The Communitarian - Delaware County Community College
Transcription
The Communitarian - Delaware County Community College
Volume 28, No.3 • Apr. 12, 2016 Serving Delaware and Chester Counties • www.thecommunitarian.org @Communitarian12 The Communitarian @Communitarian12 National ‘It’s on Us’ campaign comes to DCCC By Alicia Stearn Tyrus Bluford, number 18 of the Phantoms basketball team, takes the “It’s on Us” pledge with his team in the Student Center. Photo courtesy of Bridget Panza Picture yourself at a party with more than 100 other students from your college. As you’re walking around the room you notice a girl screaming at a man who is grabbing her arm and pulling her closer to him, “Stop! Get off of me!” As the other people at the party just walk by you ask yourself, “Why isn’t anyone helping her?” and say to your friend, “Is that girl okay?” Your friend replies, “Yeah, they dated last semester. She’s probably just flirting with him.” Days go by and then you hear all over campus that he’s being charged with sexual assault from that night. What would have happened if you had spoken up? According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, eight out of 10 rape victims know the person who sexually assaulted them. On college campuses, more than 90 percent of victims of sexual assault don’t report it, the center adds. continued on page 4 Students give back to homeless veterans By Megan Milligan Nearly 48,000 veterans are homeless on any given night, estimates the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). That’s 11 percent of the homeless population. The 2013 Annual Homeless Assessment Report indicates that approximately 1500 homeless veterans live in Philadelphia alone. This is why the Philadelphia Veterans House hosted a week-long event serving breakfast to veterans. The event, which took place between March 14 and 18, was sponsored by DCCC and hosted by the Student Government Association. About 15 students came out during spring break to help prepare meals. All the food was bought by Sgt. Tyshon Bullock, an army veteran, student, and president of both the DCCC Military Club and SGA. Dressed in full military uniform, Bullock and secretary of SGA Anyssa Medley, began at 6:30 a.m. beating eggs for hash brown casserole. They were soon joined by several other DCCC students. “I love [helping],” said Chidi Pelham, a nursing major and volunteer who also served different varieties of sausage, eggs, and English muffins with other students. After the food was done cooking, a bell rang at 8:00 a.m. sharp. Five residents, both former and current, came down to a freshly set table to eat their meals. They thanked the students for cooking as they ate. Army Pvt. Randolph Shaird, spoke of how city shelters can be dangerous, and he was “on pins and needles” staying in them, but the Philadelphia Veteran House provides safety for its residents. After breakfast, the residents and volunteers took a group photo on the front porch, right above the house’s banner. continued on page 13 CAMPUS LIFE 3 Online, interactive program helps students focus on career path Tyshon Bullock and the veterans of past wars after the recent SGA veterans breakfast. Photo by Megan Milligan COMMENTARY 7 CAMPUS LIFE 2 LIFESTYLE 5 A&E 8 Publishers should be color blind Students bulk up for their swolemates Think before you ink Guess “Who” was in Philly? 2 CAMPUS LIFE Pennocks Bridge students enjoy new gym By Alicia Stearn New Year’s resolutions may be difficult to keep, yet Pennocks Bridge, one of DCCC’s branch campuses, seems to be keeping theirs by letting students have access to a fitness center while they attend classes. In Oct. 2015, 75 students from Pennocks Bridge were granted access to the fitness center, previously reserved for technical college high school students only. The decision came about after students were asked to take a survey, giving feedback on their experience at the campus, at the end of 2015 spring semester. “Students expressed desire for access to the gym and they pay an activities fee for it,” said Kevin Ballisty, DCCC director at the PB campus. The Chester County Intermediate Unit owns the building, yet originally the space that DCCC reserved for the college didn’t include the fitness center. However, when the eight-year contract was renewed, DCCC officials were able to add the fitness center into the “space reserved.” “It works out for when [the students] get done classes and have something to do,” said Jenna Morris, a work study student at the fitness center. “They don’t have to buy a gym member-ship elsewhere. It’s right here.” Because the fitness center is shared with high schoolers, college students have to sign a waiver before they can start using the equipment. Currently, 59 students have signed the waiver and use the gym. “When you start something in the middle of the semester, it’s hard for people to change their routines,” Ballisty said in reference to the number of relatively low students using the gym. Since the gym needs to be staffed, this also opens up opportunity for work study on the campus; therefore, this is the first time that Pennocks Bridge campus has been able to have work study students. Ten students applied to take advantage of this opportunity, and three students were hired for the job: Joann Taylor, Jenna Morris, and Matt Callaghan. Adam Miner, a faculty member from the Learning Commons, explained that the work study student on duty, Matt Callaghan, helped him with using the machines. “There was an awesome personal trainer to help out and everything we needed was available.” Miner said. The gym is open four days a week, Monday-Thursday from 2:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Dawn Lagunas, a DCCC counselor hosts a meditation class at 2:45 p.m. on Thursdays. DCCC student, Cameron Cooper said, “Hours are a bit limited but you definitely get a good workout in the time frame. It’s not bad for a free gym.” Ballisty explained he wanted to make the gym open for five days, possibly six for the upcoming fall semester. Along with the gym opening up, another resource the students also asked for was a hot foods service. The college Pennocks Bridge campus gym includes 29 pieces of equipment and is open from Monday through Thursday 2:30-8:30 p.m. Photo courtesy of Kevin Ballisty was able to make that work as well, by arranging for the County Cup to build an area in the office to sell breakfast, Wawa coffee, and lunch. The culinary high school students help by making and selling soups. “My friend and I were talking about using the gym in the future.” said Zachary Lloyd, a liberal arts major at DCCC. “If I were to go, it would work perfectly after class.” Contact Alicia Stearn at [email protected] Finish your degree at Chestnut hill college. Transfer students make up one third of the undergraduate class at chc. Open House Date: Saturday, April 9, 2016 at 10 AM • Learn about our day and evening programs • Discuss scholarship opportunities • Talk to an admissions counselor about your transfer credit evaluation • Bring your transcripts for an on the spot admissions decision • Speak with a financial aid counselor • Tour the campus To register for an event: Call - 215:248:7001, E-mail: [email protected], or Visit: www.chc.edu/susvisit * Or register for a personal visit with a transfer admissions counselor - Monday through Friday at 10 Am, 11 AM, or 1 pm - call 215:248:7001 CAMPUS LIFE 3 Help plan your career with Focus 2 By Shanaya Day WE MAKE THE TRANSFER PROCESS EASY Schedule your Campus Visit > TRANSFER TUESDAY April 19 delval.edu/transfer DCCC counselors Bonnie Yake and Susan Alexander hosted the “Career Decision Making 101: Using Focus 2” workshop on March 24. About 15 students attended. Focus 2 is an online interactive, selfguided career and educational planning system. The counselors explained that Focus 2 can be used in different ways throughout all stages of students’ career planning, according to their own personal needs. The system allows first-time users to understand the career planning process while bringing self-awareness at the same time. There are five different exercises in the Focus 2 system. Yake and Alexander took turns explaining each exercise. Career Readiness According to Yake, users will be able to self-reflect on their career and educational goals. They will also be able to identify their academic strengths, work experiences and accomplishments, plan their careers, and map their personal development needs. “Focus 2 will ask you simple questions about your plans and goals,” Yake said. “If you come across a question you don’t know how to answer, don’t agonize over it.” Self-Assessment Alexander said this exercise is important because this is where users will learn about themselves. “After taking the self-assessments, users will be directed to a career path,” Alexander said. “Students will be able to choose an occupation based on skills, interests, personality types, and most importantly, values.” The five self-assessments are on work interests, personalities, skills, values, and leisure interests. This is one of Yake’s favorite features about the system, she said. Explore the Possibilities This exercise allows users to research different careers by major, industry, and occupation. It also allows student to compare occupations side by side, another feature Yake said was essential. Create an Action Plan In this exercise, users will build a plan to achieve their objectives from the previous exercises. When the plan is complete, Alexander urges students to print it and take it to the Career & Counseling Center to discuss it with counselors who can assist students in searching for jobs and internships, writing resumes, and more. Tying it All Together Here, a portfolio is created from the users’ saved occupations and assessments. This feature is Alexander’s favorite because of the convenience of having all of the results in one place, she said. While some attended solely for extra credit points, other students, such as Daphne Brooks and Katie Lickfied, wanted to learn more about Focus 2 and how they could benefit from it. Brooks, a general studies major, has a bachelor’s degree in behavioral health but is switching her career to nursing. She plans on using Focus 2 as a resource to help her find an occupation in that field and accomplish her career goals. Lickfield, a graphic design major, said she hopes Focus 2 will assist her in obtaining an associate’s degree so she can eventually work towards a bachelor’s degree. “I expect Focus 2 to help me realize my skills and where I need to improve so I can progress,” Lickfield said. Both counselors admitted that the process can be a bit time consuming. They advise students not to think too deeply into the assessment questions and to just answer them the best they can. Focus 2 can be accessed from the delaGATE Portal. First-time users can log on, go to the Student Services tab, look for the “College Survival” section on the right side of the page, and click on Focus 2. The access code for DCCC students is Pegasus. Contact Shanaya Day at [email protected] to apply, plan a visit or request information • Transfer scholarships available • Articulation agreement offers guaranteed admission and core-to-core • More than 25 academic degrees • 100% of our students receive real-world experience before graduation 700 E. Butler Ave. | Doylestown, PA 18901 DCCC transfer ad.indd 2 (From left) Jaren Canty, Bonnie Yake, Idriss Fofana, Susan Alexander, Daphne Brooks, and Katie Lickfield gather for a picture after the FOCUS 2 workshop on March 24 at Marple Campus. 1/26/16 5:14 PM Photo by Shanaya Day 4 CAMPUS LIFE National ‘It’s on Us’ campaign comes to DCCC continued from page 1 To combat this problem, the “It’s On Us” pledge came to DCCC to make students more aware of what consent is and to make a promise to not just be a bystander. The idea began in April 2011 but took hold in September 2014 when President Obama and Vice President Biden created the “White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault.” Colleges and universities were strongly encouraged to educate the students about sexual assault and notify them of where to go if they were a victim. The task force also encourages students to intervene if they see something that isn’t right. “Sexual violence is the most prevalent and underreported crime at colleges and universities, affecting an estimated one in five women and one in 16 men during their lifetime on campus,” the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) states. According to the organizations website, the “It’s On Us” pledge identifies four rules for those who decide to sign the pledge, which they can practice on and off campus: 1) To recognize that non-consensual sex is sexual assault. 2) To identify situations in which sexual assault may occur. 3) To intervene in situations where consent has not or cannot be given. 4) To create an environment in which sexual assault is unacceptable and survivors are supported. “It’s about raising awareness of what ‘no’ really means,” Exton campus counselor Bridget Panza explained. “It’s students first time away from home and they have much more freedom.” Ralph Marano, a full-time counselor at DCCC’s Marple campus, explained that the pledge is to educate students about not only sexual violence and statistics, but of other resources in the community that can help victims. “It’s an immediate concern in residential campuses where students are living together,” Marano said. “We’re not pressuring, we’re just educating.” The pledge has 93 supporters, including Snapchat, EA Sports, CustomInk, and Bing, and after it’s 2014 launch, 215,000 signers. “Pennsylvania is the first state to launch a statewide “It’s On Us” campaign,” the PDE stated. Victims of sexual assault are also statistically proven to have a higher drop out rate, and lower GPA, resulting in an income loss over the course of their lifetime. The DCCC Phantom’s basketball team decided to pledge as a whole. One of the players, Ammonia Holloman, said, “I took a criminology class and we looked at statistics, and sexual violence was at the top.” Gina DiLuzio, a psychology major at DCCC, explained that the pledge will bring awareness to people who are too afraid to speak up and bring people at this college closer together. The pledge’s website gives a list of 17 tips about sexual assault and consent, along with the supporters and signers names, videos of victims speaking out, and more information about donations. Robin Brandberg(left), a DCCC Counselor, Tigidankay Kargbo(middle), a DCCC student, and Kimberly Jester(right) educator helped recruit students at the Southeast Center campus take the pledge. Photo courtesy of Ralph Marano The first tip on the pledge’s website is, “Consent is voluntary and mutual and can be withdrawn at any time.” These tips help students better understand what consent is by explaining that “past consent does not mean current or future consent.” Contact Alicia Stearn at [email protected] Student recomendations for Gould Award spike after email By Carlo Alacaraz Jaime Treadwell, professor of art foundations and last year’s recipient of the Gould Award for Excellence in Teaching, decided to encourage student nominations by sending a mass email to the entire student body, which resulted in hundreds of nominations. Prior to his email, fewer than 20 nominations had been sent. “It’s a big to-do and nobody knows about it,” said Treadwell. “It’s completely student driven with no politics involved whatsoever.” Treadwell won the award in 2015, an honor that took him completely by surprise. “It was amazing,” Treadwell said. “I had no clue. I couldn’t even tell my staff. It is not the same as being honored by your peers, and it makes you feel like you’ve been doing the right thing all along.” While the deadline for nominations was midnight, April 1, Treadwell hopes to raise awareness about the award in the future. The Gould Award for Excellence in Teaching was established by the late Mrs. Jerry Gould, a member of the DCCC Board of Trustees. Her endowment to the college was intended to award faculty members that, in her own words, “embody the spirit and philosophy of the college.” Academic excellence. Accelerated format. Albright College at Delaware County Community College. Scholarships available for Delaware County Community College graduates • Six majors • Textbooks included in tuition, tuition locked for the Degree Completion Program • Meet with an Albright College enrollment advisor, who will walk you through the admission process • Financial aid available for those who qualify [email protected] | 1-888-253-8851 | www.albright.edu/dccc ACCELERATED DEGREE PROGRAM CAMPUS LIFE Career possibilities Powered By PEIRCE Peirce Bachelor’s Degree Programs: • Accounting • Business Administration • Criminal Justice • Healthcare Administration • Health Information Administration • Human Resource Management • Information Technology • Integrated Leadership • Legal Studies in Business • Paralegal Studies • Technology Management If you are a community college associate graduate transferring to Peirce College, you could receive up to $3,000 in renewable scholarships toward tuition. Get the bachelor’s degree you need. And the career you deserve. peirce.edu/mycareer 1420 pine street, philadelphia, pa 19102 | 888.467.3472, ext. 9000 5 6 EDITORIAL The Communitarian is produced by both current and former students of Fundamentals of Journalism II in collaboration with Campus Life and published at Delaware County Community College. Students who would like to write for the campus newspaper and have already completed Fundamentals of Journalism I (ENG 130) should register for Fundamentals of Journalism II (ENG 131). Students who have completed both classes are welcome back to join the senior staff. For more information, send an e-mail to [email protected]. Executive Editor Erica Setnick Managing Editor Maryleigh Sharp Defending free speech on college campuses Chicago Tribune (TNS) University protested messages in support of Donald Trump chalked on campus sidewalks as an attempt to intimidate minority groups, the school president heard them out but took no action. A female undergraduate at Harvard wrote an article that assailed the prevailing atmosphere there, recalling a class in which one student said "she would be unable to sit across from a student who declared that he was strongly against abortion" and a discussion in which she was rebuked for citing a Bible verse because it violated a "safe space." Last month, the American Association of University Professors released a report arguing that the federal law known as Title IX, which bans discrimination on the basis of sex, has been stretched to punish language and ideas that should be allowed. It cited examples such as Patty Adler, a professor at the University of Colorado at Boulder who had long taught a popular sociology course called "Deviance in U.S. Society." She was threatened by her dean with forced retirement after some students complained about role-playing exercises. The threat was rescinded but a disillusioned Adler chose to retire. Louisiana State University associate professor Teresa Buchanan was fired, over the objections of a faculty committee, because some students complained about her use of profanity. Free expression is not faring well on American college campuses these days. In some places, the problem is students taking grave offense at opinions that merit only minor umbrage or none at all. In others, it's official speech codes that chill discussion. In still others, it's administrators so intent on preventing sexual harassment that they avoid open discussion of gender-related matters. There is a lot to be said for making people aware of the ways in which their words and deeds can do harm. No one wants to go back to the days when casual expressions of racial prejudice were common, or when women were mocked for taking places that should have gone to men, or when some professors made passes at students. But it's important not to go so far in protecting undergraduates that they lose the spontaneous and open interactions they need to understand the world and the society in which they live. An education that spares students from unwanted challenges to their thinking is not much of an education. Luckily, there's pushback against this trend. University of California regents issued a report deploring anti-Semitism but rejected demands to include all forms of anti-Zionism in the condemnation. When students at Emory Students deserve to be shielded from sexual harassment by other students or faculty members, and sexual harassment can include the creation of a climate so hostile (to women, gays and so on) that they feel threatened. But the AAUP panelists contend that the federal government defines the term so broadly, and makes it so hard to defend against such charges, that innocent people are wrongly tarred and education suffers. "Overly broad definitions of hostile environment harassment work at crosspurposes with the academic freedom and free speech rights necessary to promote learning in an educational setting," they said. "Learning can be best advanced by more free speech that encourages discussion of controversial issues rather than by using punitive administrative and legal fiat to prevent such discussions from happening at all." The University of Chicago has taken the lead in defending free speech on campus. Last year, a special committee issued a statement noting the importance of civility but upholding "the principle that debate or deliberation may not be suppressed because the ideas put forth are thought by some or even by most members of the University community to be offensive, unwise, immoral, or wrong-headed." We hope the administrators, faculty and students of other universities are listening. Social Media Editor Maryleigh Sharp Photography Editor Carlo Alcaraz Junior Editors Michael Blanche Megan Milligan Shannon Reardon Reporters Shannon Adams Shanaya Day Joshua Smith Alicia Stearn Nicole Marie Wieland Senior Graphic Designer Christina Deravedisian Web Master Demi Deravedisian Faculty Advisor Bonnie McMeans Letter to the editor Dear Erica Setnick, I read your piece in the last edition of The Communitarian and can’t begin to express to you how refreshing it is to finally hear from someone who feels the same way I do about exercising rights that our forefathers felt it of the utmost importance that we take advantage of. Although I agree with pretty much every paragraph and your points made, I think what is very important for dissenters to realize is that, just like you said, these events transpire in mere seconds and without warning or reason. A gun in the hand is always going to be better than a cop on the phone. This is just simple common sense that many fail to want to believe. Giving students who are legally carrying pursuant to state law the ability to protect themselves and their fellow students is at the very heart of what this nation was founded on: loving thy neighbor (and protecting if need be). Let me tell you a quick story. I live in Montgomery county, but go to school at DCCC. There is a store owner not too far from where I live who has a sign in his window that says, “Store owner is armed three days a week. Guess which three?” He has never been robbed in his 60 years of business. The same logic can be carried over the students having a right to protect themselves from serious bodily injury and/or death. I have had a county issued carry permit for just under 10 years now and what that says to me is that since I have passed all of the required checks and been screened according to what “the government” says is sufficient, why does my constitutional right to carry stop as soon as the tires of my car drive onto college property? Perhaps you feel as well that it can be classified as a “constitution free zone.” DCCC is funded by tax dollars and as well as federal and local grants and yet my rights are restricted unnecessarily along with the other students who are in my shoes who are responsible, upstanding citizens. Passive effective-gun control policies in a nation brimming with over 300 million guns is difficult. Don’t believe anyone who tells you otherwise. We need to accept that a certain amount of gun violence is inevitable in our country. The hard truth is, just like we have deaths from automobiles, swimming pool drowning’s and drug overdoses, we are going to have some from people with evil intentions in their hearts who think squeezing a trigger will make it all better from them and the world. Those are people who we need to keep guns away from, but lets stop pretending that ending mass shootings and things of similar nature are a matter of “common sense” gun control. If the only thing that is keeping us from being mass-shooter free is failure to heed suggestions of Obama and other champions of “common sense,” then I invite them to try— and then to take personal responsibility for everyone that they miss. Thanks for your editorial. Very well done. Maybe I will have to write one next! Sincerely, Michael M. The Communitarian Opinion Policy The opinions expressed on the editorial and commentary pages do not necessarily reflect those of The Communitarian staff or College. We welcome your comments on any matter relating to Delaware County Community College, and responsible rebuttal is encouraged. Write to [email protected]. edu. Please write "Letter to the editor" in the subject box. COMMENTARY 7 The lost women of literature want to be found By Shannon Adams In 1994, Publishers Weekly ran a story titled “Houses with No Doors,” which listed minorities’ lack of interest in the literary field as one of the reasons for the industry’s “overwhelming whiteness.” Eighteen years later, of the 742 books reviewed by the New York Times in that year, only 28 of them were written by women of color, according to Haitian-American author Roxane Gay’s graduate assistant Phillip Gallagher. This March, in an article titled “Why is Publishing so White?”, Publishers Weekly explained that the industry remains nearly as white now as it was in 1994. Although the public may recognize J. K Rowling, Nora Roberts and Stephenie Meyer, they fail to recognize J.California Cooper, Esmeralda Santiago, and Bharati Mukherjee, just to name a few. “As women of color we are underrepresented,” says Oya Bisi, who runs The Women of Color Writers Workshop in Brooklyn New York- “It is as simple as that.” Bisi adds that the problem is not an insufficient number of minority female writers, but that their work is not always considered for publication by editors, who are predominately white, because of classism: a prejudice against, or in favor of one party, and other related phobias coming from the public. Furthermore, people who are not of color fear that in describing someone who is, they will offend or “put off” other readers and because of that mindset, minority characters lack dimension and often are misrepresentations of the real thing. In other words, a white female character may be described as having olive skin, wide green eyes and cascading brunette hair, whereas a African-American woman may be described as only being “black.” English professor Liz Gray, who has had two poetry collections published, is no stranger to some of the issues faced by minority women writers. “One of the hindrances that women of color in literature do face is this feeling of imposter syndrome,” Gray says. “Is my success because of things I can’t control, or is it my talent?” It is a sad truth that there are people who judge others solely by ethnicity, gender or a combination of the two. “In a lot of ways when people look at me, they may not necessarily think I’m an American [citizen],” Gray shares. “They definitely don’t associate me with so-called ‘white America.’ Before, people could at least associate me with an area of the world, my last name being Chang. Now, they don’t know what to do.” All the while, publishers avoid publishing authors they fear won’t make any money; unfortunately, many of those authors are Unlike Pulitzer Prize winner Alice Walker, many female minority authors are overlooked in a white publishing world. Photo courtesy of Alice Walkers Garden website women of color: the people who know exactly how to describe themselves and their characters. “Some of my writers who look to get published or get into MFA programs are rejected because they don’t fit the status quo,” Bisi explains. “Who’s going to buy this? Who is going to want your little stories? Do they fit the model?” Questions like these are not only a result of discrimination, but they also leave the person on the receiving end asking questions, such as does my story not matter? Bisi insists that is not the case. “We are telling the story that is female,” she shared. “Women's voices are important to the world. If we are stifled that point of view will be lost. ” As a young African-American woman who considers writing necessary to my own survival, and who aspires to make a living on it, these findings are extremely discouraging. As much as I read in school, I can only recall two novels written by a woman of color, nor a story that featured an minority character, and I attended a predominately AfricanAmerican school. The realization of this raised many red flags for me, as it should for anyone who considers herself a lover of the literary. Consider the following: Bisi’s workshop is the only one for women of color that exists in the United States and has been for 17 years. This suggests there is a lack of assistance for minority women who want to pursue writing or receive recognition for their work and therefore they are not being persuaded to continue. Vendors of their publications are also vulnerable. Between 2002 and 2012 two-thirds of black-owned bookstores closed. According to Publishers Weekly’s “A Glimmer of Hope for Black-Owned Bookstores,” of the 400 that remained afterward, only 67 of those bookstores remain open as of January. These stores close because there is a lack of advertisement or recognition regarding the work. Publishers assume people won’t care about minority stories because they can’t relate and the cycle goes on; despite the fact that literature, no matter what it may be about, is always relatable and useful to someone. People like Ariell Johnson, who opened her own comic store on the East Coast, and Evelyn Burdette, 19, who in 2010 self-published seven books, know this and they are the type of women literature needs. Still, the problem persists. An executive from one of the Big Five publishing houses HR explained she felt her company did not have a diversity problem; still, the company refused to provide proof to back up said claim. It is this blind avoidance that compounds the problem. We ignore it and it continues to grow. “Literary is a very dangerous word,” Bisi explains. “It is a very limiting word because who is to say what is literary and what is not?” In short, it is just an easier way to discriminate against people of color, especially the women, who are already discriminated against. Moreover, considering that authors tend to write from different points of view, their stories may not always reflect their own beliefs, so why work so hard to market to specific ethnicities? That is the source of this issue entirely, our need to classify. The argument may be made, that women of color don’t write as often as Caucasian women do or that the writing isn’t as “good,” but that isn’t true. You’ve probably heard of Belinda Mckeon, and her novel “Tender,” but more than likely there hasn’t been a whisper about Sareeta Domingo, Anjali Joseph or Han Kang, who all have books scheduled to be released this year. This is because studies show 79 percent of the literary industry is Caucasian and unconscious bias is an issue. The simple fact is this: non-Caucasian perspective does matter and, ultimately, women need to be supportive of other women. We need to start the change. We need to encourage more programs, such as We Need Diverse books, a grass roots campaign dedicated to honoring the lives of all young people through literature. Companies, such as the Barbara J. Zitwer Agency, who publish international bestsellers and the newest American foreign authors, are helping to do this and you can help too: Log onto your nearest bookstore’s website and find yourself a book written by a woman of color. Read it and promote it just as you would any other book. “Women of color have as much a right to be a part of the mainstream as everybody else,” Bisi said. “It is important that people know what we felt, what we thought.” Contact Shannon Adams at [email protected] Corporate greed wins over clean air in Chester By Michael Blanche “It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver,” said Mahatma Gandhi, who recognized the cost of industrialization and human consumption. As a county and society, we turn a blind eye to the destruction and desolation created in our collective pursuit of profits and waste provision. Economists have a word to describe this phenomenon: externalities, which basically means, it’s someone else’s problem, let them deal with it. Unfortunately, the city of Chester and our neighbors that live there have been the recipients of our externalities for far too long. The once proud and prosperous city has become the public toilet where Delaware County, Philadelphia and even New York City flush tons of waste, literally. For the people of Chester to bear the burden of 3,500 tons of trash being burned into their air every day is unacceptable and deplorable. Especially considering the city covers an area of less than 5 square miles and has a population of around 42,000. John Linder, former Mayor of Chester and councilman, lifelong resident of the city and current DCCC professor, says that the tax revenue brought in by these industries is vital to pay the city’s expansive police force, volunteer fire station, and administrative officials. Linder cited the city’s budget as being “50 million dollars per year.” In the past, members of the Environmental Justice Network have fought against companies, like Koach Industries and Covanta, who signed a contract with New York City in 2014 to accept thousands of tons of solid waste that is burned for energy at their Chester incinerator. Exposing corporate greed and holding polluters accountable for the destruction of the environment has been the hallmark of the grass roots organization. “In 2008 we were able to stop the world’s largest tire incinerator from being built in Chester,” said Mike Ewall, the founder and director of the EJN. Among other victories, Ewall and the EJN have been on the front lines fighting fracking, pipeline, and incinerator construction across the state and country. But the EJN has not been active in Chester lately. Ewall said that Chester’s poor reputation of high crime hasn’t helped, which could be why more environmental organizations have not been on the front lines with the citizens fighting for clean air and water. Unfortunately, according to the EJN, Chester residents are three times more likely to have asthma than other residents in Delaware County. The Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Report of 2010 said the number of people with asthma nationally was more than 23 million Americans. In Pennsylvania, the rate is higher than the national average, with Chester and Delaware County leading the way. Perhaps this is because industries like Covanta and specifically their waste-toenergy incinerator create the second most air pollutants in the county, just behind Philadelphia International airport. Waste-to-energy is touted by Covanta as a “green energy,” but it is not sustainable to burn trash. In fact, the EJN reports that waste-toenergy is worse for the environment than burning coal, releasing large amounts of CO2, dioxins, mercury and lead into the air. In addition, it is more expensive to manage waste this way and produce energy. “There is a stench that hangs in the air of the Industrial Highway, and it smells like money.” Worsening the situation is the fact that these industrial companies don’t seem to provide jobs for the people of Chester. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has Chester’s unemployment rate at 7.8 percent as of April 2015, which is much higher than the county averages of 4.4 percent. “These companies are not big enough to employ the entire city,” said Linder. “But they can do a much better job reinvesting into the community.” According to Ewall, the celebrated and publicized PPL Park, which hosts the Philadelphia Union, is built on a site that is contaminated with toxic waste. Even worse, Ewall added, “the stadium isn’t even named after the city it is built in.” Chester has a storied past. Throughout the Civil War era until World War II, manufacturing jobs were abundant and people moved to the city with hopes of a better future. When those wars ended, jobs became scarce and overseas competition crippled Chester’s economy. Kaya Benton, an 18 year-old Chester resident, hopes to attend DCCC in the fall of 2016. “We didn’t have any legal way to stop the trash train from New York, so the company was allowed to bring in tons of trash to burn,” Benton said. Linder attests that the rail delivery system is better for the city because they pollute more and waste constantly falls out of the trucks. What Benton says is how many people feel: helpless. People that are in positions of corporate power often choose profit over living, breathing people, ignoring the impact of externalities. Even when the people of Chester took lawful measures to prevent their air from being further polluted, they couldn’t stop further expansion of the Covanta incinerator facility in 2014. There is a stench that hangs in the air of the Industrial Highway, and it smells like money. The EJN is made up of caring citizens much like yourself. The organization is counting victories for people and communities across the country. The time has come to help our neighbors clean up our mess. To get involved and informed visit ejnet. org or energyjustice.net. Contact Michael Blanche at [email protected] 8 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Fans wait for the finale of the concert. taking into account how many fans were watching the screens instead of the action on stage. Later, while the concert was This is the backdrop while The Who played 'Who Are You' at the Wells Fargo Center March 14. Photo by David Mattera wrapping up, Daltry introduced the band and vocalists to the crowd. The show ended with hits like “Pinball Wizard,” “Baba O’Riley,” and “Won’t Get Fooled Again.” “This show absolutely rocked,” said Maria Repousis, a The Who rocks the Wells Fargo Center By David Mattera Special to The Communitarian The Who electrified the crowd at their March 14 rock concert in Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center, where more than 18,000 fans sandwiched into the seats to celebrate the band’s 50th anniversary tour. The band, in their 70s, filled the arena with guitar strums and vocals like they never stopped touring. Roger Daltry belted out lyrics while Peter Townshend beat his guitar up. Songs like “Who Are You” and “Baba O’Riley” opened and closed the show, during which fans’ voices became hoarse after joining in. “I’ve got the keys to the [expletive] city,” said Townshend to get the crowd excited. “I’m the only one in The Who, who has a key to the city.” The Who played more than 20 songs, including their greatest hits. The concert lasted two hours ending right before 11 p.m. Earlier in the evening, fans from all generations stood on their feet, anticipating the concert’s cue. The lights went blind around 8:45 p.m. while “Who Are You” pumped out of the speakers as fans barely heard their own screams. “Make sure you watch the show closely because this is the last time you will ever see them perform,” said Steve Molineux, 53, a Garnet Valley resident and long time Who fan. “I have seen them eight times in concert and I can’t believe they are touring after all these years.” The first set of songs included hits like “The Kids Are Alright,” and “I Can See for Miles,” followed by “Eminence Front.” When an overly excited fan screamed in elation during a pause, Townshend reminded the crowd that some of the band’s biggest fans are police officers and Photo by David Mattera longtime fan and an Upper Darby resident. “If I had the time off from work, I would love to be a groupie and travel all over the U.S. to see them play.” The Who will continue their 50th anniversary tour throughout the United States, Canada, and Spain. Contact The Communitarian at [email protected] firemen, joking with the fan about his behavior. The second set list included songs “Magic Bus” and “I Can’t Explain,” while the background projector flashed images of historical figures and moments like Columbine, Marilyn Monroe, and Sept. 11. “You know, Townshend used to play 10 guitars and it seems like he only can handle one now,” said John DellaRocca, 51, an audience member from Long Island. “But what can you expect? They’re not young anymore.” Midway through the show, the arena started smelling like a grandparent’s liquor cabinet. Fans flailed their arms while dancing up and down the aisles. “I feel like a young girl again,” said Sandy Minford, 50, of Garnet Valley. “I’m so glad I got to experience it one last time. It was well worth the money.” Minford reflected on how the generations of fans are different, Roger Daltrey gets the crowd involved at The Who concert, part of their 50th anniversary tour. Photo by David Mattera Peter Townshend plucks away at his guitar. Photo by David Mattera ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Underground venue impacts Philly music scene SWARM members experiment with sounds from glass bottles and bowls of water. Photo courtesy of Dreu Adjoa-Oko By Melissa Simpson Special to The Communitarian An Untitled avant-garde music showcase took place in an undisclosed West Philly warehouse at 8 p.m. on March 19. The event was organized by an individual who wished to be identified only as “Le.” Le decided to create the event in response to the lack of diversity in the Philly Punk scene. “As a cis[gender] white woman, it is my responsibility to make sure that all people are represented in the scene,” Le said. The evening was highlighted by a performance by the dance/music collective SWARM. Out of the six members who attended, only the bass player had a static role. Everyone else rotated between instrumentation, vocalization, and interpretive dance. The audience crowded into a dusty basement to witness the rest of the sets, arranged by producer Kilamanzengo and pop punk pair King Azaz. Beaumont Warehouse is a barn-like building nestled between 50th and 51st Street, where the block comes to a dead end. The block was quiet and unassuming. That is, until one took notice of the bright colored fixed gear bikes and the aesthetically eccentric individuals parked outside the venue. The booming sounds escaping the venue were also a dead giveaway. Upon entering the space, there was a sensory overload. The high ceilings were accented by a cardboard arch-like structure that depicted demons, thunderbolts, and mountains. This object spanned the entire width of the warehouse and separated the stage from the viewing area. At the start of the event, local sci-fi writer/Afrofuturist writer and DJ Alex Smith spun experimental club and house jams. Meanwhile, punks, femmes, queers, gender non-conforming individuals, and general alt-culture folks trickled in. At around 9 p.m. the performances kicked off with a politically charged performance by SWARM. The piece blended live beats, drumming, and bass guitar with interpretive dance. The collective’s fifth song, in a set of seven, referenced Igbo Landing through the use of water and glass bottles that created an eerie echo sound. According to Althea Baird, a SWARM musician/dancer/vocalist, Igbo Landing is an area off the coast of Georgia, where slaves willingly walked into the ocean to their death. To them, it was more important to sacrifice their mortality in exchange for their freedom. “They said our ancestors live at the bottom of the ocean,” chanted the members of SWARM. “Ancestors died in the backseat of a car.” During the SWARM performance, Kilamanzengo was preparing for their beat set in the basement of Beaumont Warehouse. After SWARM wrapped up, attendees filtered into the dank cellar. Their colorful Ableton Push buttons illuminated the workstation that was obscured by darkness. In between playing purposefully distorted and glitchy 808 heavy beats, Kilamanzengo playfully bopped around the crowd, draped in a full size Ghaneian Flag. “It is so weird how when I am just talking with people I am all up in your face, but when I am up here I am not shy,” said Kilamanzengo, referring to her stage presence. After Kilamanzengo wrapped up, the audience traveled upstairs to hear more tunes spun by DJ Alex. About 20 minutes later, the punk two piece, King Azaz, began their set in basement. Although small in numbers, the band played hard, fast and noisy. The audience did not seem to be phased by the high decibels and bobbed along as if the music was being played at a lower volume. According to Le, these types of underground events occur in the West Philly area at least two or three times a month. “They plan to continue organizing events like this that highlight all underrepresented peoples,” Le said. Contact The Communitarian at [email protected] admissions and financial aid oafa.pitt.edu PITT TRANSFER Quality • Value • Location TRANSFER FRIDAY MAY 13, 2016 OAFA.PITT.EDU/VISIT Discounts on Tuition & Housing May 16 - June 27 (6 weeks) May 16 - July 27 (10 weeks) June 29 - August 10 (6 weeks) Internships & Independent Studies (12 weeks) Take at least one class in Atlantic City, Hammonton, Manahawkin or Woodbine & get THREE COURSES for the PRICE OF TWO! Classes in: Galloway • Atlantic City • Hammonton • Manahawkin • Woodbine - Online & Distance learning courses available - APPLY TODAY! OAFA.PITT.EDU/APPLY 9 stockton.edu/summer16 Stockton is an AA/EO institution EARN. STAY. COMPLETE. DelVal Degree Completion at Delaware County Community College Earn your associate degree from Delaware County Community College. Stay on campus to complete your bachelor’s degree from Delaware Valley University. A convenient path to a higher level DELVAL DEGREE COMPLETION • • • • gives you the convenience to earn two degrees on one campus allows you to earn up to 12 additional credits at the community college tuition rate offers you evening, part-time courses at a fixed rate makes it convenient and affordable VISIT DELVAL.EDU/DCCC FOR UPCOMING INFORMATION SESSIONS EARN YOUR BACHELOR’S DEGREE IN: • business administration • counseling psychology • criminal justice • media and communication Linda Lefevre | 215.489.2933 | [email protected] | delval.edu/dccc Learning Never Ends. On Campus / Online MOVE AHEAD or CATCH UP by taking a course. DeSales University’s ACCESS program offers three, six, eight, or twelve-week, three-credit college courses to earn your bachelor’s degree. The courses are taught by experienced DeSales faculty. Choose from a variety of course offerings that begin May 16 (Session 5) or May 23 (Summer 1). Call 610.282.4361 for more details. ACCESS – Adult Education Category Winner DeSales.edu/ACCESS LIFESTYLE 11 Will your tattoos impact your career? looking for what they call “The Disney Look.” This particular look, as listed on Disney’s website, focuses on employees looking “clean, natural, and professional,” and avoids the extreme and cutting edge trends, “[which] include, but are not limited to: visible tattoos, brands, body piercings (other than the traditional ear piercing for women), tongue piercing or splitting, tooth filling, earlobe expansion and disfiguring skin implants. Tattoos must be discreetly and completely covered at all times.” Tattoo artist Fred Patterson, of Tiny Tim’s Boulevard Tattoos in Glenholden, said that work can be a factor for a tattoos placement, but, overall, it depends on the person. “I had a guy fly in from Tennessee so I could tattoo him, and at first glance you wouldn’t be able to tell he had tattoos,” said Patterson. “He’s an IT guy, he’s very proper looking, but underneath he is covered in tattoos… You can’t always judge a book by its cover.” Still, Patterson admits that some business people are not accepting of tattoos. “People in sales, or those who work for a conglomerate, might not get visible tattoos because of how the people they’re working with may react,” he said. “Sometimes you have to look like money to make money.” Though there are workplaces, such as Disney, that are striving for the “clean and natural look,” there are companies who have begun to rewrite their policies to include those with tattoos. By Shannon Reardon Conventional wisdom once dictated that if people had tattoos they were either a soldier, a sailor, a biker or some other form of social outcast. In more recent years, this notion has changed: tattoos are now for anyone. A national survey conducted in 1990 found that 3 percent of respondents had at least one tattoo. In 2012, the Harris poll reported 38 percent of respondents aged 30-39 have one or more tattoos, as well as 30 percent of those who are 25-29, and 22 percent of people 18-24. “Women often seek tattoos for personal decoration and to feel independent, and men more often get tattoos as a symbol of group identity,” stated Lynda Dickson, Richard L. Dukes, Hilary Smith, and Noel Strapko in their study on the meaning of tattoos for college students. That same study reports that individuals with tattoos say that the reasons they get their tattoos is to feel more sexy (30 percent), rebellious (25 percent), attractive (21 percent), strong (21 percent), and spiritual (16 percent). “Tattoos also can be an important feature of affect management through which individuals attempt to overcome emotions of pain, stress, sorrow and losssuch as the death of a loved one-in an active, normative and controlled way,” said Dickson, Dukes, Smith, and Strapko. “Not only can the tattoo serve as a tangible memorial, but also the physical pain of getting the tattoo can help symbolically to exorcise the emotional pain of the loss.” With the number of tattoos on the rise, experts say that employers may have to consider being more lenient with their policies towards body modifications. “It can be argued that employers will need to change their hiring practices as the pool of otherwise qualified applicants displays previously unacceptable modifications,” wrote Brian Elzaweig and Donna Peeples in the Society for Advanced Management Journal. “It should also be recognized that society in general is becoming more accepting of these alterations, so the employer’s argument against hiring or retaining persons with modifications is becoming weak in many cases possibly adverse to the interests of the organizations.” But if the policies do not change, what happens to the younger generation who have decided to adorn their bodies with colorful imagery? The U.S. military took a stance against tattoos, for the Marines, as early as 2007, stating that the branches would grandfather in the service members who already had full tattoo sleeves on their arms or legs. Today, most armed services recruits are to have no more than four tattoos on their arms and legs, and no bigger than their extended hands, though larger tattoos on the torso are acceptable. The Navy, however, recently updated their policy allowing recruits to have fully sleeved arms and legs, stating that the change was made so that the Navy was able to retain and recruit talented sailors. Tattoos on the torso are unacceptable if they show through the white Navy uniforms; all branches of military prohibit tattoos on the neck, face, or head, as well as hand tattoos. Krissy Dimattia, 29, a liberal arts major at DCCC, said she has faced backlash for her body modifications at her job. Dimattia has roughly 19 tattoos and piercings, and is a part-time supervisor at UPS, which has a policy against visible tattoos and piercings. “They told me I couldn’t be a lead supervisor because I didn’t look professional, but I’m just as good as everybody else,” she said. “The times are changing. [Tattoos and piercings] will be accepted one day.” Another company strongly against body modifications is Disney, which is Wawa, for instance, just recently changed their policy on appearance. “We want our associates to reflect the communities they’re in, which nowadays, are filled with people who have tattoos and piercings,” said human resources representative, Donna Vageil. “It shows their personalities and diversity.” Under the new policy, Wawa is allowing their employees to have visible tattoos that are non-offensive; they removed sections dictating gender-specific uniform guidelines created a genderneutral uniform policy; and regulated all piercing to follow the Food and Drug Administration’s policy for piercings, which prohibits dangling earrings or jewelry with stones, such as diamonds. According to Vageil, since Wawa has allowed employees to show their tattoos at work, customers were polled about their thoughts, and the company has received no negative feedback. Whether a company allows tattoos or not, Patterson emphasized the real life implications that come with getting tattoos. “Tattoos come with a lot of responsibilities,” he said. “You have to be a strong person to get them, because once you cover yourself in tattoos, people will stereotype you for the rest of your life.” Contact Shannon Reardon at [email protected] IMMACULATA UNIVERSITY Be Mighty. Transfer Your Way. It’s your future. It’s your education. Choose your own best fit and let Immaculata University help get you there! Full-time or part-time Online or onsite Accelerated, self-paced or traditional GENEROUS TRANSFER CREDITS & MERIT SCHOLARSHIPS available for traditional undergraduates. CREDIT FOR PRIOR LEARNING & DISCOUNTED TUITION RATES for adult learners returning to college Come to a Transfer Tuesday Event on March 22, April 12, or May 17 Visit WWW.IMMACULATA.EDU/TRANSFER Get information about how to transfer to IU and do it your way! Visit WWW.IMMACULATA.EDU/INFO Take your knowledge to the next degree at Penn State Degree Completion Programs at Penn State Brandywine • Accelerated B.S. in Business Program • Accelerated RN to B.S. in Nursing Program Convenient seven-week classes right here in Delaware County! To schedule an appointment to review your transfer credit, contact Margie Bacheler at 610-892-1306 or [email protected] brandywine.psu.edu/continuing-education 25 Yearsley Mill Rd. Media, PA ♦ 610-892-1306 You’re Invited to a TRANSFER DAY First Wednesday of Every Month LEARN MORE ABOUT: • Our Core-to-Core agreement with Delaware County Community College REGISTER TODAY! arcadia.edu/TransferDelco • Transfer credits • Waiving your application fee • Scholarships, grants, and loans • Study abroad opportunities for Transfer Students • Assured admission to specific graduate programs 450 S. Easton Road • Glenside, PA, 19038 1-877-ARCADIA (1-877-272-2342) • [email protected] Students give back to homeless veterans continued from page 1 Bullock has been organizing the event for the past three years, and was happy to report that this year they received more care packages donated by students for homeless veterans than the previous years. The Philadelphia Veterans House is located on Baltimore Avenue in the University City area of Philadelphia. It is a home to anywhere between 10 and 17 veterans who would otherwise be homeless. Their website describes it as transitional housing, a place where veterans can get on their feet and have access to resources. According to a 2013 study, 90 percent of honorably discharged homeless veterans end up on the street because of no family support and a lack of job training. Petty Officer 2nd class Tim Szerlik was “scared to death” when he first came to the Philadelphia Veteran’s house. “I was facing homelessness and I had never faced that before,” Szerlik said. Now he is living in his own apartment and holding down a full time job. According to Szerlik, it was the program that saved him. Supporters have said the house has many success stories coming out of it, such as Lance Cpl. Erast Willoughby, who entered the program in 2013 as a homeless man looking for help. Now he holds a position working in the administration of the house. Brigid Gallagher, the director of the Philadelphia Veterans House, is a behavioral mental health specialist and is trained to help deal with the various mental illnesses that can plague veterans. “This place takes people who are responsible and gives back so freely to that which gave so freely to you,” said Szerlik. Anyone can volunteer anytime at the Philadelphia Veterans House. Cooking breakfast is always needed, according to Bullock, as well as care packages containing toiletries such as toothpaste and deodorant, and warm clothes. For more information on how to volunteer, visit http://philadelphiaveteranshouse.org. Contact Megan Milligan at [email protected] LOCAL NEWS 13 Veterans enjoy the breakfast cooked by DCCC students at the Philadelphia Veterans House during spring break. Photo by Megan Milligan U.S. Army veteran continues to lead at home By Joshua Smith Delaware County Community College is the educational home to many U.S. military veterans and current U.S. military reservists from all branches: Army, Navy, Air force, Marines, and National Guardsmen. Tyshon Bullock, 25, is a U.S. Army combat veteran of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, sociology student, Student Government Association officer, and president of DCCC’s Military Club. Tyshon is also one of the one percent of the population that stood up, put his hand over his heart, and swore an oath “to protect the citizens of the United States from all enemies, foreign and domestic.” I spoke with Bullock about his career and experiences in the Army, his life since arriving home from war, and the Military Club’s involvement with veterans in immediate area What was your position and involvement with the U.S. Army? I enlisted in the Army in May of 2008, when I was a junior in high school. The Army has an enlistment option called the “split-ops” program. The split-ops program allows for high school students to enlist in the Army with the permission of their parents, and complete basic training during the summer between their junior and senior year. After senior year you then go to Advanced Individual Training (AIT) School to train for your military occupational specialty. My occupational specialty was a cavalry scout. The job of a cavalry scout involves being the eyes and ears of the battlefield. Our primary mission was to perform recognizance for the Army. We would be ahead of the front lines, in enemy territory, making a safe path for the rest of the army follow. I was deployed on a tour of duty to Kuwait from December 2012 to August 2013. During my tour, I became a combat veteran and reached the rank of E-5 Sergeant. Currently, I still serve in the National Guard as a cavalry scout. Towards the end of my tour, while still overseas, I registered for courses at DCCC. I picked my courses based entirely on how interesting the last names of the professors were. That ended up being a great idea. I picked a professor just because he had a hyphenated last name, Dr. WilseyCleveland. This professor became my mentor. He changed my life, and gave me a different view on school altogether. What are your thoughts on your deployment and the conflict you were involved with? My unit was in Kuwait mainly to work with the Kuwaiti military and assist them in training and peacekeeping missions; violence was always our last resort. We worked with all other branches of the U.S. military, including Navy, Air Force, Marines, and National Guardsmen. The main thing that civilians back in the states misunderstand is that the military is a slow moving machine. Back home they don’t understand why things are not done right away. Civilians also think we are always looking for violence or a fight. Violence was definitely our last resort. We are far more of a peacekeeping force than we are an assault- based element. How is your civilian and college life versus your military life? Military and civilian life is completely different. In military life, everything is very structured. There are people telling you what to do, where to be, what to bring, and so on. In this aspect, civilian life is actually more difficult. There is no one telling you to be up, no one telling you what to bring, and where to go; you have to figure it all out for yourself. I have three daughters; I’m a part-time student, a full-time employee, and I serve in the National Guard. Figuring out how to balance my hectic schedule all by myself has been the biggest challenge to far. What is the most significant thing you have taken away from military life? Definitely discipline. I have learned to adapt and overcome to difficult situations. I may encounter a situation that is less than desirable, but I have the ability now to assess the stressful situation and formulate a plan instead of panicking. What is the Military Club at DCCC? I’m currently club president of the Military Club. We are open to anyone who wants to join. However, we require that you support the military and its endeavors. Our main objective is to help veterans in our community. How did the recent SGA homeless veteran breakfast go? It was very successful! It started slowly in the beginning of the week, with myself and one other member assisting the food drive. However, as the week went on we gained more members and received more aid. The veterans were very happy. We had about 10-12 veterans every day that we were able to give breakfast to. There were veterans from every war: Korean War, Vietnam War, Desert Storm, and the most recent Iraq and Afghanistan wars. What are your thoughts on the treatment of today’s veterans upon exiting the service and returning home? Besides the Veterans Hospital being a nightmare, Delaware County and the country as whole has a lot of love for its veterans. It is not at all like the deranged treatment that Vietnam Veterans received upon returning home. Delaware County has a program that enables veterans to register as a veteran in the county and receive discounts from countless stores. These business owners have no obligation to sign up and become part of this program. This generosity really makes me step back and realized how blessed I am. How do you feel the public treats you personally after they know you are a veteran? The treatment is absolutely beautiful. For example, my unit provided security in Philadelphia during the Pope’s visit. We had a brief break in the late morning, so my unit and I decided to stop over at the local IHOP. At the end of our breakfast, a woman came up to us and said she paid for the meal for all of us. These things are quite frequent when I’m in uniform. It makes me proud to serve this wonderful country and its people. Do you have any advice for anyone interesting in enlisting into the military? Yes. First and foremost, know what you are signing up for. Before you sign your name to the enlistment papers, make sure you are happy with the job you sign up for. In hindsight, I would have signed up for a different job. Don’t’ get me wrong; I enjoy my time as a cavalry scout. But I wish now that I would have enlisted in military intelligence or something where I can be in air conditioning and at a desk [laughs]. Of course, if you plan to finish a four- year degree, and you think you have what it takes to be a leader, become an officer in the military. Is there anything else you would like to add? Yes. I would personally like to thank the professor I was telling you about earlier that changed my life, Dr. Wilsey-Cleveland. He was my English composition teacher during my first semester back in DCCC student, Tyshon Bullock, during a cavalry scout training mission for the U.S. Army. Photo courtesy Tyshon Bullock school after my tour. I originally had the mindset of just merely going to school and coming home. I had no intention of making friends or getting in involved with the school’s clubs and extra-curricular activities. I can never forget Dr. Wilsey- Cleveland’s cool Australian accent telling me to get involved. He gave me the courage and incentive to join the Environmental Club. This was only the beginning of my transformation into being highly involved in many things here at DCCC. However, without Dr.Wilsey-Cleveland, I would have never been the student I am today. Contact Joshua Smith at [email protected] 14 The winning's only beginning for Villanova By Susan Snyder The Philadelphia Inquirer (TNS) At Villanova University, Joseph A. Borillo was taking the congratulatory calls in succession on Tuesday, the day after the men’s basketball team had been crowned national champion. Wells Fargo. Coca-Cola. Bimbo Bakeries. They’re all corporate partners of Villanova, and they couldn’t be happier with the Wildcats’ win, a thriller that came at the buzzer as Kris Jenkins sank that now famous three-pointer. “It’s amazing the difference one shot makes,” said Borillo, Villanova’s senior director of corporate and foundation relations. “I expect that in the coming months we’ll see increased activity with our current sponsors as well as interest from new corporations that want to be associated with Villanova.” Corporate sponsors do everything from providing 5,000 muffins to students during a day of community service to making donations. Coca-Cola, Borillo said, plans to unveil a commemorative can emblazoned with the Wildcats’ logo in honor of the championship season. The winning’s just beginning for Villanova, a Catholic university on the Main Line that enrolls about 10,000 students, 6,300 of them undergraduates. A national basketball championship can bring in more applications, higher-quality students, more donations, and boost corporate sponsorships, licensing, and athletic ticket sales, studies have shown. “It acts as a de facto advertising campaign that lasts for about two years,” said Kristi Dosh, a sports business analyst based in Florida, who has studied the effects of national championships. “The university and the athletic department have about two years to make the most out of this.” Villanova estimated it received at least $6 million -- and perhaps far more -- worth of free publicity when the team made it to the Final Four in 2009. Now, with a win, “it’s exponential,” said Ann Diebold, its vice president of university communications. “Every time, there’s more.” One of the most immediate measures of the impact for Villanova could come May 1, the deadline for admitted students to declare whether they will enroll. In 1985, when Villanova last won the national championship, 119 more admitted students enrolled than the previous year. And that was before social media. This time, the university has been inundating the Facebook page for its admitted students with news about the basketball team’s success. “We have been sharing this journey with those students while they are in this decisionmaking process . . . so they can feel a part of it,” said Liz Kennedy Walsh, associate vice president for university communications. Only problem is that if many more admitted students than expected choose Villanova, university officials are unsure where they will put them. But Michael Gaynor, director of university admission, said Villanova will accommodate all who accept, though it may mean taking fewer students from the wait list. The university, where tuition, fees, and room and board topped $62,000 this year, admitted 42 percent of applicants this spring. Villanova is largely white and Catholic. Threefourths of undergraduates are white, and 72 percent of those who reported a religious preference said they were Catholic. The impact on Villanova’s applications next year could be even greater. It could be harder to get in. A 2009 study by economists Devin and Jaren Pope found that success on the court increases applications from 2 to 8 percent for the top 16 basketball schools, and that increases are two to four times greater for private schools than public ones. “Schools appear to exploit these increases in applications by improving both the number and the quality of incoming students,” the study said. Villanova already draws strong students. Most freshmen from fall 2015 had GPAs that exceeded 3.76, and the average SAT (verbal and math) score was 1316, the highest in the university’s history. And there is no predicting the influence of that final Jenkins shot. Consider what happened to Boston College in 1984. After Doug Flutie’s lastsecond Hail Mary pass led the college football team to victory over the University of Miami, the school surged in popularity. Over the next two years, applications increased about 30 percent. It became known as “the Flutie Effect,” though some remain skeptical of the gridiron connection. Even without a basketball crown, applications to Villanova had been rising, , up 16 percent for fall 2016. Fund-raising at universities with successful teams also tends to improve, according to a 2012 study by Michael L. Anderson, assistant professor of agriculture and resource economics at the University of California at Berkeley. Game revenue and ticket sales can jump, too. That’s what Dosh found at the University of Florida after the men’s basketball team won the national title in 2006 and again in 2007. Mark Jackson, Villanova’s athletic director, said he expects “a more than moderate increase” in licensing revenue, considering swift bookstore sales of Villanova merchandise. He also cited widespread exposure through social media. The basketball team’s followers on Twitter rose from 14,000 before the Big East conference tournament to more than 83,000 on Wednesday. “We’re hoping to get to 100,000 by the parade on Friday,” he said. Villanova administrators are planning to capitalize on the team’s success. They are putting together a publication to share with alumni and will update their admissions materials, Walsh said. But the biggest advantage came naturally. “A lot of people know our name now,” Walsh said. They connect that name with a team of dedicated, selfless players, even down to the last shot, when senior Ryan Arcidiacono shared the ball with Jenkins for the win, she said. “This team tells our story,” she said. “The coverage is priceless.” Find Your Place at Penn State Brandywine • Baccalaureate degrees in Business, Biology, Communications, Engineering, Human Development, Information Sciences, Psychology and more ... • Accelerated business courses for working adults • One-year accelerated RN to B.S. program offered by Penn State’s College of Nursing • Convenient class times, free parking, small vibrant campus community • A world of networking opportunities with more than 600,000 Penn State alumni • Individualized counseling for transfer and adult students and veterans • Scholarships available Come visit our campus • Walk-in Wednesdays • Or call 610-892-1225 for an individual appointment Partnering with Delaware County Community College for more than 40 years! www.brandywine.psu.edu 25 Yearsley Mill Rd. Media, PA 19063 ♦ 610-892-1225 Take the next step toward your future. INTERNATIONAL NEWS ChestnutHillCollege’sAcceleratedAdultDegreeProgram 15 • 13accelerateddegreeprogramsforstudentslookingtocompletetheirbachelor’sdegrees • Applyupto75transfercreditstowardyourdegree • ConvenientclassesintheEVENINGSandonWEEKENDS • PartnershipwithDelawareCountyCommunityCollegemakingyourtransferprocessseamless ACCELERATED DEGREE PROGRAMS: AccountingandBusiness EarlyChildhoodStudies BusinessAdministration HealthcareManagement BusinessCommunications HumanResources Management HumanServices (withoutcertification) ChildcareManagement CriminalJustice DigitalForensics(certificateprogram) PreK-4EducationwithSpecial EducationCertificate LiberalStudies Marketing Register for an upcoming information session by visiting www.chc.edu/scpsvisit: • Tuesday, April 12 at 6 pm • Wednesday, May 11 at 6pm • Thursday, June 16 at 6pm For More Information contact April Fowlkes, M.S., Director of Admissions: Call - 215-242-7704 or E-mail- [email protected] SCHOLARSHIPS AVA I L A B L E F O R TRANSFER STUDENTS UNLOCK YOUR GREATEST POTENTIAL AT A UNIVERSITY THAT HAS BEEN CREATING LEADERS SINCE 1855. 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