
on Jan. 25.
Mute
Math’s
live
performances are known to
be filled with a lot of energy
and include homemade
instruments that keep the
show worth the price of
admission.
Unfortunately
even with their exciting
sound, made up of a mix of
electronic rock, jazz, and
smooth vocals, the group
still remains off local radio
stations. However, it is only
a matter of time before Mute
Photo courtesy of punknews.org
Math blows up in the media.
Sara Bareilles
“Love Song,” which basically
jump started Bareilles spot in
Singer- songwriter and pianist the music industry, is not about
Sara Bareilles is now regarded romance or sex. It’s actually all
as one of the top breakout artists about not letting others push
of the 2007 year with her single you into doing something that
“Love Song.”
you don’t want to,
She has been
Bareilles
which is exactly
compared to
started with her
what her new
2004
release
record label bosses
other pianist
of the studio
did. Through their
singers like
album “Careful
constant pushing
Norah Jones and
Confessions”
and her defiance,
Vanessa Carlton,
and signed with
but Bareilles is a Bareilles created
Epic Records
her hit single.
unique talent in
the following
Despite having
her own right.
year. The single
no formal training
“Love Song”
in voice or piano,
was featured by iTunes in June Bareilles music blends jaunty and
2007, a month before the release cool sounds with catchy lyrics,
of her album “Little Voice.” The which is formally known as the
following month “Little Voice” recipe for success in the music
shot up to #45 on the Billboard’s world.
Top 200 Chart. After
being featured on a
Rhapsody commercial,
Bareilles’
single
entered as one of the
top ten on Billboard’s
Hot 100 List in only a
few months.
Since then, she
has been compared to
other pianist singers
like Norah Jones and
Vanessa Carlton, but
Bareilles is a unique
talent in her own
right. She has opened
several shows for both
Maroon 5 and coheadlined a tour with
Photo courtesy of bloggers.com
Jon Mclaughlin.
Sara Bareilles.
January 14, 2008
Entertainment
The Observer
Blue Man Group on Baby Phat Craze
stage at Universal
Andres Lopez
Staff Writer
Bruno Niccoli
Sports Editor
With a combination
of music, comedy, paint,
lights
and
audience
participation, the Blue
Man Group has redefined
the live concert experience
and is a splash of
entertainment that should
be seen at least once.
The Blue Man Group
Show opened up June 2007
and is now performing
continuously throughout
the week at Universal
Studios
Orlando,
in
the custom-built Sharp
AQUOS Theatre. The
show was also customdesigned for the park and
is a mix of the group’s
Photo By Bruno Niccoli
existing performances and
Members of the Blue Man Group show fans what is like to be attack by the
material created exclusive
paparazzi.
for this performance.
“Because Universal Orlando the first three roles, known as the head bang and the raising the roof
is known for its cool, stimulating “poncho” section, were presented hip-hop style.
experiences, we feel it’s the with plastic rain coats, intended
At the end of the show, the
perfect place for a Blue Man to protected the audience from audience is completely covered
show,” said Blue Man co-founder paint splashes and other artifacts by toilette paper that the Blue
Chris Wink.
used during Man brings from the back of the
The group
the show.
theater.
The audience
created
by
Most of the
The entertainment is appealing
interaction
Chris Wink,
i n s t r u m e n t s to all ages, but don’t be late for the
becomes even
Phil Stanton
used by the show, or you might be included on
bigger
as the trio
and
Matt
Blue
Man the performance. In a tradition at
Goldman,
Group were the Blue Man performances, the
teaches the basic
first in 1988
c r e a t e d show is temporarily stopped and
moves performed
came to life
specially for the late arrivers are welcomed
during rock
in a small
the group. The with the “You are late” song and
concerts.
theater in New
use of large their seating is accompanied by a
York and is
PVC pipes and camera for the amusement of the
now spreading its trademarked steel garbage dumpsters filled rest of the audience.
performances around the globe.
with paint are just a few of the
For more information or to
The trio of mute performers unusual musical instruments used purchase tickets, call the Universal
in black clothes and blue painted in the show.
ticket line at888-340-5476 or visit
faces gained world notoriety after
During the show the trio breaks www.universalorlando.com.
appearing in the commercials for the fourth wall as they step from
the Intel processor.
the stage and walk around the
The Observer, along with other audience, recruiting people to be
college presses from Florida, was a part of the spectacle.
invited to attend a performance of
The audience interaction
the group last November. Before becomes even bigger as the trio
the show started, all members of teaches the basic moves performed
the audience received pieces of during rock concerts, including
toilette paper. Those seated in the one-armed-fist-pump, the
Photo By Bruno Niccoli
aged to bring an unwrapped toy.
Simmons, began her Macy’s
itenarary by going first to the
Aventura Mall and later making a
stop at the Pembroke Lakes Mall.
At the Aventura Mall people stood
in line as they waited for her arrival, which ended up being fashionably late with close to an hour
after her pre-determined time. As
people waited in line music was
being played by a DJ. Once she
arrived to the area of the store
where her Baby Phat brand is located her adoring fans chanted her
name as she waved and passed by.
During the signing of books she
asked “Can someone see if the DJ
has Soulja Boy.” As time wound
Every Thanksgiving day from
New York City the nation is able
to see one of the biggest parades
celebrating the holiday and making way for the Christmas season
to begin, the company that makes
all of this possible is Macy’s.
Now, New York City is not the
only city that makes big things
happen, and so it was true for
South Floridians on December
5, 2007 to have their little own
piece of what glamour and fashion have become to be a standard
to one of the trendiest brands of
all time. The brand at hand is
Baby Phat, which
is led by Kimora
Lee Simons.
Simmons, who
is part model, actress, the head of
design for Baby
Phat and KLS
and of course one
could not forget
that she is also
an author of the
published book,
Fabulosity: What
It Is and How to
Get It was on
hand at the Macy’s
of
Pembroke
Lakes Mall and
at the Macy’s in
Aventura
Mall.
She was there to
Photo By Andres Lopez
promote
Baby
Kimora
Lee
Simmons
as
she
posses with a
Phat and also to
little girl.
have a meet and
greet opportunity with customers down and the session was about
who waited in line. Those who re- to come to an end she asked again
ceived the opportunity to obtain a but the request was not able to be
signed copy of her book and have completed. Once the last book
a chance at meeting the star of the was signed she left through the
reality show, E! Entertainment’s pathway store security had set up
Kimora: Life In The Fab Lane had for her to leave among the dozens
to be the first twenty-five people and dozens of fans who wanted to
in the line and also were encour- catch a final glimpse of the star.
10
The Observer
Entertainment
January 14, 2008
Video games and music Te Amo Amor
equals a top seller
Amor a La Musica blows Miami away
Andres Lopez
Staff Writer
Daniel Ezzo
Contributing Writer
An array of different gifts will
be found under the Christmas
trees (and under the Menorahs) in
many homes this holiday season.
One gift in particular that will be
sure to find its way in many homes
is the latest installment of the
Guitar Hero franchise,
Guitar Hero 3.
Released on Oct.
28, Guitar Hero 3
is the third full
installment
in
the Guitar Hero
series and just
like the previous
titles, it more than
delivers.
Although many
things have changed
about the Guitar
Hero series with
GH3, it still remains a game in
which the player plays a guitar
shaped controller in time with
the notes as they scroll down
the screen. As usual, the player
must use their left hand to press
one of five buttons and their right
hand to strum the strum bar in
accordance with the notes and
their frequency. The guitar track
plays separate from the song track
so that if the player misses a note,
you hear a very obnoxious sound
that signifies failure.
Guitar Hero 3 still has the same
‘Career Mode’ in which a player
progresses through eight tiers of
songs, unlocking new songs along
the way with each tier getting
more difficult along the way. Of
course, there’s still the option of
starting a career on easy, medium,
hard and even expert for the more
seasoned players. Although the
other installments in the series
featured career mode, GH3 is the
only one thus far in the series to
include a storyline,
featuring a
b a n d
working
their way up
from the garage,
portrayed
through
animated cartoon scenes in
between venues.
A new feature that veteran
guitar hero players might enjoy
are the new boss battles included
in career mode. Boss battles occur
three times in GH3: at the end of
the second tier, at the end of the
fifth tier and at the end of the last
tier. The featured bosses are Tom
Morello of Rage Against, Slash of
Guns and Roses and Lou, the last
boss of the game who is supposed
to represent the devil who vies for
you and your bandmates’ souls.
While at times frustrating, these
boss battles pump new life into the
game. The boss battle is featured
in multiple player mode, but is
instead called “Battle Mode”
There are other new features
for Career Mode. Now featured
is the not so traditional Co-op
Career mode in which two players
playing on the same console can
play together in the same band;
one player featured on lead guitar
and the other on bass or rhythm
guitar. Unlike single player career
mode, cooperative mode has six
tiers of songs, with each encore
song being unique to co-op mode.
There are no boss
(the Gibson SG) is much unlike
this new one in the sense that, it
wasn’t wireless and players could
only put stickers on their guitar
and not necessarily change the
whole faceplate.
For those with a Wii, XBOX
360 or PS3, there is also the
option of playing against others
online. They can also use the new
internet feature
to download
songs not readily
available on the
game itself.
Those are just
some of the 46
available songs
the player will play
through in Career
mode. There are
also well over
25 unlockable
songs that
battles in this
the player
mode like in
c a n
single player.
purchase in game’s store. Not to
For multiplayer mode, there mention, if one has the XBOX
stills exists Co-operative play, 360 or the Wii, they can download
Face-off and Pro Face-off. Yet songs from the online store.
there’s a new addition and that is
The Guitar Hero games in the
Battle Mode (similar to the boss past have been criticized for many
battles on Career Mode). Whether things. Some people call it “lame”
playing against someone on the because it’s not actually playing a
same console or playing someone real guitar. However what does
over the internet, this feature it really matter, if one is having
allows two players to battle fun. Guitar Hero can be played
each other and
by anyone and
It even gives kids
deploy ‘Battle
can even help
now a days an
Power’ on one
guitarists with
appreciation for
another. Battle
their dexterity
Power allows the
on a normal
older rock songs
players to attack from generations guitar. “If kids
each other and
nearly
before, including spent
mess up their
half
as
much
“their parents’
time applying
ability to play the
day.”
themselves
to
song. The attacks
include: broken
other
things
string, difficulty, amp overload, as they did to Guitar Hero,
whammy bar, steal power, double who knows what they could
notes, lefty flip and death drain. accomplish. They could even
Each attack can uniquely be dealt learn to play a real instrument,”
with depending on the severity.
some critics say.
This time around GH3 is
While Guitar Hero has been
available for more than one criticized, it has also been
platform.
Previously
when praised. It’s fun for parties and
released, the Guitar Hero get-togethers. It even gives kids
games were made solely for the now a days an appreciation for
older rock songs from generations
before, including “their parents’
day.”
Guitar Hero 3, like it’s
predecessors, is here to stay. It
is unmatched by any in the
gaming community. It’s very
unique and
Playstation
anyone
2, but it’s
of any
now also
a g e
available
c a n
for
the
pick
X B O X
it up.
360, Nintendo Wii and
It
will
the Playstation 3. For the
continue to
release of the game on these
be a staple
three platforms, there is a
game
and
new playing guitar featured: a
surely loved and
wireless controller shaped like
enjoyed by anyone
a Gibson Les Paul. The guitars
who picks it up. So
have removable faceplates so the this holiday season, don’t settle
player can customize their guitar for some lame gift, get the newest
however they want. The guitar in the Guitar Hero series and
featured for the PS2 version become a Guitar Hero yourself.
It seems like there is a party
to go to every time the American
Airlines Arena becomes host to a
concert, at least that was the case
of the show thrown by Univision’s
own radio station Amor 107.5 on
Sunday Oct. 26. The concert, titled
“Amor a La Musica,” celebrated
its eighth anniversary benefiting
Centro Mater, which is a nonprofit organization who focuses
in the helping kids in need and
their families. Before the feast
began, Volkswagen, which was
one of the main sponsors along
with Kmart and Budweiser, gave
a little preview of what the night
would bring by having a band
by the entrance play one of the
famous rhythms of Brazil’s own
Samba. Various female dancers
danced to the tempo of the drums
that would later lead them to
what would later become a pure
Latin fusion of rhythmic and
unfathomable effects.
Like all stellar events there is
always an opening act that sets the
pace of the rhythm of the night.
Gilberto Santa Rosa, known as
“El Caballero De La Salsa” (The
Knight of Salsa), started off the
concert with a great energy and
grace that drove people to feel the
vibe that he emanated as he paved
his way through the audience, and
he even took the time to dance
with a few that were sitting in
the front rows as he sang one of
his hit songs “Que Alguien Me
Diga.”
Mexican artists Cristian Castro
and Alejandro Fernandez also
made their presence be felt with
the audience, as they captivated
the passion of the spectators who
witnessed one of the greatest
concerts of this year. A touch of
European flavor was brought by
Italian singer Laura Pausini who
has sold more than 29 million
albums worldwide and has sung
with the likes of Andrea Bocelli
and Michael Buble. She brought
the house down when she sang one
of her greatest songs “Viveme”,
a heart touching song that talks
about a love story between two
lovers who admit that they can’t
live without each other and to
not worry about the future but
just enjoy the present. Another
notable asset to the night was the
Brazilian singer Alexandre Pires,
who seduced the listeners to have
their romantic side show, with
such recognized songs like “Es
Por Amor” and “Usted No Sabe.”
The night would have to
include two of Colombia’s finest
artist, such as Juanes and Fanny
Lu, who well represented their
talent that has made them famous.
Before the first musical note could
be heard, the crowd already began
to chant the name “Juanes” and
then it became wild as he walked
onto the stage. He sang many
of the hits that have made him
famous, but for the first time he
sang his latest hit “Me Enamora”
to the thousands of people that
were present. Later, the stage and
the electricity in the air would be
set for Fanny Lu to step on stage
and sing “No Te Pido Flores”
among others. As the rotating
stage began to move as everyone
awaited the next artist to come,
the chants of “Colombia” were
heard all over the arena.
While the night began to take
to an end, there would be one last
performer to hit the stage. That
performer would be, Juan Luis
Guerra, and his charisma and free
spirit hypnotized the music lovers
as they sang along with him the
song “Las Avispas.” And while
all good things must come to an
end so did the concert. It all ended
with the last note from Juan Luis
Guerra and an unexpected display
of indoor fireworks that left the
audience wanting more.
David Bisbal performing at Amor a La Musica.
Photo courtesy of viewimages.com
january 14, 2008
Entertainment
The Observer
11
Harry Potter does it again A real life fairy tail
D’Andra McIntosh
Contributing Writer
The fifth movie installment of
J.K. Rowling’s best-selling series
brought us back into the magical
world of our favorite wizard,
Harry Potter, in “Harry Potter
and the Order of the Phoenix.”
In this movie, the dark wizard,
Voldemort, is back but no one
believes Harry. Despite the tragic
events of the previous year, the
Ministry of Magic refuses to
acknowledge Voldemort’s return
and Harry is being labeled as an
attention-seeking liar who is not
to be trusted. What’s a hero to
do? Bring in reinforcements of
course!
With Dumbledore as leader,
the Order of the Phoenix
is recreated. The Order, an
organization developed in the
time of Lily and James (Harry’s
parents), is dedicated to fighting
Voldemort and his Death Eaters.
However, not everyone is behind
Harry. The Ministry, in an attempt
to undermine Harry’s sphere
of influence, sends in Dolores
Umbridge to be the new defense
against the dark arts professor.
With this new addition, the stage
is set. Harry and friends must
figure out how to outsmart both
the Ministry and Voldemort and
still save the magical community.
Will he do it and who will fall in
this battle for good and evil?
For movie fans,
“Harry Potter and
the Order of the
Phoenix” is almost
perfect.
Director
David Yates once
again shows his
genius at making
movies. Though not
nearly as exciting
as the fourth movie,
the fifth is full of
realistic ComputerGenerated Imagery
(CGI)
detailing,
brilliant direction
and
quirky,
believable actors.
Daniel Radcliffe reprises his role
as the young protagonist, Helena
Bonham Carter plays the role of
deranged Voldemort number one
supporter, and Bellatrix LeStrange
(the name says it all), makes the
film that much more interesting
with wild eyes and even wilder
mannerisms.
To fans of the Potter books,
the film may come as a bit of a
disappointment. It lacks some of
the most important scenes from
the book, scenes that tie in to
the mystery surrounding Harry.
Where are those moments we
all love? Why are the characters
so changed? It would be well
worth six hours of watching a
movie if the producers stuck to
the original story. After reading
the book, watching the film is like
Jessica Beans
Central Bureau Chief
Photo courtesy of allocine.co.uk
getting a watered down version of
what was supposed to be one of
the best movies of the year. The
movie is still good, all in all, and
it still keeps you watching frame
through frame, but it’s just not
enough.
So if you’re looking for a
gift for the holidays for adult
or child, “Harry Potter and the
Order of the Phoenix” is a good
choice. The DVD is loaded with
behind the scenes extras, deleted
scenes, games, hi-definition
and widescreen formatting and
so much more. Plus the twodisc special edition makes the
movie seem that more special.
Don’t expect the amazing
cinematography of the past four
movies, but you’re still in for a
magical ride.
Enchanting! That was the
over-all feeling for the new
Disney movie “Enchanted”.
An impressive cast delivered
a brilliantly acted script that
marveled with humor and
originality; that is severely
lacking in most films today. Most
family films have that touch of
matured humor that will actually
draw in a wide range crowd, but
in most cases it ends up being
a little too corny for an adult
audience. This is not the case for
this movie!
Giselle who is played by
Amy Adams, is princess that has
been kicked out of her mystical
fairy-tale world and thrust into
the unpleasant real world of
Manhattan. After being exiled
by the cruel wicked queen,
Giselle’s prince charming, played
by James Marsden, rushes to her
rescue. Feeling lost outside her
world of sing-a-longs and magic,
Giselle meets a charmingly glum
divorced lawyer, played by Patrick
Dempsey. The oblivious princess
captivates everyone around her,
especially Dempsey’s character,
which will ultimately force her to
rethink her one true love.
You will laugh out loud, movie
goers were actually clapping
throughout the movie and laughter
permeated the theatre the whole
time. This movie pulls you in and
gives you a good vibe when it’s
over. The quality of the film was
surprising and did not disappoint.
You can take your friends, your
little brothers and sisters, even the
parents would enjoy it. I highly
recommend it!
Photo courtesy of disneydreamer.com
12
Features
The Observer
january 14, 2007
Linguistic classes that are actually fun?
Proffessor Gilley gives learning a new language a bright side.
Anna Rot
Contributing Writer
Most Students are very hesitant
about learning a second language.
It can get intimidating, and very
time consuming. However, you
have to know which teacher to
take, and Professor Holley Gilley
would be the right choice.
Most students that take her
course know her as Profesora
Gilley or just simply Holley. But
this teacher is a little different
than the rest and students actually
don’t mind going to her class.
When students imagine an
eight thirty class, the picture
that comes to mind is a teacher
lecturing and students half asleep,
but if you are in Holley’s class it is
completely the opposite. She is so
entertaining and fun that learning
Spanish becomes so much more
than just receiving a credit for a
foreign language.
Holley Gilley was born in
Gainesville, Florida and was
always intrigued by foreign
languages. When she turned
18 she decided to spend every
penny of the small inheritance
she received to study in Spain.
“This experience changed my life
in many profound ways” Gilley
said.
When Gilley completed the
program, she came back to the
U.S and attended graduate school
at FSU.
The Department chair for
modern
foreign
languages
suggested that she teach a
beginning language course in
She also wants to make a
addition to taking a full load as a difference in the community,
graduate student
in
Spanish
“I can remember almost
Literature and
floating out of that
Linguistics.
classroom, I was so
At the time,
completely
energized in
she
didn’t
even think of
a way that I had never
teaching, much
before experienced.”
less
teaching
Spanish.
- Proffessor Holley Gilley
Gilley said
that after her
first day of
teaching she was hooked. “I
can remember almost floating
out of that classroom, I was so
completely energized in a way that
I had never before experienced”
Gilley said.
Gilley believes that she is very
fortunate to have learned Spanish
as a second language and that
experience gave her a unique
insight into overcoming some
of the challenges that English
speakers face when learning the
language.
Gilley also believes that her
success as a teacher is part because
of her ability to identify with
students, “I empathize so well
that I don’t see an age difference,
are you telling me that I am no
longer twenty?” Gilley laughs.
Gilley still has many things
she would like to accomplish in
the near future, like informing
students about the benefits of
studying abroad, Gilley is a
faculty advisor for study in Spain
at BCC.
Reiss Retires
Jessica Beans
Central Campus Bureau Chief
On Oct. 31, BCC faculty and
students reluctantly said good-bye
to one of their beloved Professors,
Christopher Reiss. An English
professor at the South Campus,
retired after 17 years with BCC.
Reiss’ popularity came with a
combination of alluring magnetism, charisma, and of course
the British accent. When asking
around about professor Reiss, the
more you see the compelling effect he had on everyone he met.
Reiss was not only known for
his impeccable teachings at BCC,
but also his contributions with various school-based union groups
and organizations. He participated with the State Boards and had
a long running membership with
United Faculty of Florida. His
colleagues will be the first to tell
you about the impressive impact
he had with the Faculty Senate
and the presence he brought to
each session. “He has contributed much for the betterment of
each of us through his work in the
union…” said fellow English professor, Vicki Hendricks.
Hendricks would not be the
first or last to offer parting words
on the behalf of Reiss. Everyone
you ask will say that Reiss is a
very interesting person, everyone! Long time colleague of
Reiss shared her first experience
with the beloved professor:
“On my first day of work, he
immediately walked me over to
the secretarial area to get office
supplies--pens, post-its, staples’
and showed me around the department. That small but so welcoming gesture meant so much
and bespeaks to Chris’s generous
and genuinely friendly nature,
which I’m sure his students experienced as well. He is a beloved
professor--scholarly, open, funny,
and so very interesting because he
is someone who is interested--in
people, in literature, in what matters. Although I hope to see him
around, I will sorely miss him as a
colleague in our department.”
If you had to write down every quote on behalf of professor
Reiss, you will no doubt need a
couple pages. Professor Reiss’
reputation precedes him. He inspired, encouraged, and enlightened many. He will surely be
missed by his students, staff, and
much-loved colleagues. We thank
Christopher Reiss for his many
years of unparalleled service.
“Last
year
some
colleagues and I
organized a team
at BCC for the
Fort Lauderdale
AIDSWalk ’07.
Fifteen walkers
raised
over
$3,000.
I
would like
the group to
be even larger
this coming
year, my goal for the ’08 walk is
to involve more students and raise
over $5,000 for people living with
HIV in Broward County.
Besides loving life in the
classroom, she also likes to travel,
read and play golf.
“I would have to say that it is
the day-to-day interactions with
students that I like most about
teaching, I learn something new
every single day. Hopefully they
do too.” Gilley said.
13
The Observer
News
november 19, 2007
14
opinion
The Observer
January 14, 2008
Can I have the Non-Children section, please?
one of walt disney ’s restaurants have banned children under the
age of 10, but is it a trend worth continuing?
By Angela Osborne
Opinion Editor
Just imagine this scenario:
You are sitting in a restaurant,
enjoying a nice meal with friends
or family, and then all of a sudden,
from the corner of your eye you
see a French fry, perhaps even a
chicken nugget come flying from
behind you. As you turn around to
see who was nice enough to send
you this appetizer, you notice
a child sitting in a booster seat.
With just one glance you send this
child into blood curdling screams
because you will not return the
wine soaked nugget. After all, the
2 year old might not be able to
appreciate the healing powers of a
nice red wine, instead of ketchup.
Then the thought hits you: would
it really be that bad to put a limit
on some places children should
go?
Walt Disney World thinks not.
Yes, I did say Walt Disney World.
Victoria & Albert’s in the Grand
Floridian Resort and Spa will no
longer cater to glasses of milk
for its pint-sized guests under 10
years old.
Okay, before you get all
outraged at Disney’s lack of
understanding for trying to mold
a child’s tender psyche, this is a
fancy restaurant, a five diamond
rated restaurant. Just in case
you need some perspective on
this, that means stars just aren’t
good enough, they require some
heavy bling. And in order to get
iced out like that, there is a dress
code, 15 pieces of silverware for
one meal, and the prices start at
$125 a person.
I know it’s
shocking, dress
code and all that
silverware. To
eat in a place
like this you’d
only wish you
would have gone
to that etiquette
luncheon that
BCC
offered
a few months
ago.
Y o u ’ r e
thinking,
so
what
right?
Well why does
it have to stop at
one fancy pants
restaurant?
There could be
lots of places
where more age
requirements
could be useful.
If you have ever
been in that mile
line checkout
line at the supermarket and then
suddenly, a child does not burst
out in a tap dancing routine, but
rather a full on temper tantrum,
which can either annoy you from
the beginning or you laugh at the
kid, which then anger the parents,
shooting murderous glances
in your direction, you really
understand.
It’s not like we should leave
the children at home forever.
Maybe just until they can’t be the
best birth control for the general
public. The general public doesn’t
frequent at Chuck E. Cheese for
a reason. If you do bring your
child out into the adult world, it
is not the best place to initiate
new parenting techniques like
ignoring them. It will only make
it worse for you. After 30 minutes
of shooting daggers, watching
everyone talking to the manager,
you’ll be wondering if they found
the one car in the parking lot with
the baby on board sticker and put
it up on blocks, just to see how
much longer you can ignore your
crying child.
Trust me, next time you are
sitting in a movie, you make
it through the 20 minutes of
previews, and as if on cue you
see the couple push the stroller
into the theatre, already trying to
hush the baby, you’ll be thinking
it too.
Got
something
to say?
Send us a letter to
the editor!
Email us @
Illistartion by Angela Osborne
[email protected]
OPINION
january 14, 2008
The Observer
15
The Observer Mail Box Caucus-Shmockus
Students Should Embrace other Languages
Dear Editor,
Walking through the halls of BCC I’m overcome
with joy at the diversity of my fellow students. Each
class looks like some politically correct commercial
from the 80’s with damn near every ethnicity plausible squeezed into one classroom. Catching snippets of conversations I find myself eavesdropping
trying to recognize Spanish, Portuguese, or Creole.
I’m delighted when I can identify enough words to
contextually puzzle together a sentence. In my curiosity, I’ll stop two Brazilian jersey clad students in
the middle of their tongue twisting conversation for
the outcome of a futbol match. They get a kick out
of my bastard street level Portuguese and I get the
scores of a game ESPN doesn’t cover.
It’s not only on campus, my pallet gets a carnival
of flavors from an array of restaurants ranging from
pollo con arroz from Colombia, to spicy jerked pork
from Haiti. Jacques, my favorite cook from Port au
Prince, thinks my French-Creole-Spanish butchering of his native tongue is hilarious. He can’t
pronounce his R’s; I can’t remember when they
drop S’s. We meet somewhere in thee middle
helping each other out.
Which I suppose brings me to the point
of my article, which is that I enjoy the fact that so
many languages are spoken here in South Florida.
It enhances our culture and gives us a unique
character found in precious few places anywhere in the world. As for those who are
annoyed who say, “This is America and
we speak English,” ask the Seminoles what
they think of English being the native language of
this country. The United States is an ever evolving
democracy, and if a minority becomes significant
enough in population, then through cultural diffusion they will bring traditions, food, and yes, language.
In today’s global economy and ever
shrinking world, knowing more than one language
is beneficial. It’s a two way street, learning someone else’s language while they learn our. It might
give you some insight into how the rest of the world
is and help you appreciate our country. Or maybe
you’ll just luck out by getting to eat some steak
from Argentina. Bienvenidos to the United States.
We have this neat right we call Freedom of Speech,
in any language.
Nick Rodriguez
Dear Editor,
that it is a
dangerous problem at which we
should throw our money, or that it does not exist at
all. In high school, I learned from a highly conservative curriculum that staunchly preached that global
warming is in no way real. Consequently, and for a
long time after, I believed it really didn’t exist. While
I now acknowledge global warming as a problem, I
also agree with your assertion that “Americans need
to become more knowledgeable rather than just throw
all their money away” to the issue.
If we can learn to weigh one idea against another
in this very important debate, we can perhaps find
a middle ground of thinking wherein we accept the
“fact” of global warming while standing firm against
these organizations’ media-vehicled manipulation of
the matter. Thank you for offering the BCC audience
a fresh presentation of the topic instead of offering
whatever side seems most in style.
Samantha Saba
editor-in-chief
heather Dulman
Managing Editor
Nathan Phelps
The Observer is a bi-weekly consolidated newspaper produced by students of Broward Community College. The editorial office is located at South Campus, Bldg. 68-268, 7200 Pines
Blvd., Pembroke Pines, FL 33024. Bureau Offices are located at North Campus, 1000 Coconut Creek Blvd., Coconut Creek, FL, 33066, and Central Campus, 3501 SW Davie Rd,
Davie, FL. The Observer can also be reached by phone at 954-201-8877 or e-mail at
[email protected].
Letters to the editor are encouraged. The writer’s name and phone number must be included and the letter signed. Unsigned letters will not be accepted, but requests for anonymity
may be honored at the editor’s discretion. Letters must be typed and not exceed 300 words.
The Observer upholds the right to edit for style or length or to reject publications of letters
deemed inappropriate.
STAFF WRITERS
Section Editors
Buzz Lamb
Layout Editor
Heather Cooper
Andres Lopez
Adviser
Anthony Sedley
Jennifer Shapiro
CONTRIBUTING writers
Adviser’s assistant
Danny Ezzo
Chris Cutro
Copy Editor
Kevin Rosenberg
Sports Editor
Bruno Niccoli
Broward
Community College
Opinion Editor
Angela Osborne
Central Chief
Jessica Beans
away from home their vote does
not count. Their vote, now more
than ever, is extremely important.
The 2008 Iowa Caucuses Also, the confidentiality of voting
seemed to humor only the is barred, so there is the inevitable
delegates who participated in peer pressure to vote for a specific
it. What is the point really? candidate.
Well let’s start with the basics.
Another unusual entity is the
A caucus is a movement or official rules and regulations of
assembly conducted by political the nomination process. The two
supporters and members. Since parties have completely dissimilar
1972, the Iowa Caucuses would components. The Republicans
be the first electoral event in the follow the Ames Straw Poll,
presidential nomination process. which is the simpler form than
The 2008 presidential election, as the Democrats. In a nut shell
a whole, is becoming the longest, they engage in a private vote and
most over-hyped event this basically write on a paper which
country
will
is counted and
ever see; and
so on. The
the caucuses
D e m o c r a t ’s
are proof of
process
is
that.
much
more
I
have
complex
and
the
highest
controversial.
respect for the
In
a
formalities and
straightforward
traditions
of
approach,
Republicans: imagine a room
the
electoral
p r o c e s s .
full of delegates
Ames Straw
However, the
playing a giant
poll
2008 caucuses
game of “red
A private vote,
were
almost
rover.” That’s
laughable.
It
basically what’s
basically written
seemed
that
taking
place.
on a piece of paper
the corporate
As each of
vote, which is later
machines
the
precinct
(otherwise
members
are
counted.
known as our
divided
into
presidential
a group for
candidates)
their preferred
Democrats:
were
trying
candidate
Groups are
to show the
(“preference
divided based on
country
that
groups”). For
they
still
30 minutes each
their preferred
respected grassgroup is trying
candidates and then
roots politics.
to swindle each
Anyone
other into their
try to convince
who is familiar
group.
“Red
members of other
to the process
rover, red rover
groups to theirs.
of the caucuses
send john doe
knows that the
right over…”
main
appeal
you get the
stems
from
idea.
the idea that ordinary workingIf anything useful came out
class masses partake directly in of this, the caucuses did take
choosing their favorite candidate. precedence over the daily trial of
On the other hand, the caucuses spoiled Hollywood pop culture.
have many flaws.
Many Americans are undecided
First, they do not honor due the flip-flop-two-step nature
absentee ballots; which may not of the presidential nominees who
bother some. Nonetheless those find it more important to kick dirt
absentees include our service in each others faces, than answer
men and women. Even though a question directly. Hang in there
these men and women are from America- it’s going to be a long
Iowa, if they are currently serving and bumpy ride.
By Jessica Beans
Central Bureau Chief
How the
Parties
Caucus
A Great Debate:
It’s good to show
both sides
I appreciated your Nov. 5 Special
Debate, “Global Warming: Fact or Fake?” for presenting two different views on global warming. I
would like to emphasize my praise for the second
half of the debate, “Global Warming: Fake,” for one
of the points raised – that global warming is being
blown out of proportion by certain organizations to
extort Americans out of their money. This idea isn’t
often presented in the brand of media that reaches
young people, and many students, as a result of this,
may feel compelled to join the “green” craze that
has recently overtaken our culture.
Whether we feel that global warming is just an
idle threat that organizations like the Alliance of
Climate Protection is cashing in on, or that global
warming is indeed an imminent threat, the controversy requires that each of us interprets it from an
educated standpoint.
But that may not be so easy to do. It seems that
in America the teaching of global warming is done
in a strictly black and white manner; we either learn
Should the iowa caucus really be that
big of a speed bump on the road to the
white house?
D’Andra McIntosh
Ana Rot
For information concerning editorial policy or advertising rates, call 954-201-8035.
Opinions expressed in this publication are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect
those of BCC students, staff, faculty and administration.
16
SPORTS
The Observer
January 14, 2008
Heat paying the price for bad decisions
Anthony Sedley
staff writer
Is it time to jump from the
Miami Heat bandwagon yet?
The team has a record not even
a mother could love. At 8-28 the
Heat are providing the foundation
for the NBA East.
Oh, and the season hasn’t even
reached the half-way mark yet.
Sure this flailing, wounded duck
of a team started the season without their primary scorer Dwayne
Wade, but it’s been months since
the season has tipped off and the
team looks to have done little to
improve the condition they’re
currently in. Many fans and analysts have been trying to figure
out what has lead to the Heat’s
abysmal play since the season
opened.
Surely, Heat fans can’t blame
their lack of wins and success on
just one guy.
Or can they?
Heat president and head coach
Pat Riley was under fire from
fans after being bounced out for
the first round of the playoffs last
year, and also for a lousy, unproductive and passive off-season. Riley struggled to sign new
players to his team roster, which
eventually left the Heat with little to no replacements, let alone
upgrades, to fill in for parting
members of the team that won the
NBA Championship just a few
years ago. Sure the Heat weren’t
in prime condition to start off the
year, but the season is just about
half way over and looks as if this
team is going through the motions
and playing uninspired basketball
“We must have the wrong players in the game. I think I have the
right mix, I must have the wrong
mix,” said Riley in a recent ESPN
interview.
Dwayne Wade is still recovering from an injury
Even though the Heat did
acquire a much needed shooting guard from the Philadelphia
76ers via trade in this past NBA
draft, the rookie Daequan Cook,
has seen limited playing time,
while only averaging around nine
points a game.
Another part of the problem,
the Heat didn’t re-sign two of
the team’s top three-point shooters from the 2006-07 season in
Jason Kapono and James Posey.
Kapono, who was the Heat team
leader and NBA leader in threepoint percentage last season,
PHOTO COURTESY OF SPORTS.YAHOO.COM
PHOTO COURTESY OF SPORTS.YAHOO.COM
signed with the
Toronto Raptors
during
the
off-season
as
a free agent.
Posey, who was
brought to the
Heat primarily
as a defensive
player but ended
up being a scoring machine on
the
offensive
side of the ball,
signed with the
Boston Celtics
in the off-season
as a free agent.
The franchise
also signed 36
year-old
forward
Penny
Hardaway
in
what
seemed
like a desperatetimes-calls-fordesperate-measures hiring.
The
Heat
also turned to
a proven playmaker with the
Los
Angeles
Lakers,
signing point guard
Smush Parker in
the off-season. Since signing with
the Heat, not only has Parker’s
production dropped immensely in
just the nine games he’s played,
but he was also moved to the inactive list by Riley after an offcourt altercation.
But besides just bad overall
play from the Heaters, many of
the franchise’s players have been
injured.
Back up center Alonzo
Mourning, who is usually a spark
for the team off the bench, injured
his knee in a loss to the New Jersey
Nets in mid-December. Mourning
will be required to have surgery,
ending his season and possibly
his 14 year NBA career.
Heat forward Dorrell Wright,
starting guard Jason Williams,
starting center Shaquille O’Neal,
and starting point guard Dwyane
Wade have all been listed on the
injury list one time or more this
season so far.
As of right now, it’s like a buffet of what has been the Heat’s
problem all year long. So many
things to choose from that hit the
mark, whether it’s the team’s lack
of chemistry, bad defense (and an
even worse offense) players lost
to injury, or terrible off-season
dealings, this is defiantly one season to set afire and forget about.
Season results forces mass firing
With the Cowboys having the
first pick in the next draft, Parcells
will have the chance to acquire
The firing of Head Coach Cam
a much needed young talented
Cameron and 16 assistant coaches
player and possibly negotiate old
by the new vice president of footroster members, who underperball operations Bill Parcells, is
formed for the past few seasons,
simply the result of the Dolphins’
for new stars playing for teams in
abysmal 1-15 season.
need of more experienced playCameron led the Dolphins
ers.
to its worst season
The
only
in franchise history,
point
of
adding another negaconcern
for
tive stat to a team that
Dolphins
is constantly regarded
fans could be
as one of the leagues
the fact that
most poorly managed
Parcells has so
teams.
far mostly hired
The
desperpersonnel from
ate hiring of forthe Cowboys.
mer Cowboys Head
The two asCoach, Bill Parcells,
sistant coachat the end of the 07
es not fired
season
might be
by
Parcells,
the first step in the
linebackers’
change of directions
coach George
the franchise intends
Edwards and
to take. But, howspecial teams
ever, Parcells is not
assistant Steve
the definitive solution
Hoffman,
for the Dolphins. An
worked for the
entire reformulation
Cowboys orin the methodological
ganization with
process of directing Former Head Coach Cam Cameron PHOTO COURTESY OF SPORTS.YAHOO.COM Parcells
and
and running the franIreland.
For
chise would also have to occur in need for changes, especially with the Head Coach position, Parcells
order for the Dolphins to return to the pressure building-up for the and Ireland are also considering
a position of one day being able franchise to have at least a win- former Cowboys assistant Head
to be considered a strong playoff ning solid season. The power giv- Coach Tony Sparano.
contestant.
en to Parcells allows him to guide
The Dolphins office will have
Parcells first cut was General the Dolphins in whatever way he its toughest off-season, and only
Manager, Randy Muller, just considers to be proper.
strong decision makings, guided
one day after the end of the seaParcells’ ideology of managing to improving the franchise, and
son. Muller was replaced by Jeff a football team has been proven to not the revenue, will allow the
Ireland, who was responsible for work, as he was able to restructure Dolphins to have a chance of
firing Cameron and his staff.
such teams as the Giants, Patriots once again being one of the prime
Ireland, who worked with and the Dallas Cowboys.
teams of the NFL.
Bruno Niccoli
Sports Editor
Parcells during his years in
Dallas, stated that “We just felt
that in order to move forward
and not look back that we needed
someone in place that shared the
same philosophical compatibilities that we shared.” according to
the Sun Sentinel
The Dolphins’ front office
seems to be willing to accept the