the PDF

The Argo
February 23, 2015
1
“It is never too late to be what you might have been.” -George Eliot
The Independent Student Newspaper of Stockton University
Up to Us Hosts My Two Cents Day
Kendal Lambert
events to raise anticipation. They held a discussion panel of proArgo Staff Writer
fessors who explained to students about national debt; a life-size
Did you know that our countries national debt is 18 bil- Monopoly game, which was a SET and Gaming Club successlion dollars? Big wig
ful collaboration; and a
politicians don’t care
democracy cafe, where
about this, it’s not their
students were able to
problem. They won’t
engage in intellectual
have to deal with it
conversation over coftwenty years down the
fee.
line, so who will? We
Campuses from San
will. The current genFrancisco State to Unieration of young adults.
versity of Miami particCollege students. YOU.
ipated in My Two Cents
Some people
Day, a huge celebration
realized this is unfair
of awareness to creand unjust, thus, the
atively engage students
Up to Us campaign was
about the debt crisis
created in an effort to
with the goal of gaining
raise awareness about
as many pledges as posthe growing national
sible! The Campus Cendebt. It is the megater was teeming with
phone for our generastudents; the DJ was
tion’s voice to be heard
blasting from 11: am to
through educating our
6:30 pm, pictures were
Photos by Dan Russo
peers about this issue
being snapped at the
and how it will affect our future. A few bold
photo booth; free pizza; drawings to win
members of our Student Senate decided to bring it to Stockton.
Wawa gift cards and an Amazon Fire tablet; and performances by
The My Two Cents Day is the biggest event in the Up the All Starz Dance Team and Stockton A Capella.
to Us Competition, held nationwide on Thursday, February 12.
Ar-Rasheed Brisco, a Student Senator helped out during
Leading up to this, Stockton’s Up to Us team hosted a variety of the day. “I’m encouraging people to sign up beSee Page 2
Volume 85, Issue 5
What’s Inside:
Status Update: Stockton
University
Page 5
The Courtyard of Miracles
Page 11
Foundation Gala Explained
Philip T. Ellmore, Ph. D.
For the Argo
Dear Editor and Readers:
A recent Argo article raised some questions about the Stockton College Foundation’s 2014 Scholarship Benefit Gala. The following are some facts about this event that were not included.
The Gala is scheduled a year in advance so that our donors,
sponsors, and guests can lock in the date and to help ensure that our
date is not in conflict with other community fundraising events.
Stockton has been holding its Gala on the last Saturday in April
for a number of years. For the past decade, the Gala has been
held at various Atlantic City casinos, usually at the same property
two years in a row. We were at Revel in 2013 and planned on being there again in 2014. In late fall of 2013 we were advised to
think about using a different venue because of the concern about
Revel’s viability. The need to keep our original date limited our
options for a new location. After careful deliberation we determined it was best to move from Revel to the Stockton-Seaview, a
move consistent with our long-term desire to bring the event back
to our property. The timing also allowed us to hold the 2014 Gala
in conjunction with the year-long 100th anniversary celebration of
Stockton-Seaview. The format– cocktails, dinner, program, entertainment, and dancing – was similar to previous Galas.
Given the late move, Stockton-Seaview was mostly booked
which necessitated the construction of a temporary structure to accommodate our 550+ guests. This structure was quite expensive
- $133,000 – but was a preferable one-time expense rather than
risking being without a venue. The 2015 Gala will again be held
at Stockton-Seaview on the last Saturday of April. With most of
the facility available, the temporary structure will not be needed.
Many of the questions about the 2014 Gala have centered on
our decision to honor President and Mrs. Saatkamp on the occasion of their 50th wedding anniversary and in recognition of their
many years of service to education. This decision was made in
conjunction with the Stockton College Foundation in spring 2013
and endorsed by the College Board of Trustees in early fall 2013
prior to the decision to move the event to Stockton-Seaview. It
is standard practice for fundraising events to honor community
leaders as a way to attract donors to an event. Our honoring of
President and Mrs. Saatkamp was no different. We were particularly pleased to recognize Mrs. Saatkamp who works tirelessly for
Stockton, usually without much public acknowledgement.
Initial net proceeds for the 2014 Gala were lower than in previous years. This is directly attributable to the expenses for the
temporary structure. It is important to note that the 2014 Gala
also secured an additional $450,000 in commitments in honor of
Dr. and Mrs. Saatkamp. These commitments will be received over
the next five years.
Gala net proceeds are placed in an endowment that annually
provides multiple scholarships for Stockton students. Ten years of
Gala fundraising information can be found at www.stockton.edu/
gala.
The Stockton Foundation will continue to be committed to
raising as much money as possible for student scholarships as
well as supporting other Stockton initiatives. In fiscal year 2007,
the Foundation awarded approximately $170,000 in scholarships.
This fiscal year that amount exceeds $700,000. These awards
come from the Scholarship Gala endowment as well as many other scholarship funds provided by individual donors.
Should you have additional questions, I will be happy to discuss them with you.
Sincerely,
Philip T. Ellmore, Ph. D.
Chief Development Officer and Executive Director of the
Foundation
Stockton University
If you have any questions please email them to
[email protected]
The Vessel of Truth to the Stockton Community Since 1971
#AllLivesMatter
Page 13
Spider-Man Returns
Page 20
Page 2
Community
THE ARGO WANT$
YOU!
...To Join Our Team
This Semester
Staff writers and photographers needed!
Paid positions!
February 23, 2015
The Argo
Campus Center Suite 212L
101 Vera King Farris Drive
Galloway, New Jersey
08205
Email: [email protected]
Advertising: [email protected]
Mark-Allan Donaldson
Editor-in-Chief
Kristen Valenti
Assistant Editor
Sarah Baginsky
Sara Buggelli
Madeline Kosten
Kendal Lambert
Copy Edit Team
Caitlyn Ruffalo
For more information email:
Advertising/
Business Manager
[email protected]
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Come to our Meetings!
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The Argo is not an official publication of Stockton University, but
produced independently by its students. Disclaimer: The views
expressed in this publication by writers and/or advertisers are solely
their own and in no way reflect the views held by The Argo Corporation, Stockton University, nor any parent/subsidiary and/or affiliate
companies. Any items within this publication that may accidentally
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Letters, opinions, photographs, cartoons and articles are welcome
by all. The Argo reserves the right to edit, publish and/or deny any
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this publication is expressly prohibited.
Copyright Argo Corporation 2012
Two Cents Day
Continued
“The national debt affects us in so many ways from receiving social security to Medicare, to veterans receiving the benefits they deserve. If we cannot
eventually pay off our debt, we will not be able to provide these benefits.” says
Louis Chevere, Stockton Up To Us team member. We could also be headed for
higher taxes to fund our government and its interest obligations; rather than putting money towards having the government invest in the next generation.
The competition lasts until February 20, and the winning school will not
be announced until the end of the month. Currently Stockton College is in second
place, behind Pennsylvania State University. Whether we win first place or not,
Stockton and the Up to Us Team has done a phenomenal job throughout this campaign. A member of Stockton’s Up to Us Team, Victoria Muraoka comments, “I
am so glad to have been a part of raising awareness about this monumental issue
and so proud to say how supportive and willing my peers, professors, and faculty
have been throughout this competition.”
cause it’s amazing how a lot of my peers have no idea how important this is. They
don’t know that after they graduate, in as little as six months, you get phone calls
asking for the money you borrowed in loans. For many, that’s a scary reality.”
A large multi-panel stand displayed pledges from participants. Each
sheet read: “I care about long-term national debt because…” and students completed the sentence with their own reasoning. For giving their “two cents, ” they
receives two cents! The Stockton Up to Us team took these pledges to Congressman LoBiondo at the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. the next day to discuss with him the infinite number of students who want a brighter fiscal future.
Angelo Bechara is the team leader of Stockton’s Up to Us campaign. He
has worked steadily on this project since last year. “It’s been a lot of hard work,
but it’s very satisfying knowing what we can- and already have accomplished.
People don’t know that our generation is going to have to pay the interest for that
$18 million debt. And that’s why it’s up to us.” Angelo is confident that his team
has put in their best amount of work and that it will pay off.
February 23, 2015
Community
Page 3
Police Blotter 02/11/15 - 02/17/15
By The Numbers:
Burglar Alarms – 7
Fire Alarms –
Housing I – 8
Housing II – 1
Housing III – 1
Housing IV – 5
Housing V – 0
Lakeside - 0
Housing
Housing
Housing
Housing
Housing
Housing
Highlights and
Comments:
Highlights and
Comments:
Caller reporting unknown person(s)
turning TV’s on in campus center
and putting volume all the way up.
You mean to tell me someone tried
to use the Campus Center TV’s...as
TV’s?
Caller advised her [housing] lock
system is frozen.
Well that’s one way to make Anna
go away that Elsa did not try.
Lockouts –
I–2
II – 1
III – 0
IV – 3
V–1
MV Accidents – 6
MV Lockouts – 1
MV Stops – 42
Property Checks – 157
Suspicious MV – 7
Suspicious Persons – 1
Suspicious Activity – 3
Received 2 calls coming from Kwing Elevator. Male was saying
hello but not answering any of my
questions.
Hello? Hello? Is it Stockton University you’re looking for?
5('8&('5(17)25672&.72167$))
25678'(17
*Alumnus offering immediate room in private home*
*Dwelling is located in a nice neighborhood*
*AC/Ventnor boarder*
*$675/month, utilities included*
For more information:
Contact Nate
609-742-5896
[email protected]
Page 4
Stockton News
February 23, 2015
Apology
Mark-Allan Donaldson
Editor in Chief
The Argo would like to issue a formal apology for any grammatical errors that occurred in our previous issue. As many people have pointed out to us,
“university” was misspelled on the front page and there was a note left in one of
the titles that was missed in our final review of the paper. There were also errors
in the spelling of Student Senate president Carl Archut’s name as well the name
of a writer, Tori Novack.
We would like to extend our sincerest apologies to Mr. Archut, Ms. Novack and the writers who’s titles held grammatical errors. These mistakes were
due to a last minute staffing shortage and the extended length of the paper and we
here at the Argo have taken steps to ensue that no such errors will occur again.
If you find any mistakes in the Argo please feel free to let us know at
[email protected].
If you enjoy searching articles for grammatical errors you should consider applying to be a copy editor for the Argo next semester at the rate of $30.00
per issue.
The Stockpot Wants You!
Sarah Baginsky
Argo Staff Writer
Stockpot Editor-in-Chief
The Stockpot is open for submissions and editors!
Who are we? We are Richard Stockton College’s literary magazine and
we’re accepting submissions for our 2015 issue. Entries should be sent to our
email: [email protected]. See details below.
Editor Meetings:
Our editors meet every Tuesday in F 218, 4:15 to 5pm. Come to our meetings to pick what gets published and to become a larger part of Stockton’s literary
community.
Contributors:
All currently enrolled students and alumni of the Richard Stockton College
of New Jersey may submit their writing and/or artwork.
Poetry Guidelines:
Please submit 1-5 poems. Poems should not exceed 45 lines in length and
should be single-spaced in a standard 12 point font.
Fiction and Non-Fiction Guidelines:
Please submit 1-3 stories. Stories should not exceed 3,000 words and should
Free Poetry Night
World Above: Free Poetry Night
Wednesday, February 25, 7pm
at Dante Hall
Emari DiGiorgio
For the Argo
On February 25th, at 7:00 pm Stockton University’s
Dante Hall, World Above Free Poetry Nights launches its new
format and welcomes its new monthly host: Ben Heins, Visiting Assistant Professor of Writing at Stockton University.
The evening will start with the usual Open Mic, but
participants will now read one poem (and only one poem) that
is less than two minutes long. The break will occur just before
8pm, and participants will return to a free take-home writing
prompt, introduced by the host or the prompt’s author. Then,
featured poet Suzanne Parker will read.
Suzanne Parker is a winner of the Kinereth Gensler
Book Award for her poetry collection Viral (Alice James Books,
2013), which was a finalist for a Lambda Literary Award and
is on the National Library Association’s Over the Rainbow List
of recommended books for 2013. Her poetry has appeared recently in Bloom, Hunger Mountain, Barrow Street, Drunken
Boat, 2River, Cimarron Review, Sierra Nevada Review, and
numerous other journals. She’s a winner of the Alice M. Sellars
Award from the Academy of American Poets and was a Poetry
Fellow at the Prague Summer Seminars. Suzanne’s creative
non-fiction is published in the travel anthology Something to
Declare: Good Lesbian Travel Writing by the Univ. of Wisconsin Press. Suzanne is a poetry editor at MEAD: The Journal of
Literature and Libations and is the director of the creative writing program at Brookdale Community College in NJ.
Please invite your friends to this event, join and share
it on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/sjpoets), and even
link our website (http://www.sjpoets.wordpress.com) to your
social media.
Dante Hall is located at 14 N. Mississippi Ave., Atlantic City, NJ.
be double-spaced in a standard 12 point font.
Artwork Guidelines:
Please submit 1-5 pieces of artwork (photography, paintings, drawings, etc.).
Send To:
All submissions should be emailed to [email protected]. Writing
should be sent as a Microsoft Word attachment. If you are submitting multiple
pieces, please consolidate all submissions into one Word attachment. Artwork
should be sent as a high resolution tiff or jpeg attachment. If you would like to
submit a hard copy of your artwork for judging and printing purposes, please arrange this in your email.
Include a cover letter in the body of the email. This should include your full
name, the titles of the pieces being submitted, and any questions you may have.
Since the selection process is anonymous, please do not include any personal
information on the attached work itself.
As of now, submissions are rolling and the selection process has begun. This
is your chance to have your writing/artwork published! Accepted submissions
will be celebrated at the launch reading this April.
Thanks for your submissions, and keep creating!
Open Mic
followed by take-home writing prompt & Featured Poet
www.sjpoets.wordpress.com www.facebook.com/sjpoets [email protected]
Suzanne Parker
Suzanne Parker is a winner of the Kinereth
Gensler Book Award for her poetry collection Viral
(Alice James Books, 2013), which was a finalist
for a Lambda Literary Award and is on the
National Library Association’s Over the Rainbow
List of recommended books for 2013. Her poetry
has appeared recently in Bloom, Hunger
Mountain, Barrow Street, Drunken Boat, 2River,
Cimarron Review, Sierra Nevada Review and
numerous other journals; she’s a winner of the
Alice M. Sellars Award from the Academy of
American Poets and was a Poetry Fellow at the
Prague Summer Seminars. Suzanne’s creative
non-fiction is published in the travel anthology
Something to Declare: Good Lesbian Travel
Writing by the Univ. of Wisconsin Press. Suzanne
is a poetry editor at MEAD: The Journal of
Literature and Libations and is the director of the
creative writing program at Brookdale Community
College in NJ.
World Above: Free Poetry Nights are proudly brought
to you by the South Jersey Poets Collective and
Stockton College. SJ Poets would like to thank The
Richard Stockton State College for the use of
Dante Hall Theater: 14 North Mississippi Ave,
Atlantic City NJ.
Next Month:
March 25th, 7pm
Featured Poet:
Rachel Eliza Griffiths
February 23, 2015
Stockton News
Page 5
STATUS UPDATE: Stockton University
Caroline Tesone
Argo Staff Writer
On Wednesday, February 18, 2015, President Saatkamp and the Board
of Trustees unveiled Stockton’s new name: Stockton University. At five o’clock,
the Campus Center was packed with students, alumni, faculty, and staff members anxiously waiting to see the President’s surprise. The hall was filled with
balloons and tables for refreshments. Chants of “Stockton!” broke out amongst
the energetic crowd. After the drumroll, the banner bearing Stockton University
was revealed and confetti fell through the air. Free Stockton University hats were
given to 2000 crowd members. After the event, the crowd was invited to have
refreshments and listen to the faculty band.
Members of the Stockton community had differing opinions towards the
name change. Some students and professors welcomed university status.
“I think it’s exciting! The college is growing and we really have been a
university for some time. The name change is an appropriate reflection of who we
are,” said associate professor Deborah Gussman.
Junior Chelsea Regan agreed, “I’m excited because we offer enough programs that we can continue to expand. That will excite students and incoming
students. And ultimately, make Stockton a better learning environment.”
Explaining his change of heart on the subject, alumni Eddie Horan said,
“Although I was hesitant when the idea of a name change came up a few years
back, I’m nothing but ecstatic now—especially with the revival of the college’s
original logo. At the celebration, I heard many people saying things like, ‘No
more Stoco! This is so sad!’ I felt that way a couple years ago, too. But when
you think about it, it’s clear that a change of name does not change the institution
itself. ‘Stoco,’ thankfully, isn’t just a name; it’s a culture. And I think that that
culture will thrive at Stockton University.”
Stockton community members shared their connection to the “Stoco”
name and commented about the preservation of Stockton’s core values.
“Stockton College will always be my college. I’ve been going here for
five years. But I’m proud to be making history,” said senior Jacob Lipton.
Jacob’s friend, Rebecca Revay felt differently. “I think it’s cool that they
are changing the name,” said the senior, “but I don’t feel like I went to Stockton
University. I’d rather not have my diploma say that.”
“It puts us in a different pool, a much bigger one. The pressure is on for
the school, faculty, and staff to perform,” said alumnus Ryan Kiska. Regarding
the emphasis on research brought by university accreditation he said, “We have
a staff. Their first priority is to teach and their research is student driven. That is
going to change. Professors are going to start doing additional research outside of
their teaching time, which is going to take away time spent with students.”
Despite mixed feelings about the name change, “Stockton marches on”
as professor Yitzhak Sharon put it.
In one year, the Argo plans to write an article about the impact of University status on Stockton and it’s culture. Please email any opinions to [email protected] and keep an eye out for a survey in the following year.
Will Bassett
Argo Staff Writer
Saturday, February 14, Stockton hosted the ICCA Mid-Atlantic Quarterfinal in the Performing Arts Center. The ICCA stands for the International
Championship of Collegiate A Cappella. It is program that has the best college
and university acappella groups from around the country compete.
This competition was only the quarterfinal of our region which featured
groups from Ramapo, Rutgers, Monmouth and more from the state of New Jersey. It also featured a couple groups from Maryland and one from Pennsylvania.
The variety of the groups and music was spectacular. Monmouth’s all-female
group the Sea Sharps performing Megan Trainer’s song “Title,” while an all-male
group from Rutgers, Casual Harmony, sang “September” by Earth, Wind and
Fire. The mix of music new and old and the different single-sex and co-ed groups
created a great amount of variety only adding to the fun of the night.
Our very own Stockapella performed some golden oldies and brought
back the good feeling of those older times. Each song was sung extremely well
and their dancing and moves earned them the award of best choreography. They
placed second runner up in the end, losing out to the Deaftones of Westminster
Choir College and Casual Harmony from Rutgers.
While Stockapella was the only group from here to compete, the Stocktones and the all-female group Stockata were guest performers. Stockata sang a
really cool Ke$ha and One Direction mashup, while the Stocktones sang Green
Day’s “Paranoia” and more.
While Stockapella didn’t make it into the semifinals, we should all be
very proud of their performance.
If you’re interested in more a cappella competition, the Deaftones and
Casual Harmony will be going to Drexel University on March 28, 2015 to compete in the ICCA Mid-Atlantic Semifinals and then onto New York for the finals.
In the meantime, go out and support the other a cappella groups right here at
Stockton.
Stockapella Competes in a Real Life “Pitch Perfect”
Make sure to check out
stocktonargo.com for the latest
articles, photo galleries, and archives of
The Argo!
Page 6
Stockton News
February 23, 2015
CSA Hosts “Taste My Island”
Kendal Nicole
Argo Staff Writer
Black History Month does not only celebrate African-American culture.
Black history encompasses far beyond that, extending its reach all the way to the
Caribbean Islands. On Thursday, February 12, the Caribbean Student Association
hosted Taste My Island to bring about awareness of the Caribbean voice in America during the Civil Rights Movement and also showcased various dishes from
Haiti, the Dominican Republic, the Bahamas, Virgin Islands, and many more.
Oftentimes when we think of civil rights pioneers, Rosa Parks, Martin
Luther King, and W.E.B. Du Bois come to mind; but we cannot forget that there
are other big players on the civil rights scene. Take Claudia Cumberbatch Jones
for instance, she was a Trinidadian immigrant who moved to New York City
and founded The West Indian Gazette. This iconic publication campaigned for
equal rights and opportunities of the Afro-Caribbean community. The Caribbean
peoples even had a tremendous effect on the slavery trade and other historical
moments that eventually lead to the equality and freedom for African-Americans.
“You can’t separate Africa and the Caribbean; just as you can’t separate
the social movements that have occurred in the Caribbean as they pertain to the
Civil Rights Movement in the United States. They are descendants from the same
people, from the same areas, and the two go hand-in-hand.” says CSA Treasurer
Aaron Bess.
Both Caribbeans and Blacks were treated unfairly during the tumultuous
period from the 1940s through the 1970s. It is important to recognize the similarities between the two. They may be divided by water, but united by culture.
In addition to this celebration of history, guests were able to indulge in
fine authentic cuisines from the Caribbean islands. The dinner featured delicious
array of tropical dishes which included: curried chicken, beans and rice, jerk
chicken, and sweet plantains. Students got to mingle with others student and faculty member as well as the members of CSA.
CSA invites everyone- no matter what their background- to come out to
their meetings on Mondays at 5:30 pm room F-201.
Story Time at Stockton Christian Fellowship
Tori Novack
For the Argo
On February 17, despite the snow, students
met at Stockton Christian Fellowship as they always
do on Tuesdays at 8:30 pm in the TRLC to talk about
God and eat pizza. They got a blast from the past
with the visiting pastor of Trinity Alliance, Pastor
Jeff. He pulled out You Are Special by Max Lucado
and began to read it to the students.
The students gathered around Pastor Jeff
in preparation to hear a story many hadn’t heard in
years if they heard it at all. A few of the students,
taking on the full childhood persona, sat on the floor
at Pastor Jeff’s feet.
You Are Special is a story about a village
of wooden people (Wemmicks) who go around all
day giving out stickers. The Wemmicks who were
talented and beautiful received golden star stickers
while those who were clumsy and ugly received grey
dots. Some people would give stickers simply based
on what stickers the Wemmick already had on them.
One of the Wemmicks, Punchinello, constantly received grey dots. This upset him very much,
and he wondered why he was always receiving grey
dots. Then, one day he met a Wemmick who did not
have any stickers on her at all. When he asked her
why, she told him it was because she visited the car-
penter every day.
Punchinello decides to visit the carpenter,
and he is very frightened, but the carpenter calls
him by name and he goes up to him. The carpenter
proceeds to tell him that he is special and that the
thoughts of the other Wemmicks shouldn’t matter to
him. As he takes this to heart, one of his stickers falls
off.
Pastor Jeff explained that we are like the
Wemmicks. We go around and judge others and base
our opinions of ourselves based on what others think
of us, our performance, and our circumstances. He
went on to say that this is not how we should view
ourselves.
One week at church, he gave a sermon and
asked everyone if they were righteous, and no one
stood up. He proceeded to tell them that they were
righteous, every single one of them. They were not
righteous because of anything they did or because of
what others think of them. They were righteous because God called them righteous.
Whenever God makes a declaration in the
Bible, Christians take it as fact. Yet, when God says
that they are righteous, they shy away and begin to
doubt what God has said. Why should this statement
be any different than “Let there be light?”
The students were moved by Pastor Jeff’s
story time and the following discussion. It was a
unique way to spend a college snow day.
Stockton Christian Fellowship seeks to help
Christian students grow, as well as to invite new people to learn about the faith. They form an extended
family for one another and are always looking for
new members. If you would like to come and be a
part of the family, the club meets every Tuesday at
8:30 PM in the TRLC.
The Existence of God
A.J. DelGesso and Ashley Golden
For the Argo
Recently Stockton’s Christian Apologetics club Ratio Christi set out for
Rutgers University to hear leading Christian Apologist and a top debater of atheists, Dr. William Lane Craig. Dr. Craig has a PhD in theology and philosophy and
on February 3rd, he delivered arguments for the existence of God and the beginning of the universe.
The admission line for Dr. Craig’s discussion began forming at 1pm
which was hours before the event’s start time. The line was wrapped around the
halls of Rutgers and began to take different twists and turns so that others could
avoid standing outside. Even when there were no more seats available, more and
more people poured into the Student Center. Everyone waited anxiously to hear
Dr. Craig defend his premises in elaborate detail, one coherent argument at a
time.
Dr. Craig began his discussion with premise one: All things that begin
to exist have a cause. Premise two: The universe began to exist. Conclusion:
The universe must have a cause. The highlights of the first premise can be stated
with the simple fact that something can’t simply come from nothing. The Law
of Causality proves this, and without it, one would have no basis for science. The
highlights of the second premise can be summed up with the understanding that
while there may be many potential infinites, (1/2, ¼, 1/8, 1/16...) it is actually
impossible to have actual infinites. The golden example is Hilbert’s hotel, where
there is no vacancy, but guests are welcome. Hilbert’s Hotel is a famous mathematical analogy that shows that actual infinites are impossible.
Scientifically, the Big Bang theory speaks for itself, while incorporating
a multiverse theory only begs the question as to how those universes began to
exist. The conclusion must follow then: The universe truly must have had a cause
outside itself that is necessary (uncaused), timeless, immaterial, powerful, and
personal. Surely, given these facts, the Creator of the universe can only be identified as the Great I AM: God.
As we sat there in sheer amazement, our hearts grew in gladness and joy
to hear the defenses come from one of such high respect. Yet as the question and
answer forum began, a strange transformation took place. Suddenly, this million
dollar apologist seemed to turn into a friend of the audience, especially when the
question arose of how one can know God, if He truly is personal.
We at Ratio Christi find it necessary to be able to answer the tough questions about the Lord when they arise, it is the core of our belief. These may be
questions about His goodness, power, grace, mercy, or justice. They may be topics on the facts of archaeology, the fine tuning of the universe, the study of the
history of the church, talks on the goodness that has come of the spread of Christianity, and other similar topics.
The Kalam Cosmological Argument and discussion of our universe’s
finite existence are just a few of the Christian Apologetic defenses that were
presented that night at Rutgers University. If these ideas and defenses for the
existence of God, the creation of the universe, and how we humans came to be
interest you, then come out Thursday nights at 7 pm in F204 to Stockton’s Christian Apologetics club, Ratio Christi, which is Latin for ‘Reason for Christ.’ This
student-led club uses history, science, philosophy, and most importantly, truth to
give defense for the hope that is found in Jesus Christ.
February 23, 2015
Stockton News
Page 7
Sign of the Week
Allison Smith
Argo Staff Writer
Brought to Stockton students by the Stockton American Sign Language Club is
the weekly “Sign of the Week” column, featuring helpful signs for general knowledge!
While some students are unaware, there is a large deaf population in South Jersey, and
knowing some signs is a great way to break communication barriers and celebrate diversity!
Since last Monday night, everyone was wearing their pajamas inside out with a
spoon under their pillow, hoping for a snow day on Tuesday. Our wishes were granted,
therefore, a great sign to learn this week would be “snow.”
To sign “snow” all you have to do is open both your hands in front of you, at the height
of your head. Then float your hands down while wiggling your fingers. It will look like
the tips of your fingers are snowflakes falling to the ground!
Remember signs vary across countrie and vary even regionally, but these signs
will prove to be helpful.
If you want to learn more American Sign Language, you can come to our meetings every Monday night at 8PM. We meet in the conference room in the Upper Campus
Center, above Dunkin’ Donuts. For more information on the club, “like” us on Facebook
at www.facebook.com/StocktonASLClub
Recipe of the Week
Allison Smith
Argo Staff Writer
Brought to Stockton students by the Cooking Club is the weekly “Recipe of the
Week” column, featuring helpful recipes that you can make in your apartment or your
dorm. We will be showing you some easy and delicious dishes that you can make with
only using a microwave!
For our first recipe, let’s start with something sweet. You could make this for a
loved one, a friend, or even for yourself! This recipe is also great for a bake sales.This
recipe is for delicious gooey fudge!
Ingredients:1 lb powdered sugar, 2/3 cup of cocoa, 1/4 teaspoon of salt, 1/4 cup
of milk, 2 teaspoon vanilla, 1/2 cup of butter or margarine, 1/2 cup of chopped nuts (optional).
Directions: Sift powdered sugar, cocoa, and salt into a 1 quart microwave safe
bowl. Then stir in the milk and vanilla. Mix all of that together very well. Place the butter
on top. Microwave on high for only 2 minutes! Beat with a wooden spoon until smooth. If
you decided to put in nuts, stir them in now. Spread the mix in an 8X8X2 inch pan. Chill
for an hour or until firm. Now it is ready to eat and enjoy!
If you want to learn more cooking or baking, come to our meetings where we bake
and cook food! For more information about meetings, or our recipes, or if you would like
to submit your own recipe “like” us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/StocktonCookingClub
**Have a Question? Ask the Argo!**
Students can ask a multitude of questions concerning Stockton, outside issues/news,
fact or fiction, etc! This is our way or trying to give back to all of our dedicated readers. We want
to know what YOU want us to write about.
Email questions to [email protected] We look for ward to reading and answering all
of your interesting inquires! Always remember, there is never a question too dumb or too silly!
Thought of the Moment:
“What should young people do with their lives today?
Many things, obviously. But the most daring thing is to
create stable communities in which the terrible disease of
loneliness can be cured.”
- Kurt Vonnegut
Page 8
Stockton News
February 23, 2015
An Interview with the Title IX Coordinator
Samantha Andujar
Argo Staff Writer
Many students got the email concerning Title IX. We knew it was important, but what exactly was it for? Many students didn’t know quite what to think
or even why the email was sent. Valerie Hayes, Chief Officer for Institutional
Diversity and Equity and Title IX Coordinator for Stockton College, shed some
light on the issue and why it is so important to the Stockton community as a
whole.
What is Title IX?
Title IX prohibits persons at Stockton from engaging in sex discrimination, including sexual violence and other forms of sexual harassment. Title IX
covers sex discrimination, gender-based harassment, sexual violence and other
forms of sexual harassment regardless of whether you are male, female, straight,
gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered. It doesnt matter if you are part-time or
full-time, with or without disabilities, and of different races and ethnicities. Title
IX also covers pregnancy and parenting issues that might arise for individuals,
as well as retaliation against those who allege or make reports of sex discrimination and sexual misconduct. Title IX coverage extends to all Stockton facilities
and programs including current locations in Galloway, Atlantic City, Woodbine,
Manahawkin, and Hammonton.
Why is it so important here at our Stockton campus?
The legislation prohibits recipients of federal financial assistance from
discriminating against individuals on the basis of sex/gender. The legislation also
covers gender equity in intercollegiate athletics and much more. Many colleges
and universities across the country, including Stockton, are recipients of federal
financial assistance and therefore has Title IX obligations.
What are you planning to do with this on campus?
As the Title IX Coordinator, I must coordinate Stockton’s compliance
with Title IX. I arrived at Stockton on December 1, 2014. Since that time, I’ve
initiated several important activities related specifically to Title IX’s prohibition
against sex discrimination and sexual misconduct (see attached summary of Title
IX activities. We are currently reviewing all Stockton Title IX protocols and Title
IX-Related Education and Awareness Programs and developing a Stockton University Resource Guide on Title IX: Sex Discrimination and Sexual Misconduct.
This resource guide will bring together Stockton’s policies, practices, procedures,
and programs related to Title IX. We are also pending completion on the Stockton
Title IX website and developing a Title IX Campus Climate Survey to review and
develop a survey to help Stockton in our efforts to reduce and prevent sexual assault and other forms of sexual misconduct.
Why is there a need for a Title IX coordination?
The Title IX coordination responsibility lies within the overall compliance responsibilities of the Office for Institutional Diversity and Equity. My predecessor who retired from the Chief Officer role also had responsibility for Title
IX coordination. Title IX coordination guidance comes from various sources
such as the Title IX legislation, the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil
Rights and most recently from The White House Task Force Report Not Alone.
Title IX Non-Discrimination Notice to All Students and Employees
For the Argo
All employees and students of Stockton, as well as third parties who interact with any Stockton student or employee at any Stockton facility, must adhere to
Stockton policies and procedures: Policy Prohibiting Discrimination in the Workplace and Student Policy Prohibiting Discrimination in the Academic/Educational
Environment.
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C. §§ 1681 et seq., and its implementing regulation, 34 C.F.R. Part 106 (“Title IX”) prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs or activities operated by recipients of Federal financial assistance. Title IX states that no person in the United
States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, or denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any educational program or
activity receiving federal assistance.
Title IX prohibits persons at Stockton from engaging in sex discrimination, including sexual violence and other forms of sexual harassment. Title IX covers
sex discrimination, gender-based harassment, and sexual violence and other forms of sexual harassment regardless of whether you are male, female, straight, gay,
lesbian, bisexual or transgendered, part-time and full-time, with and without disabilities, and of different races and ethnicities, regardless of national origin, immigration status, or citizenship status. Title IX also covers pregnancy and parenting issues that might arise for individuals, as well as retaliation against those who allege
or make reports of sex discrimination and sexual misconduct.
Title IX coverage extends to all Stockton facilities and programs including current locations in Galloway, Atlantic City, Woodbine, Manahawkin, and
Hammonton.
TITLE IX COORDINATOR
The name and contact information of Stockton’s Title IX Coordinator is:
Valerie O. Hayes, JD, MSW
Chief Officer for Institutional Diversity and Equity
Title IX Coordinator
Office for Institutional Diversity and Equity
L-214
609-652-4695
[email protected]
The Chief Officer/Title IX Coordinator’s responsibilities include, but may not limited to, overseeing all Title IX reports and complaints, including complaints
involving gender equity in athletics and all educational programs and activities sponsored by the college, identifying and addressing any patterns or systemic problems that arise during the review of such Title IX reports and complaints, reviewing the quality, content and documentation of all Title IX training and education
programs, and documenting the distribution and delivery of all prevention and awareness campaigns (literature, brochures, etc.), reviewing all policies and procedures pertaining to sex discrimination and sexual misconduct to ensure consistency and compliance, and receiving inquiries concerning Title IX and its implementing
regulation.
Contact the Chief Officer/Title IX Coordinator if you:
• Wish to understand your options if you think you might have experienced sex discrimination or sexual misconduct;
• Need guidance, assistance or resource information on how to handle a situation in which you believe you were indirectly affected;
• Have inquiries about Title IX and Stockton’s response to sex discrimination and sexual misconduct; or
• Want to provide feedback on how Stockton is fulfilling its Title IX responsibilities.
DEFINITIONS
Sex discrimination is conduct that denies or limits an individual’s ability to benefit from or fully participate in educational programs or activities or employment opportunities because of an individual’s sex, gender, affectional or sexual orientation. (Source: Student Policy Prohibiting Discrimination in the Academic/
Educational Environment (I-120) and Policy Prohibiting Discrimination in the Workplace (VI-28))
Sexual misconduct is a term used to capture sexual harassment, gender-based harassment and sexual violence. Sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome
sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when, for example:
• Submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual’s employment or academic standing;
• Submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for employment and/or academic decisions affecting such individual; or
• Such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s academic/work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive
academic/work environment.
(Source: Student Policy Prohibiting Discrimination in the Academic/Educational Environment (I-120) and Policy Prohibiting Discrimination in the Workplace (VI28))
Gender-based harassment means non-sexual harassment of a person because of the person’s sex and/or gender, including, but not limited to, harassment
based on the person’s nonconformity with gender stereotypes. Gender-based harassment is considered to be sexual misconduct. (Source: Agreement between the
University of Montana and the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights)
Sexual violence refers to physical sexual acts perpetrated against a person’s will or where a person is incapable of giving consent due to the victim’s use of drugs or
February 23, 2015
Stockton News
Page 9
Title IX Non-Discrimination Notice Continued
alcohol. A number of different acts fall into the category of sexual violence, including rape, sexual assault, sexual battery and sexual coercion. All forms of sexual
violence are considered to be sexual misconduct. (Source: 2014 Annual Security and Fire Safety Report)
Third party harassment is unwelcome behavior involving any of the protected categories listed in Stockton’s Policy Prohibiting Discrimination in the Workplace and
Student Policy Prohibiting Discrimination in the Academic/Educational Environment that is not directed at an individual but exists in the workplace and interferes
with an individual’s ability to do his or her job (Policy Prohibiting Discrimination in the Workplace (VI-28)) or that is not directed at an individual by others at the
College, including faculty, staff, students, vendors, and contractors, but is a part of that individual’s academic environment (Student Policy Prohibiting Discrimination in the Academic/Educational Environment (I-120)). For example, sexually harassing conduct by third parties, who are not themselves Stockton employees or
students (e.g. visiting speaker, alumnus/ae, summer camp guests, vendors, and auxiliary), also may be of a sufficiently serious nature to deny or limit a student’s
ability to participate in or benefit from the education program, or unreasonably interfere with an employee’s ability to work.
REPORTING
Under the Clery Act and under Title IX, the decision to report a sexual assault or other forms of sexual violence to campus police or to file a complaint with
the Campus Hearing Board is entirely the victim’s choice. Individuals impacted by sexual violence and other forms of sexual misconduct are encouraged to discuss
and report any criminal actions with the Campus Police Department, Building 71, 609-652-4390; however, a victim of sexual assault or other forms of sexual violence
has the right to choose not to report the act of sexual violence to law enforcement. Reporting to police or filing a complaint is not necessary for a victim to receive
counseling or other supportive services.
Complaints of sex discrimination may be reported to the Office for Institutional Diversity and Equity, L-214, 609-652-4695.
For Clery Act reporting purposes, if a victim discloses an incident of sexual assault or other forms of sexual violence to a staff or faculty member, a report must be
made to the Campus Police Departmentin order to comply with campus safety laws; however, the victim’s anonymity is of highest priority and his or her name will
not be disclosed or in any way be connected to the report.
With the exception of Counseling Services in the Wellness Center, licensed physicians and nurses in the Wellness Center, and Osprey Advocates who are certified victim advocates (see confidential safe places listed in this Notice), Stockton considers all employees to be responsible employees who must report incidences
of sexual misconduct to the Chief Officer/Title IX Coordinator for Title IX reporting purposes. Under Title IX, responsible employees include any employee who has
the authority to take action to redress harassment, who has the duty to report sexual harassment or any other misconduct, or an individual who one could reasonably
believe has this authority or duty, such as resident assistants who are responsible employees in this context.
COMPLAINTS and HEARINGS
The Chief Officer/Title IX Coordinator oversees all Title IX reports and complaints.
The Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities (F-107, 609-626-3585) oversees the Campus Code of Conduct (Policy I-55, see also pages 70-71 in the 2014-2015
Student Handbook). All incidences involving students, whether as complainants or respondents, are processed through the Campus Hearing Board.
Employee-to-employee complaints of harassment and other forms of prohibited discrimination are handled by the Office for Institutional Diversity and Equity (L214, 609-652-4695). To the extent possible, individuals designated to handle complaints, conduct investigations or participate on campus hearing boards will maintain the confidentiality of complaints, investigations and hearings.
RETALIATION PROHIBITED
Retaliation is prohibited against any employee or student who alleges sex discrimination and sexual misconduct, provides information in the course of an
investigation into claims of sex discrimination and sexual misconduct, or opposes a discriminatory practice. No employee or student bringing a complaint, providing
information for an investigation, or testifying in any proceeding shall be subjected to adverse employment or academic consequences based upon such involvement
or be the subject of other retaliation.
AVAILABLE CONFIDENTIAL AND OTHER RESOURCES
On-Campus Confidential* Safe Places
Counseling Services in the Wellness Center – J-204 | 609.652.4722
Health Services in the Wellness Center (Licensed Physicians and Nurses only) – WQ 108 |609.652.4701
Osprey Advocates (certified victim advocates) – contact the Women’s Center 24 Hour Crisis Hotline 609.646.6767
*Confidential means those safe places where a person impacted by sexual violence or other forms of sexual misconduct may share the incident with a licensed counselor, licensed physician, nurse, or certified victim advocate without having the person’s name reported to anyone else. For Clery Act reporting purposes, the Campus
Police Department is informed of the incident but without revealing the person’s name.
Additional On-Campus Safe Places
Campus Police Department, Bldg. 71 | 9-1-1 (from an on-campus phone) or 609.652.4390
Chief Officer/Title IX Coordinator, Institutional Diversity & Equity, L214 | 609.652.4693
Dean of Students Office, Campus Center Suite 243 | 609.652.4645
Office of Residential Life, Apartments, 82-4 | 609.652.4697
Office of Residential Life, Residence Halls, A-100 | 609.652.4332
Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities, F-107 | 609.626.3585
The Wellness Center Healthy Relationships Services also publishes on its website the New Jersey
Campus Sexual Assault Victim’s Bill of Rights (NJSA 18A:61 E-1 et. seq.). The following resource publications on healthy relationships, domestic violence,
dating abuse, and sexual assault are availableon the Wellness Center website.
• Signs of Healthy/Unhealthy Relationships
• Types of Abuse
• Signs that Someone May Become Abusive
• What you Can Do if You Think Your Partner Might Become Abusive
• You May Be An Abuser If:
• Dynamics of Abusive Relationships
• What To Do If You Have Been Abused
• Confidentiality
• Common Reactions to Sexual Assault
• Signs That You Have Been Drugged and/or Assaulted
• Sexual Assault Brochure
• Administrator’s Guide to Sexual Assault
• Sexual Harassment Brochure
• On- and Off-Campus Resources
Local Resources**
AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, City Division (Atlantic City) | 609.344.4081
AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, Mainland Division (Galloway) | 609.652.1000
Atlantic County Women’s Center/SART Team | 800.286.4184
Catholic Campus Ministry Center | 609.804.0200
Rape Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) | 800.656.HOPE (4673)
Women’s Center | 24 Hour Crisis Hotline 609.646.6767
**Local resources may have their own confidentiality standards.
Additionally, inquiries concerning Title IX and its implementing regulation can be made to the Office for Civil Rights/New York, U.S. Department of Education, 32
Old Slip, 26th Floor, New York NY 10005-2500 | Telephone: 646-428-3800 | Facsimile: 646-428-3843| Email: [email protected]
February 23, 2015
Stockton News
Page 11
A Classic Once Lost in Translation Makes Its Debut at Stockton
Theresa McMackin
Argo Staff Writer
The Experimental Theatre of the Stockton PAC is nearly full, the black
painted walls off-set only by the Greek written on it’s surface. In the center of
the stage, an area framed by four corners of two tiered seating, there are chairs, a
bench, and two towering platforms, one decorated with colored string and another bare. Looking around there were questions in people’s expressions; they think
to themselves about the set, about the play, about the Greek words written on the
walls. As you begin to take everything in the lights dim and, after a minute of
silence following restless theatergoers gaining a comfortable angle on their seat,
you hear a simple song. An accordion can be heard, growing louder and louder as
it’s player enters the theatre, behind him the cast in a slow mournful procession,
quietly resolved before taking their places on stage as the lights rise in Athens,
1956.
And this is how The Courtyard of Miracles made it’s American debut;
written by the renowned Greek playwright Iakovos Kambanellis The Courtyard
of Miracles was first performed in Greece in the year 1957 and has since become
known as a modern Greek theatre classic. It tells the tragic story of a eleven people living amongst one another in the changing landscape of Athens in the 1950s.
With most of their time spent in the shared community courtyard the players soon
find themselves wrapped into each others lives; it is only when a stranger arrives
and wins the affection of Olga from her husband Stelios that both the audience
and the characters see marriages begin to fall apart, love be unrequited, hopes
be destroyed and life-long bonds being tested and soon, everything around them
begins to crumble as their home and community gets swallowed up in the Athen’s
rapid re-urbanization. Though it is nearly sixty years old, this classic still captures
people’s attentions with it’s constant themes: love, struggle, the cost of vice, and
the inescapable wave of change.
But, even though it has been popular and well received since it’s debut
and has been revived many times throughout Greece, it has never been produced
or performed in the United States. This changed, however, over the summer
when select members of Stockton’s Faculty and Student body traveled to Rhodes,
Greece to review the translation of Courtyard done by the scholar Demetres P.
Typhonopoulos. Following this workshop the translated work found it’s way to
Stockton where The Stockton Theatre Program and the Arts and Humanities Department worked tirelessly to bring this modern classic to life for an American
audience. The American premiere came on Wednesday February 18th, directed
by Martha Frinzila, a visiting director from Athens; the cast, made up of Stockton
students and faculty, brought the classic’s characters to life for an audience consisting of Stockton students, faculty, and others from the community. The play
was performed in the way it had been performed when it first premiered: with a
moveable set, surrounded by the audience. This method of staging, quite successfully, placed members of the audience in the midst of the action and, rather than
be spectators, they became part of courtyard’s residents and were immersed in the
plot and actions of the actors.
Above all, The Courtyard of Miracles has been done justice with it’s
American premiere. The translation from the original Greek text left nothing to
be chanced or questioned but, beyond this, the actors and the director have succeeded tremendously in bringing this classic to stage. While all theatre productions take time and effort to produce and stage, one feels that the preparations
for Courtyard were looked upon with the upmost care and respect; by seeing
the lengths these actors went to to portray their characters is matched by what I
have seen personally in Broadway productions. The subtle humor was delivered
effortlessly, loaded words and actions were delivered with precision. From the
unrestrained anger of Babis, played by Paul Brodo, the convulsions of rage and
fear exhibited by Olga, played by Julie Eller, to the constant drive but demoralizing fall of Stelios, played by Ryan Gorman, one could feel like they were within
this courtyard in 1950s Athens, standing back in the shadows and watching the
players’ lives run their courses, and not be one of the audience watching a performance staged by actors. The Courtyard of Miracles was an amazing, spectacular success of both inter-lingual collaboration and performance art and my only
negative statement is that this production only lasted five short, but glorious, days
when it should remain long enough for me to see it another hundred times. Stockton’s Performing Art’s Department, the Arts and Humanities Department, and
the cast, crew, and production team behind The Courtyard of Miracles have done
an amazing service bringing this story to America and I hope that it’s incredible
first step on American soil will only be one of it’s many as this play, and the story
behind it’s first production, travel to audiences around the country.
SET’s Battle of the Bands
Paige Conticchio
Argo Staff Writer
Well fellow stocktonites, we had a very busy week last week. Three big
events occurred, the Up To Us campaign, Stockton officially changing its name
from college to university, and, there’s one more, what is it? OH YEAH! SET’s
Battle of the Bands! This event is a wonderful chance for local student bands
to show off their musical talents to their fellow students and get a chance at an
amazing prize! One that could set their career paths further on the way to greatness!
This year, the battle was held on Wednesday, February 18th, 2015 in the
Campus Center Event Room. Every spring, for the past five years now, SET
(Stockton Entertainment Team) has given us amazing spring concerts where a
well-known band is hired to play for our school. This concert is called Woodstockton! During the end of the fall semester, a survey is given out to students
with a list of 16 possible bands that we might want to perform. You are then
asked to rank these bands from most wanted to least wanted. The votes are then
tallied and the top band is selected.
Now, the Battle of the Bands is, as was said earlier, a chance for local
bands to show off their skills. The prize at the end is an opportunity to be the
opening act for the band that is selected to play at the spring concert. That is a
really big deal! There is also a second place prize to be the alternate band that
plays in case the first one can’t for whatever reason. Also a really big deal!
The bands that performed at this year’s Battle were: My Life On Film,
Random Axis Memorex, Rabbit Dream, Beauty In Voodoo, and Laura’s Earring.
These bands were all absolutely fantastic with their own music and skills. But of
course there can only be one winner (or in this case a winner and a sub-winner).
So, our second place winner went to, Random Axis Memorex! Our first place
winner went to, (drum-roll please)…. My Life On Film! Congradulations to both
of your bands!
Now of course, at the end of this reveal, we had to have our really big
reveal. Who is playing at this year’s Woodstockton!? Here were the following options that we had and that you got to pick from: Icona Pop, Tinashe, The
All-American Rejects, Young The Giant, Jeremih, Jesse McCartney, American
Authors, Eli Young Band, Panic At The Disco, Twenty One Pilots, Tyga, Ingrid
Michaelson, Charlie XCX, Mike Posner, Easton Corbin, and Karmin. Ready for
the big reveal now!? (again, drumroll please)……. PANIC AT THE DISCO!!!!
The concert will be held April 17th at 8:00 pm in the Stockton Sports Center.
Student tickets are only 10 dollars, faculty is 15 dollars, and general admission is
20 dollars. Get your tickets before they get sold out! Again, congradulations to
our Battle of the Bands winners! You were all great!
Page 12
Current News
February 23, 2015
The Measles Outbreak: On the Anti-Vaccine Hysteria
William Gresham
For the Argo
Roald Dahl was all too familiar with measles; in 1962, his seven-yearold daughter Olivia died of complications from the disease. It would not be until
1986 that the author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory would come to terms
with her death enough to write an open letter to the British public urging them
to immunize their children from measles. Fast-forward to 2012, when Australian
author Stephanie Messenger wrote and published Melanie’s Marvellous Measles
— the title echoing that of another Dahl book, George’s Marvellous Medicine —
this time claiming that allowing a child to contract measles would be a better way
to immunize the body from the disease once it passed. One reviewer on Amazon.
com wrote of the latter, “My infant daughter went blind after contracting measles
from an unvaccinated child, and yet there’s no Braille version of this wonderful
book . . . to explain to her how awesome the disease that took her sight away is.”
The sentence is not just skilful punning — echoed by another user’s anticipation of the books ‘Larry’s Lovely Lymphoma’ or even ‘Wendy’s Wonderful War
Wound’ — but also a scathing indictment of how terrified the public is of vaccines.
The year 2014 saw two large outbreaks of measles: one in March in British Columbia, and another in December originating in Disneyland in California.
In British Columbia, 228 people in areas east of Vancouver were affected, starting
with communities where immunisation rates were low due to religious exemptions. This echoes an outbreak of smallpox in Montréal in 1885, during which
religious leaders convinced their flock that disease was the will of God and vaccination defeated the purpose of divine punishment. Since it began in December
2014, the outbreak at Disneyland has now been linked to at least 67 cases, according to the Centres for Disease Control (CDC), and the blame has fallen squarely
on high-profile opponents of vaccination, which in recent years has stemmed
from a fear that the preservatives used to stabilise viruses or antibodies could
cause mental retardation, up to and including autism. The idea of smallpox being
divine retribution has effectively been moot since it was officially eradicated in
1980; more recently, the autism-vaccine link has been consistently disproved but
still remains a threat in the minds of otherwise well-intending parents.
But how did the idea that vaccines cause autism come to form? In
1998, the Lancet published a report from the Royal Free College of London that
claimed to link autism and gastrointestinal problems to administration of the
measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. The leader of the study, Andrew Wakefield, came under scrutiny after he published papers in other journals with limited
evidence and organized press conferences to call for the diminution of vaccinations in the U.K. It was later revealed that he had been in the employ of lawyers
representing the parents of children who had been given the MMR vaccine but
then showed signs of autism, and that these children were drawn for the study,
which was then manipulated to give Wakefield the results he wanted. Paper after
paper investigated Wakefield’s claims but were unable to replicate the results in
the Royal Free College’s paper. Finally, in 2010 Wakefield was convicted by the
U.K.’s medical practice standards board of falsifying information and stripped of
his licence to practise medicine, and the Lancet retracted his paper.
Despite the scientific community’s firm position that vaccines did not
cause autism — although developmental problems could occur if a child could
not metabolise mercury or other preservatives normally — the media’s reporting on the findings threw the public on both sides of the Atlantic into a frenzy.
Newspapers in the UK speculated whether then Prime Minister Tony Blair had
given his son the vaccine. In the U.S., conservatives decried big government’s
insistence on a rigorous vaccination schedule. Autism, which had hitherto been a
disorder, or spectrum of disorders, that had not been well understood or studied,
was thrust into the spotlight as a condition as terrifying as it was enigmatic a view
only to be stimulated by increased diagnoses and inclusion of more conditions
into the autistic spectrum. Before the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) narrowed down the range of autistic
disorders in 2014, the rate of autism diagnosis stood at more than 1 in 90.
It is the resulting reticence of some parents about vaccinating their children — in their minds justified by what former Playboy model Jenny McCarthy
(the mother of an autistic son) and otherwise unqualified practitioners such as
Robert Sears say — that most likely led to the Disneyland measles outbreak being as serious as it is.
From 2001 to 2013, an average of 88.7 cases were reported in the U.S.
In 2014, a whopping 644 cases were recorded. The disease itself is highly contagious to unvaccinated individuals, and the symptoms can last for up to two
weeks. Complications from measles — such as encephalitis and corneal scarring
— can lead to vision and hearing loss or brain injury; such complications can
come with mortality rates of as much as 15 percent. Those who actually can’t be
vaccinated due to an intolerance of vaccine preservatives or a weakened immune
system must depend on ‘herd immunity’, in which they surround themselves with
people who are immunised; this can become harder in areas where vaccination
rates are low.
Yet another point must be made on people’s reluctance to vaccinate, tangential to the increase in measles cases. As autism continues to be cited as a reason
against vaccination, it reveals society’s apprehension at confronting autism and
other neurologic disorders. At its worst, it marginalises the people — such as I
who was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome — who have been diagnosed with
autism or other neurologic disorders yet are capable of leading otherwise normal
and productive lives. Although research has almost unanimously concluded that
autism is a genetic disorder, it seems more convenient to blame something more
tangible and easy to avoid than genetics.
At the end of the day, the overprotective intentions behind the decision
not to vaccinate has ramifications for not only the susceptible individual, but also
everyone around them. We need to let statistics and reproducible, credible science rule the day when it comes to our health, not hysteria or misplaced priorities.
It has always been said that the road to ruin is paved with good intentions, and
this axiom cannot be truer in the case of our children’s health.
40 Years of SNL
Caroline Fanning
Argo Staff Writer
It’s officially been over 40 years since the first episode of the popular late
night comedy sketch show Saturday Night Live hit the small screen, with its 40th
anniversary special airing on February 15, 2015. The three and a half hour show
paid homage to the makers of its four decades of success, reminiscing on popular
sketches, performers, writers, hosts, creators, and musical guests. Numerous actors, actresses, and filmmakers from all genres attended the show as hailed past
hosts, and avid spectators. The reunion special was
preceded by a red carpet show which saw the likes
of several celebrities and SNL favorites, including
Tina Fey, Kristen Wiig, Paul Feig, Jim Carrey, the
Manning brothers, Adam Sandler, Whoopi Goldberg,
Will Ferrell, Derek Jeter, Sarah Palin, and much to
the excitement of current cast members Aidy Bryant
and Kate McKinnon, the Backstreet Boys. On the
red carpet, walkers were stopped for interviews by
popular talk show hosts Carson Daly and Al Roker,
amongst other significant media personalities.
The show opened with a medley of famous
SNL sketches and songs, performed by the show’s
long running golden boys, Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake, and then opened
the floor for frequent and popular hosts, including Steve Martin, Tom Hanks, and
Alec Baldwin, to amusingly bicker about who deserved to host the anniversary
show. They were quickly joined by other past hosts who believed they deserved
a crack at the job as well, such as Peyton Manning, Paul McCartney, and Billy
Crystal.
The SNL cast quickly delved into one of more recent and highly popular
running sketches, The Californians. The sketch, which mocks the lifestyle and
speech seen on California soap operas, featured its customary characters played
by Kristen Wiig, Fred Armisen, Bill Hader, Vanessa Bayer, and Kenan Thompson,
with surprise performances by Kerry Washington and Taylor Swift. But more uproarious than any other aspect of the sketch was the steamy kiss shared by Bradley Cooper and Betty White, which threw the audience into hysterics. The cast
also brought back the equally popular Celebrity Jeopardy, hosted by Alex Trebek\
Will Ferrell. The sketch documented Trebek/Ferrell’s frustration with players
who were constantly trying to undermine him, composed of Sean Connery/Darrel Hammond, Burt Reynolds/Norm MacDonald, Justin Bieber/Kate McKinnon,
Tony Bennet/Alec Baldwin, Matthew McConaughey/
Jim Carrey, Christoph Waltz/Taran Killam, and Bill
Cosby/Kenan Thompson.
After much anticipation, SNL finally presented its
40th anniversary edition of The Weekend Update,
hosted by highly admired past anchors Jane Curtin,
Amy Poehler, and Tina Fey. The desk was visited
by its most celebrated Update guests, all portrayed by
celebrities. First, Emma Stone impersonated her alltime favorite guest, Gilda Radner’s Rosanne Rosannadanna, Melissa McCarthy portrayed Chris Farley’s
unsuccessful motivational speaker Matt Foley, and
Edward Norton took on Bill Hader’s legendary Stefon, until he was joined at the desk by Hader himself.
The end of the show dealt more with tributes to previous cast members
and creators, such as Eddie Murphy and Bill Murray. Also released was rare
footage of audition tapes of cast members who made it onto the show, such as
Seth Meyers, Amy Poehler, and Leslie Jones. As well as, now famous performers who did not, including Kevin Hart, Stephen Colbert, and Zach Galifianakis.
Finally, SNL honored deceased staff, ranging from wardrobe personnel to main
cast members. Overall, the show was well received and praised by critics of all
walks. Here’s to 40 more.
February 23, 2015
Current News
Page 13
*Opinions and editorials do not reflect the opinions of The Argo Corporation or Stockton University. The views expressed by writers are
solely their own. We encourage you to submit rebuttals or other op/ed pieces for publication to [email protected].
Tahira Ayub
For the Argo
Blue to red and back, the flashing
lights shift rapidly across the scene as sirens
blare from speakers; struggling to be heard
over the cries of pain and anguish from family and friends. Gathered behind the yellow
tape, they cling together, acknowledging loss
of life, hope and opportunities of someone
so dear. Their pain however, is nothing compared to the parents. Nothing can replace their
child and nothing will ever explain the cruelty
of someone capable of shooting an innocent
person with their whole life ahead of them.
How could anyone shoot someone based on
how they look? It seems like this scenario has
become a norm in last few years. From Trayvon Martin to Michael Brown to Deah Barakat, and Yusor and Razan Abu-Salha, people
are dying for their rights to be acknowledged
as humans.
Lately, it seems like there has been a lot of
attention from the media. I don’t mean the riveted
faces turned to the television or computer screen to
be spoon-fed the latest news that has been the norm
for decades, but the confused and bleary-eyed awakening of an entire country as people everywhere
begin to think: Why isn’t this event getting enough
attention? People around the country are beginning
to understand that there is a severe lack of coverage
in the media when it comes to minority issues and
tragedies. We are a generation witnessing galvanizing and historical events that could speak on behalf
#AllLivesMatter
of a minority group for generations to come, and yet,
the media isn’t interested.
Deah Shaddy Barakat (23), Yusor Mohammad Abu-Salha
(21) and Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha (19)
On February 10, 2015, three innocent people
were murdered in their homes by their neighbor in
Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Deah Barakat (23), his
newlywed bride Yusor Abu-Salha (21) and her little
sister Razan (19), were each shot in the head, execution style. Deah was found in the front doorway and
the sisters were found in the kitchen. Deah was a
second year dental student at the University of North
Carolina School Of Dentistry and Yusor was just ac-
cepted to join him at UNC Dental in the Fall. Razan was a sophomore at UNC College of Design and
was immensely talented. All three had dreams,
ambitions, goals, and worked hard to achieve
them. They were active volunteers, providing
service to their local community and communities abroad, including Syrian refugees in Turkey.
The neighbor, Craig Stephen Hicks, knew
what he was doing. It couldn’t have been accident to shoot three times and directly in the
heads of the victims.
Among the thousands of questions that have
arisen from this tragedy, one seems to stick out.
If Hicks murdered these three promising young
Americans, why is he not being called a terrorist? The information of this homegrown terrorist attack was severely delayed by the media,
and when it actually was covered, it was written
off as a fact not a tragedy. Why? When Michael
Brown was murdered, the media turned its head.
When Trayvon Martin was murdered, the media was
preoccupied. It is because this is a story in which the
“usual perpetrator” was now the victim? Why is it
that minorities only receive full coverage by name,
origin, and religion when they are an extremist across
the world standing behind a gun, and not when they
are lying on the ground in front of it in a pool of their
own blood? This double standard of the media speaks
of a hypocrisy of the highest kind. Why is one life
held higher than another? Why is anyone susceptible
to the term “terrorist” except for a white man?
J’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’
Wednesday, February 25th
Tunes at Noon featuring
Reed Kendall
Great music while you eat!
12pm, Coffeehouse
Monday, February 23th
Funday Monday “Picture This”
Make your own frames!
8pm, Coffeehouse
Tuesday, February 24th
Sweet Toothdays Sour!
Free candy!
2pm, Grand Hall
Thursday, February 26th
Movie Night featuring
Hunger Games 3
Free Movie Night, Snacks, & Prizes!
9pm, Theatre
Saturday, February 28th
Movie Night featuring
Hunger Games 3
Free Movie Night, Snacks,
and Prizes!
9pm, Theatre
Page 14
Stockton Sports
February 23, 2015
Ospreys of the Week
MEN’S BASKETBALL: Josh Blamon (Cinnaminson/Cinnaminson) averaged 27 points per game last week as the Ospreys spilt two contests.
Blamon also grabbed 10 rebounds in each game and went 19-21 (90.5%) from the free throw line for the week.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Alex Nardoza (Fords/Woodbridge) led the team in scoring, averaging 15.5 ppg last week as Stockton extended its
winning streak to eight with two victories. Nardoza went 7-9 (77.8%) from the floor against New Jersey City and also tied her season high with eight
rebounds in the victory over Kean.
MEN’S TRACK & FIELD: Jared Lewis (Westville/Deptford) won for the second time this season in the triple jump at the Molloy Lion Invitational
and put himself into the top five in the country with his jump of 14.56 meters. Lewis also ran a leg for Stockton in the 4 x 200 meter relay at the meet
and was named NJAC Rookie of the Week for the second time this season.
WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD: Cassandra Hrusko (Manchester/Manchester Twp.) won two events at the Molloy Lion Invitational on Friday.
Hrusko finished first in the 800-meter run (2:28.58) and helped the Ospreys to a first place finish in the 4x 800 relay (10:13.80). The win in the 800m
was her second of the indoor season in the event.
Women’s Basketball Team Hits 20-Win Mark
For the Argo
Richard Stockton (20-4, 16-1
NJAC) hit the 20-win mark for the
first time since the 2005-06 campaign
with two more wins last week. The
Ospreys downed New Jersey City
85-47 before picking up their eighth
consecutive win with a 64-52 decision over Kean.
In the opening win, Stockton
posted their highest scoring output of the season against the Gothic
Knights. The Ospreys held NJCU to
just 27.1% (19-70) shooting on the
night while hitting 31-63 (49.2%)
from the field. Five Ospreys hit double figures in scoring led by Lauren
Alwan (Winslow/Timber Creek) and
Alex Nardoza (Fords/Woodbridge)
with 16 points apiece, with Alwan
grabbing 11 rebounds and pilfering
five of the team’s 10 steals.
Sara Farrell (Marlton/Cherokee)
and Sasha Williams (Cherry Hill/
Cherry Hill West) tallied 13 markers
each, with Williams pulling down a
game-high 12 boards. Williams, the
league’s leading shot blocker, also
swatted away seven shots, all in the
first half. Marina Lukianov (Howell/Howell) rounded out the doublefigure scorers with 12 points on 3-4
shooting, which included 2-3 from
behind the arc, plus a perfect 4-4 at
the line. Lauren Bowler (Little Silver/
Red Bank Regional) led the squad,
dishing five assists.
Stockton scored the first 10
points of the game against Kean
and never trailed. Nardoza led the
Ospreys with 15 points followed by
Farrell with 12 markers. Nardoza and
Farrell shot a combined 9-10 at the
line. Williams recorded game highs
of 16 rebounds and five blocks to go
with seven points while Alwan and
Bowler scored nine points apiece.
Williams earned her fifth NJAC
Rookie of the Week award of the season for her play last week.
Men’s Basketball Team Splits Two NJAC Games
For the Argo
#19 Richard Stockton
(19-5, 13-4 NJAC) had another cold shooting week and
dropped their second straight
game to New Jersey City 7065 before rebounding with
a nail-biting 64-63 win over
Kean.
Armin Cane (Pleasantville/Pleasantville) and Josh
Blamon (Cinnaminson/Cinnaminson) carried the Stockton offense with 24 and 22
points respectively, but no
other Osprey scored more
than six against the Gothic
Knights.
Stockton trailed for most
of the game before taking its
only lead with 3:09 remaining and holding on for a 64-
63 win over Kean. Blamon
scored half of Stockton’s
points, pouring in a careerhigh 32 markers, largely on
the strength of seven threepointers. He was the lone
Osprey in double figures and
also grabbed a game-high
10 rebounds for his second
straight double-double and
fifth of the season.
Cane finished with nine
points and a game-high five
steals while Marcus Harmon
(Whitesboro/Middle
Twp.) also scored nine points.
Stockton shot 37.5 percent
from the floor but 12 of its 21
field goals were three-pointers. With the win, the Ospreys
improved to 8-2 in games decided by four points or less
this season.
February 23, 2015
Stockton Sports
Page 15
Track & Field Teams Compete at Molloy Lion Invitational
For the Argo
Richard Stockton won
three events apiece in men’s
and women’s competition for a
total of six victories at the Molloy Lions Invitational on Friday night. The Ospreys swept
the pole vaults and 4x800 relays, with wins also coming in
the men’s triple jump and women’s 800m. Cassandra Hrusko
(Manchester/Manchester Twp.)
played a role in two event victories for Stockton.
tiebreaker (3.96m). Beau Birch
(Ocean City/Ocean City) finished fourth (3.81m) and Remy
Kahn (Cherry Hill/CH East)
was fifth (3.66m).
Chelsea Vaughan (Whiting/Southern
Regional)
won the women’s pole vault
(3.50m), with teammates Nichole Sevilis (Hampton/North
Hunterdon) second (3.35m)
and Dermen third (3.20m).
Sevilis also qualified for the
ECAC Championships.
Hrusko won the 800m
(2:28.58) and joined with Vanessa Spollen (Northfield/Mainland), Kaitlyn Dermen (Millville/Millville) and Sara Bridge
(Port Republic/Pilgrim Academy) to take the 4x800 relay
(10:13.80) for the Ospreys.
Stockton dominated both
pole vault events, taking the
top five spots on the men’s side
and top three on the women’s
side. Eliot Perez (Toms River/
Central Regional) and Ivory
Yorker (Woolrich/Kingsway)
tied for first (3.96m) followed
by Sean Prinkey (Mt. Laurel/
Lenape) in third place due to a
Freshman Jared Lewis
(Westville/Deptford) won the
triple jump and moved into the
top five in the nation (14.56m).
The men’s 4x800 quartet of Antonino Piro (Wildwood/Wildwood Catholic), Dagoberto
Arias (Pleasantville/Pleasantville), John Sokol (Barnegat/
Barnegat) and Charles Estrada
(Mt. Laurel/Lenape) also was
victorious (8:26.47). Estrada
placed third in the mile as well
(4:34.90).
Argo Sports
Racism in Sports
Zach Rayment
For the Argo
Racism has, disgustingly, been a part of our world forever. As time has progressed, society has made taken great strides in the fight against racism. One
platform where racism is still a huge issue is in international soccer. On Tuesday
February 17, Chelsea FC faced Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League,
set in France. After the match, there was an incident where the traveling Chelsea
fans did not let a black man on the train. He repeatedly tried to get on the train
but was continually pushed off by fans who chanted “we’re racists and that’s the
way we like it.”
Sports are supposed to be a way for people around the world to come together and enjoy themselves. A sports fan just made an attempt to board a train
after a match and all of the sudden, due to the color of his skin, people did not
allow him to do that. This should not still be an issue in the world today. When
people face these issues they should be allowed to turn to sports to take their mind
off of it, to relax, and to watch or play a game that they love.
Chelsea FC issued a statement saying that they would take action against the
perpetrators, which would include revoking their season tickets if they had any
and banning them for life. After an incident of this nature, this is the right move
by the club. If racism in sports is ever going to go away, it needs to be fought
starting at the top. This is not the only major incident to have taken place. This is
just one of many. But with the help of the clubs, supporters, and sport governing
bodies, racism in soccer and all sports will come to an end. The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) is expected to look into this incident but it is
unclear what punishments may be handed down from them.
**Calling All Sports Fans!**
The Argo Needs Sports Writers - Paid positions available
Email [email protected] for more info
Page 16
Creative Highlight
Poetry
“One Can Go Only So Long…”
Tyler LaQuinta
Argo Staff Writer
One can go only so long by himself to know that he cannot go on within.
It is here in the unification, the shared gratitude, that he’ll find he needs to
operate beside a yin.
To go on without that knowledge, is to go on living a life without.
That the sacred mystery to life is interaction, and without, one find’s himself
looking distraught.
But alas it’s no use, as love is not something claimed, possessed, or owned,
but something you share with those who you live.
Interacting with one another, a circle of happening, dynamic flowing carried
away by a thrust true of skin.
One becomes open to the world seeing it through the eyes of another as if it
were his own.
He catches a glimpse of cornucopia gazing upon the world as his throne.
Alone he can only see a world of stagnation
By another, the world emerges alive full of expatiation
The promises he told himself weren’t what they seemed
Only taking into account himself, makes a world hard to believe
Existence in its own right is not done to appeal
It needs a singularity of aura guiding each other to feel
The breathing of another against one’s own breath
The beating of prisms throughout one’s entire breast
Gratitude in the name of love
Guiding one’s soul, letting go of
That you cannot disown
Or claim as your own
February 23, 2015
Nature Provides
Tyler LaQuinta
Argo Staff Writer
Nature provides the time we exist in
Nature provides the paradigm we live in
Align yourself with the beat of the trees
The cataclysmic layers down the mountaintops
The forest dwelling spirit that begs to be seen
The starry-eyed hues of a sunset, causing your heart to stop
The ancestral wisdom that is lurking in the distance
The divine freedom that has been cast in front of you
The vision of eternal light that calls for your persistence
Utterly swaying in the night above and beyond the blue
When you go for a walk
You take in all that you need
It requires nothing more than yourself
Nothing more than your plea
Talk a glance all around you
What do you see?
Patience on a tree trunk
Detachment in a seed
Mindfulness on a ladder of its own
Descending from the branches
Yet connected to the roots
In synchronic aureoles of integration
That propels the wind that has been blown
Even in the chimera of the nightfall shadows
In the furious sullen that grips your breath
In the sultry passion of the fiery blitz
In the frozen standstill of the evening chill
Somehow, someway nature provides
Academic Highlight
Formalism v. Realism
Caroline Fanning
Argo Staff Writer
In film, two of the most principal techniques in creating movies are quite
contradictory, one preferring to hold true to actuality, the other choosing to make
a cinematic spectacle of the story. While they have extremely differing fragments, formalism and realism are very popular and successful methods of filmmaking, with efficacious films having been made with both practices. Although
some audiences may prefer one technique over the other, each method has been
instrumental in paving the way for other approaches to filmmaking to become
well known in the cinema world.
The foremost component of formalism is that it primarily emphasizes
technical aspects of film, the style and aesthetics of the film, and the camera shots
and angles. Its main goal is to form a scene that will create the most drama and
evoke the most emotion using cinematic illusions, and to, essentially, put on a
show. One of the key ideas of formalism is to strive to experience the artfulness
of the object, not necessarily the object itself, and turning the entire sequence into
art instead of just letting it remain as a piece of the story to be told. Formalism
also emphasizes defamiliarization, which is when the technique of the filmmaker
draws attention to an object by removing it from its usual implications, and then
reintroducing it to the audience in the director’s preferred custom. Several wellrenowned films have become famous for their formalist roots, including Psycho,
The Birds, The Shining, and Mommy Dearest.
In contrast, realism accentuates filming a story in the manner of how it
would have been viewed in real life, with no camera, lighting, or musical tricks
that would not be found in actuality. Realist filmmakers vehemently oppose
technical products of film such as montages, close ups, and single shots, and
choose to have both the background and foreground in focus at the same time, as
that is how a viewer would see the picture if they were truly a spectator in reality.
Popular realist films include Citizen Kane, Touch of Evil, and The Trial.
In Steven Spielberg’s classic film Jaws, formalist tactics are perfectly
demonstrated throughout the movie. Jaws has inarguably the most recognized
and well-known score in cinema history, as the orchestra music that plays whenever an attack by the fiendish shark is imminent has become an iconic tune that is
still relevant decades after the film’s release. Spielberg also used a vast amount
of montage in the movie, in particular during the scene in which it appears as
though the shark is swimming underneath a large group of swimmers, and quick
cutaways to and from different sets of legs leaves the audience full of anxiety as
to who is going to be Jaws’ next victim. The score, as well as the quick, alternating shots of the shark that do not allow for a good look at the beast until the
climax of the film, create an unrivaled sense of panic and urgency for viewers
that realism could never evoke.
Another distinguished shark attack film is Chris Kentis’ Open Water,
which demonstrates a realist take on a pair of scuba divers accidentally left at sea
by their party boat. The film is composed entirely of extended takes, and uses
minimal music, only projecting music when it is being played around the main
characters. Open Water also does not utilize false lighting, using only the natural
light that surrounds the location of shooting, which mostly takes place outside.
The portrayal of the sharks themselves also stick to natural behaviors, as there are
no monster sharks with unrealistic agendas as seen in other shark attack movies.
Further adding to the film’s authenticity, real sharks were used in filming instead
of mechanical or CGI replicas that are used in other popular films Jaws and Deep
Blue Sea, respectively.
Although I appreciate the legitimacy and thoroughness that went into the
filming of Open Water, I cannot help but to support Jaws’ dominance as a film.
The realist method does appease the skeptical and incredulous parts of viewers,
but does not create nearly as enjoyable of a movie as formalism does. When it
comes down to it, audiences are watching a film because they want to be entertained, and in that aspect, realism simply cannot compete with the theatrical making of formalist films.
Academic Highlight
February 23, 2015
Page 17
*Opinions and editorials do not reflect the opinions of The Argo Corporation or Stockton University. The views expressed by writers are
solely their own. We encourage you to submit rebuttals or other op/ed pieces for publication to [email protected].
The Continuity of Suffering: Comparing the Armenian Genocide and the Holocaust
Mark-Allan Donaldson
Editor in Chief
The Continuity of Suffering: Comparing the Armenian Genocide and the
Holocaust
There are inherent similarities in every genocide. If this were not the
case then under international law there would not be multiple events that have
been categorized as such, for all genocides must have, at the very least, enough to
qualify them to be labeled under the definition of genocide composed and ratified
by the United Nations, that being:
In the present Convention, genocide means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or
religious group, as such:
(a) Killing members of the group;
(b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group;
(c) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring
about its physical destruction in whole or in part;
(d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group;
(e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.
(Articles II of the 1948 UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment
of Genocide)
However, even with this being the case, the Holocaust is still regard by
a large amount of people within the portion of the academic community that
is dedicated to genocide studies as holding primacy. This ideology goes almost
uncontested in this specific scholastic focus with even the name of the academic
field, “Holocaust and genocide studies,” displaying the bias, with the general
view being that this genocide was unique among all genocides. Even a particular
group within this genocide is singled out, with the suffering of the Jewish victims
is studied and taught far more than any other group that was targeted by the Nazi
party.
Due to this bias there is also a fairly common consensus that the Holocaust cannot be compared with any other genocide, this however is false. The
Holocaust can be, and should be, compared with every other genocide so that
we may gain a better and more in depth understanding of the phenomenon that
is genocide on a fundamental level, and better prepare ourselves for any future
or current situation that is deserving of attention in order to prevent such horrific
events from occurring again. In this paper I intend to compare the Holocaust with
the Armenian genocide, their dissimilarities and similarities, in hopes of showing
that all genocides are equally worthy of consideration and that human suffering
should not be degraded into a competition between who was the more victimized,
who suffered the more horrible deaths, or who is more deserving of recognition.
Between these two genocides there are, obviously, dissimilarities as, for
the exact same situation and circumstances to arise more than once are practically
impossible. The major points of dissimilarity that occur between these two genocides are focused on the time period in which each genocide occurred, the driving
ideology or reason behind each genocide, the coverage or acknowledgment of
the genocide by the outside world (outside here meaning a group that was neither
part of the victims nor the perpetrators of the genocide), and the recognition of
the genocide by the perpetrators, or nation state in which the genocide took place,
post fact.
The time period in which each genocide took place is a crucial point as,
while it is dissimilarity between the two, it also augments various similarities
between the genocides. Due to these instances taking place roughly twenty to
thirty years apart there were obvious advancements to technology from the time
the Armenian genocide ended to the time the Holocaust began. The Nazi perpetrators did not need to utilize such obsolete methods of killing as forced mass
execution marches into the desserts, or deaths by sword and hanging as they had
more advanced and efficient ways of ending a life. As opposed to marches they
had people deported by trains and due to the fact that they had the means to build,
as well as transport large amounts of people to, gas chambers, they did not need
to use guns and swords as their primary methods of slaughter.
The ideologies behind each genocide are also a point of dissimilarity.
While the Nazis had the intention of exterminating every Jew, in every corner of
the world, the Turks only wanted to rid themselves of the Armenians who they
believed blocked their path to re-creating the fallen and greatly reduced Ottoman
Empire. While this dissimilarity made little difference in the end with regards
to the targeting of the victim groups, as it is unknown whether the Young Turks
would have ceased targeting Armenians once those in their way had been dealt
with, it is still important to note this difference to gain a deeper understanding of
the mindset of the perpetrators.
The dissimilarity with regards to coverage by the outside world as it is
one that has reversed over time. At the time of the Armenian genocide there was
almost constant coverage by the outside world, especially within the United State
of America. This, in part, could be due to the fact that the Armenians where a
Christian group and America was comprised of a Christian majority population,
meaning that they could identify with those who were suffering and publishing
stories that were identifiable to your readership is, plain and simple, good business. The Holocaust, by comparison, received minimal media coverage during
the genocide due to the fact the outside world was focused primarily on their
involvement in the war. Once WWII was over however, the Holocaust began to
pick up momentum with regards to being written and talked about while the coverage on the Armenian genocide trickled down into almost non-existence.
The final dissimilarity is one that is simple and horrifying in the case of
the Armenian genocide. While Germany has admitted its guilt with regards to the
Holocaust and taken steps to spread awareness on the subject, the government of
Turkey has taken the opposite approach. Since the end of WWI, while the country
has admitted to mass murder, it has been the national policy of Turkey to deny
that there was any genocide against the Armenians, Greeks, and Assyrians.
While the dissimilarities between these two genocides are important,
they have been studied and accounted for time and again. It is the similarities
which here hold more relevance. These include the methods of extermination, the
governments that did the killing, and the nature of the victim groups.
As I pointed out above, one of the dissimilarities between these two
genocides was the technology used to kill the victim groups; however, a difference in technology does not connote a difference in the methods used to kill. Both
groups of perpetrators utilized railway systems and cattle cars to move their victims, both groups carried out mass killings using machine guns, and both groups
had roaming killing squads. These similarities occur in large part due to a need
for efficiency within genocide, although it is still interesting to notice the similar
trend of progression from arrests to executions to mass deportations.
With regards to the governmental powers that were in place at the times
of each respective genocide, it is interesting to note that both powers were relatively new to office and both began as revolutionary organizations. Both governments also came into power promising reform, and each had a group of people
within that quickly became absolutely powerful; holding the ability to turn their
own individual ideologies into official state policy.
Finally, the nature of the victim groups, and their history in the respective regions in both genocides, share similar traits. In both cases the victim group
was, in general, better educated and had a higher rate of financial stability. In
both cases the victim group was blamed for the internal political and economic
problems of the country. In both cases propaganda and lies were produced on a
large scale to increase hatred toward the victim group. In both cases there were
theological differences between the victim group and the perpetrators. All of
these factors lead to an extreme resentment between the minority victims and the
majority population comprised of perpetrators and bystanders, this resentment in
turn allowed for the acceptance and normalization of the mass killings of a portion of the population that was viewed as sub human.
While it has been the norm within scholarship regarding the various
genocides of the world the Holocaust take precedence and be the highest among
equals. However, it is clear that the Holocaust is not a unique occurrence and that
other genocides should be treated with equal passion and dedication by academics and governments the world over if the promise of “Never Again” is to ever
truly be accomplished.
Do you have a piece of prose, poetry, or art work? Have you been working
on interesting research? Submit to The Argo! We want to highlight student work.
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Page 18
Your Voice
February 23, 2015
*Opinions and editorials do not reflect the opinions of The Argo Corporation or Stockton University. The views expressed by writers are
solely their own. We encourage you to submit rebuttals or other op/ed pieces for publication to [email protected].
As Orchids Wither
Samantha Andujar
Argo Staff Writer
As Orchids Wither is a melodic metalcore band from
Plovdiv, Bulgaria. They are not only an extremely talented
band bound to show progress when their new EP drops, but
with everything riding against them in the metal genre, they
also always seem to have good attitudes, and above all, a
good sense of humor to get them through the ups and downs.
With pulsing guitar and drum instrumentals and vocals that
will electrify every part of your eardrums, it’s hard not to
give these guys at least one listen. If you are into bands like
Attila, Killswitch Engage, Parkway Drive, or Veil of Maya
do these guys a favor and check out their music on Facebook,
YouTube and Soundcloud. Be sure to check Bandcamp when
the new EP drops. Happy Listening!
Argo: What’s the name of your band? What’s the origin
of that name? Have you changed the band’s name before?
Alex: The name of our band is “As Orchids Wither.”
When we were thinking of a name we wanted to express
some sort of contrast, as in the “orchid” is the positive and
the “withering” is the negative. No. People have come to
know us as “As Orchids Wither,” and we think we should
stick with it.
Giorgio: We kinda needed to keep up the tradition of
having a name that’s a lame sentence, you know, to show that we are also sensitive.
Argo: You guys are refreshing! Can you tell our Argo readers about yourselves and respective instruments of each band member?
Giorgio Saputelli – Vocals A:21 S:Medical University of Plovdiv
Vladimir Voloschuk – Guitar A:16 S:Professional Gymnasium “Tsar Ivan
Asen The 2nd” Asenovgrad
Jonathan Veranski – Guitar A:18 S:Gymnasium with a Humanitarian Profile “Saints Cyril and Methodius” Plovdiv
Alexander Gyoshev – Bass A:17 S:French Language School “Antoine de
Saint-Exupery” Plovdiv
Stoino Angelov– Drums A:18 S:National School for Musical and Theatrical Arts “Prof. Pancho Vladigerov” Burgas
Argo: What genre of music do you consider your work to be? Who are your
major influences?
Giorgio: Melodic Metalcore. Influences include Attila, As I Lay Dying,
Lamb of God, Killswitch Engage, Trivium, Veil of Maya, Born of Osiris, Breakdown of Sanity, August Burns Red, Parkway Drive, Chelsea Grin, After the Burial, etc.
With every song that we write we are trying to leap over the stereotypes and
offer something that has a peculiar flavor.
Not just your everyday metal core act, we are striving for more, which is not
easy, but we are confident that we are in the right direction.
Argo: How long have you all known each other? How did you meet?
Band: Alexander and Jonathan used to play together in a local metalcore
band a while ago. When that band broke up, Alexander started writing new music
with Vladimir, and soon he suggested that they start a new band. For the vocal
duties they got Giorgio, who played with Vladimir in a melodic death metal band
called Evermourn (before Vladimir, Jonathan was also in this band, so we got a
family thing going on, which is cool). After forming AoW Stoino, who was an
old friend of Alexander (and happened to be a very good drummer), joined the
band.
Argo: When did you form your band? What inspired you to make music
together?
Band: The band was formed on the 3rd of February, 2014. Everyone wanted to write music and after the disbanding of their bands. We found ourselves in
the company of good musicians and even better friends.
Argo: Do you have a record label?
Band: No, lol.
Argo: What can you tell me about your instruments?
Band: Vladimir and Jonathan use Schechter and Epiphone guitars, respectively. Alexander uses a Cort bass. Stoino and Giorgio have no preferences over
musical equipment, they just use whatever is available at given venues. We’re not
endorsed by any companies, and we just use anything that we lay our hands on,
because this is Bulgaria. And we are poor.
Giorgio: Extremely hot, though. Especially Giorgio.
Argo: Where have you performed? What are your favorite and least favorite venues? Do you have any upcoming shows?
Band: We have played concerts all over the country and by far our favorite
venue is “Mixtape 5” in Sofia. We have also played many open air concerts, our
most notable of them being in Varna, opening for Blaze Bayley (former vocalist
of Iron Maiden).
Argo: Which songs do you perform most frequently? Do you ever play any
covers? Do you have a set play list?
Band: Our typical set list consists of our most famous songs – “Bane,”
“Love Lies Bleeding,” “Art of the Flow,” “Swallow Me,” and “Perfection of
Tragedy” and a few more. We sometimes play a few cover songs.
Argo: Who writes your songs? What are the main themes or topics for most
of your songs? Do you think these topics will change over time?
Band: Everyone contributes with musical ideas. But the main composition
of the songs is made by Vladimir and Alexander. Giorgio writes all of the lyrics, and our songs mainly explore very complex and deep themes, like the inner
world of every person, the strive for freedom and expression, the desire to get to
know yourself and the universe, the drive to screw stuff up. We also have a bunch
of lyrics that talk about love. Everyone loves talking about love. Or screwing
stuff up in general.
Argo: Could you briefly describe your music-making process?
Band: We use Guitar Pro to tab out our ideas, then we exchange the tabs
through Facebook and when the instrumental parts are finished, Giorgio writes
lyrics.
Argo: What are your rehearsals generally like? Do you have a set time
each week in which you practice, or are rehearsals more spontaneous?
Band: We mainly rehearse one or two times before a concert. We usually
play our set list three times, just to be sure that we know all the songs perfectly
(which never happens).
Argo: How has your music evolved since you first began playing music
together?
Band: We challenge ourselves by writing more technical riffs. We also try
to add more elements in the structure of our songs.
Argo: What has been your biggest challenge as a band? Have you been
able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?
Band: Our drummer is from a different part of the country, and getting together to rehearse or even play concerts sometimes can be tough, but we always
manage to make it work.
Argo: What’s your ultimate direction for your band?
Band: We want to share our music with the world, but it’s always a dream
come true to get paid for doing it.
Argo: What advice do you have for people who want to form their own
bands?
Band: Our advice is to find good, proficient, friendly and hardworking musicians who you can get along with, and who are ready to play concerts, make a
mess and have a good time.
Argo: How can fans-to-be gain access to your music?
Band: People can find us on Facebook, YouTube and Soundcloud, just by
looking up our name. We will also be making a Bandcamp account when our EP
drops.
Argo: Is there anyone you’d like to acknowledge for offering financial or
emotional support?
Band: Mostly the band and the people who offered us shelter when we
didn’t have any.
February 23, 2015
Your Voice
Page 19
Could Showboat Purchase Negatively Impact Stockton?
Ian Angotti
For the Argo
While playing a SET-sponsored round of bingo recently, I became distracted
by a glaring metaphor between the game’s system of random chance and this historic time at Stockton.. Recently, the university announced it has purchased The
Showboat, a defunct casino in Atlantic City. Despite the significant baggage of
vaguely defined plans and questionable answers to unasked questions, the Boat
has already departed the Bayou. Now all we are left with is to wonder if it will
stay afloat.
At first glance, the basic economic law of supply and demand glares back
at us from the empty rooms of the 1.4 million square-foot hotel. If we add the
39551-person population of Atlantic City proper to the number of inhabitants of
the barrier island communities that surround it, it would be reasonable to conclude that Absecon Island retains approximately a 60,000 person population year
round. But the question begs: Would some percentage of these inhabitants have
attended Stockton had it only not been located in Pomona? And conversely, would
the allure of Stockton College’s Island Campus encourage potential inland students to drive to Atlantic City? Regrettably it appears probable that an excess of
supply will burgeon regardless of the nullifying impact of absolutely no demand.
Stockton’s public relations rhetoric proclaims that we have outgrown our
Pomona campus, and that buying a former casino is the best solution to the current persistent parking problem. This calculation is specious at best, especially
as non-local commuting students who currently travel to Pomona right now be
forced to extend their journeys another hour to attend classes on the island campus, while also possibly having to shuttle back to Pomona during the day for an
inconveniently scheduled class. Solving a parking deficiency in Pomona with a
lot fourteen miles away is a challenging solution. In short, why park in Philadelphia to buy groceries in Marlton?
The site of the island campus, set within an islet city and twenty-five minutes’ drive from Pomona’s inland campus, places serious restrictions on student
life. For example, the two residential dorms in the Showboat Hotel are surrounded by a derelict city and a lackluster gambling culture. These factors alone
will undeniably restrict the social latitudes of the Stockton student community to
the venues contained within the Showboat’s structure itself. And driving from
The island to visit friends in Pomona will be taxing, making it likely that most
island campus residents will ultimately forgo the inconvenience. The resulting
detrimental effect on student life will negatively impact administrative efforts
aimed at fostering an engaged student community, the principal initiative Stockton boasts to be at the top of its priority list.
Stockton’s campaign also claims that the college’s presence in Atlantic City
will rejuvenate the city’s collapsing economy. Educational institutions such as
Temple University in Philadelphia are invoked as evidence that Stockton, too, can
thrive in a city setting. But these are not parallel situations. Philadelphia is an
historic port-city with prospering arteries of commerce and trade while Atlantic
City is positioned on an isolated island, relying on inland commercial enterprises
for its basic economic necessities. And with the casino/boardwalk industry now
in its death-throes, what endeavor can replace it? This is an especially pertinent
question as it would be erroneous to view higher education as a widget, interchangeable with any corporate structure such as casino gaming.
Stockton avers to have secured a massive consumer surplus by purchasing
the Showboat for 5% of its appraised value. At first glance, this may sound noteworthy, but there are too many mitigating factors at play to call this acquisition
a true success. For example, can Stockton “flip” a failed hotel if need be? And
at what cost and on whose “dime?” Purchasing groceries in bulk offers overall
savings for a larger initial investment, but that does not suggest that every household must buy fifty Hot Pockets at one time to be financially solvent. Nor does it
demonstrate that every household even petitions for such an opportunity to do so.
As the Stockton faculty waits for information to seep from the closely
guarded administrative ranks, students are left wondering if they will be relocating from the college campus they chose to attend to a city hotel that they did not.
Lacking a clearly articulated plan for development, the randomness of this investment looms like a dark cloud of uncertainty over the potential for a successful
outcome.
BINGO, anyone?
What Do You Own?
Tyler LaQuinta
Argo Staff Writer
Material world you have cast your shadow upon the life we exist
Moving closer to you we our fooled by your illusion
Gathering what we believe to be the truth
Instead what we’ve uncovered is nothing more than your bag of tricks.
Across our journey in this body we fail to realize
That when bridging the path to existence we carry all that we need
And everything has been stored deep inside
No longer in the game of acquiring nonsensical objects
We emerge in a state of being
Gathering what we know to be true
Dissolving with the surrounding area becoming what we project
Allow yourself to take some time to play a mind game, asking what is, without complete discretion, yours to take. What do you own? Attachment is a way
we like to identify ourselves with. I am a student. I am a hard working individual.
Do you claim ownership on being those things? Do you permanently fixate on
the idea that you are that very thing? What that thing actually is, is just a title, an
imaginary designation that we have said to be ours. It is a mere abstraction that is
something we cannot hold onto and claim as our own.
How about when you speak with someone? Are the words you say to other
people your words? Do you want them to be only for you? Because when we
speak, we are not speaking just for ourselves. We are speaking to communicate,
for other people to hear, so they are not necessarily yours. The words I utter are
not for my sheer amusement, but for that gratitude that it can bring to someone,
that in the dance of the conversing speech, something greater exists than the stand
alone words that are presented.
What about our precious bodies that we inhabit for the time being, but only
for the brief existence that we are expressing ourselves in? When we have emptied out of our meat jackets, we move on from our being that lived its life on this
planet. The words we speak may not be ours, but what about the non-verbal, the
thoughts that propel themselves inside our minds? Possibly, but this too instead of
something like words, being pliable, is now something that is shapeless, lacking
that something that enables us to control them. When we sit down with ourselves,
we sometimes get anxious, scared, and try to dissociate with what these thoughts
are conveying to us. So, if we, most of us, are unable to control these thoughts
than do we say that the thoughts are ours? How can something be claimed if you
cannot even grasp on to it? It seems that only when we stop the inner workings
of our mind, do we find peace inside and clarity; so, if we are trying to detach
ourselves from the very thing, it cannot be ours.
Leading us to detachment, what about the detachment that is achieved in
this zen-state? Well, detachment is something that we can achieve, but owning
detachment is like trying to pick yourself up for your feet: it just would not work.
However, it is there. It is something that can be reached. When we attatch ourselves to the objects that surround us, we are proclaiming a false designation onto
those things. Attaching itself is the act of latching onto something or the joining
of specific things. In detachment we do this truly for ourselves, removing the attached layers of reality that have been put on us, either from ourselves or others.
We do not really have a say in what we think, but what we do not think; not what
we call ourselves, but what we do not call ourselves; not what we inhabit, but
what we do not inhabit.
The only thing we may own in this physical state is the ability to detach,
remove and observe the whereabouts of this realm. When in this observational
mode, we realize that attachment is not who we are. Though the riddle I played
today may be more rhetorical, it is only an idea to consider…
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Page 20
Your Voice
February 23, 2015
Spider-Man Returns to Marvel, and the Speculation Begins
Brittney Welch
Argo Staff Writer
Two weeks ago, Marvel Studios announced that Spider-Man would be
integrated into the Marvel Cinematic
Universe. The first appearance he is
slated for will be within one of the upcoming films in the universe, and then
on July 28th, 2017 a new Spider-Man
film will be released, co-produced
with Marvel Studio Executives. Marvel has made it clear that this is still
mostly under Sony’s reins, but after a
long struggle over trying to combine
universes to take advantage of a pivotal character, the decision was finally
made. The decision makes sense because Sony’s Spider-Man hadn’t been
pulling in the money it expected after
The Amazing Spiderman II released
last year. Integrating him into a cinematic universe that has made over
seven billion dollars from ten films so
far seems like a smart move. The only
unfortunate bit of news about the announcement is that it will push back
the release dates of Black Panther and
Captain Marvel, two of the most progressive upcoming movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
After the release of the news
the Marvel fans on the Internet showed
a huge amount of approval for the decision, crashing the Marvel site in haste to
read the news, and trending #welcomehomespidey on Twitter. But the release
of the news was only the beginning of the story, because a glaring omission had
been made in the news release. Andrew Garfield, the headliner of The Amazing
Spiderman franchise at Sony, hadn’t been listed as returning to play Peter Parker.
With two reboots of Peter Parker’s origin story within the past twelve years,
many fans showed a distaste for yet another origin movie. Some fans even went
as far to say that if we get another Peter Parker origin story they would “shoot
Uncle Ben themselves” (The death of Uncle Ben is the catalyst for Peter Parker
becoming a superhero). The fan solution was simple- cast a Spider-Man who
isn’t Peter Parker.
The main character that has been name-dropped most often as an alternative to not having a Peter Parker reboot would be the Marvel Ultimate Universe’s
Miles Morales. With a severe lack of people of color headlining in the Marvel
Cinematic Universe (Black Panther will be the first), Miles would be a progres-
sive choice on the part of the studio. Miles Morales becomes Spider-Man in the
Ultimate Universe after Peter Parker dies, and as a fellow spider-powered individual, he decides to pick up the mantle. The Marvel Cinematic Universe takes
many of its features from the Ultimate’s
Universe, and Miles would be a wise acquisition.
Another option mentioned by fans,
though very unlikely, could be the casting of Gwen Stacy, who has recently
become the very popular ‘Spider-Gwen’
in the comics. She will be headlining a
comic that comes out on February 25th,
as Marvel moves towards adding more
female led comics to their repertoire.
Hailing from Earth-65, Spider-Gwen
was created when Gwen Stacy was bitten by a radioactive spider instead of
Peter Parker. Gwen Stacy was a fan favorite in the previous movies, and this
decision would have plenty of support
from the fans.
Of course there are those who are in
opposition to a Spider-Man who isn’t
Peter Parker. The main reason that the
opposition is occurring is that SpiderMan is the main pawn in Marvel’s Civil
War comic series. The next Captain
America film in the franchise will be
Captain America 3: Civil War, and with
Spider-Man slated to make an appearance in one of the upcoming films before his own, many think it may be that one. However, as it has been rumored
that the villain may be the government and the NSA rather than Iron Man, Peter
Parker doesn’t really need to serve as a pawn between the two men. The Marvel
Cinematic Universe rarely uses comic storylines verbatim, and this wouldn’t be
the first time they deviated with their ideas.
As Marvel is notoriously secretive about their movie plans, casting
choices, and just about everything related to their projects, it is sure that the
details will not be made clearer until further down the line. In any scenario they
have a huge choice to make in their casting of Spider-Man. Will they be progressive about it? Or will they return once more to a reboot of Peter Parker’s backstory? Only time will tell, and it will be interesting if they take the thoughts and
hopes of their fans into their consideration, and perhaps give light to heroes with
equally interesting origin stories of their own. With great movie power, comes
great casting responsibility!
Top 5 Reasons Turning 23 Feels Like Doom
Sara Buggelli
Argo Staff Writer
Turning twenty-three is a confusing part in both a college student’s and
recently graduated college student’s life. Turning twenty-three is unsettling in
many ways. One might argue that it’s the beginning of adulthood and the end
of whatever “young-adulthood” means. Others say it is simply a “clusterfuck”
of emotions. Unfortunately, turning twenty-three begins the downhill and new
trend, “the quarter-life crisis.” Highlighted below are the top five reasons turning
twenty-three feels like doom.
Forever 23 - Most college gals and some guys frequently shop at the
popular store Forever 21. However, now that students are clearly moving closer
to the age to apply for Medicare and treat their osteoporosis, the idea for a store
called Forever 23 has come to mind. Forever 23 could sell items such as posters.
These posters could include pictures of girls crying over graduate school applications while watching everyone on Facebook get engaged. Also, for those paying
off students loans in six months, you’ll be happy to know everything sold here is
always 50% off.
Moving Out - For students who were lucky enough to either move into a
dorm or commute to college moving out seems to be the next big step. Not only
do college students want to move out, but their parents have shown a keen interest in being left alone. However, gathering roommates or making life altering de-
cisions to move in with a current significant other seem to be better left ignored.
Engagements - Seemingly, everyone is getting engaged and your dog
barely wants to be near you. It isn’t just the engagements that are brain rattling,
it’s who is getting engaged to whom. Some people who are currently due to be
wed wouldn’t have ever even spoke to each other in high school, let alone in
public. But hey, to each their own.
Blink 182…We Get It - Back in 2000, when we were all listening to
“What’s My Age Again” on our portable CD Players (and upset about what nonsense “anti-skip technology” was), we never truly understood what this song was
talking about. However, clearly it was a warning sign. “Nobody likes you when
you’re 23.”
Dates - This is the cliché time in everyone’s life where you either stay
together and get married or break-up. Seemingly, any date you go on feels like an
audition for Broadway. It’s sort of hard to believe that in ten years you could still
be with the same person and driving carpools to soccer practice.
However unfortunate this time in our lives feels, it is important to just
take your quarter-life crisis one day at a time. Just think, in 25 years you will hit
your midlife crisis and the worst thing that will happen is purchasing a red mustang or getting hair plugs. You got this, Stockton!
Have a review that you would like to share? Submit to The Argo!
February 23, 2015
Argo Reviews
Page 21
The Wolf Among Us is a Tale of Evil and Unyielding Hope
Roberto Neives
Argo Staff Writer
There is perhaps nothing more sought after in video games than the capability of effective story telling. You can give a game crazy weapons, dynamic
worlds, and completely revolutionary mechanical designs, however, if there is no
concrete point as to why hundreds of enemy aliens have to be slain, then it feels
rather pointless. Not every video game is required to have a full story, and examples like
Galaga have proven that for three decades.
Enter TellTale Games, a gaming studio that
has made their focus very clear to the gaming masses. In the last few years, TellTale has
found universal success in its gaming portfolio from Back to the Future: The Game to
Jurassic Park: The Game. This is no more
displayed than from the incredible talent seen
in Telltale Games’ The Walking Dead, which
fans of the show and graphic novel have
lauded for its acutely emotional storytelling.
In 2014, Telltale approached a different view
of storytelling. Unlike its predecessors, they
were not based on television or movie lore,
but from the pages of a well known graphic
novel series that brings a dark, twisting turn
to the very fairy tales we grew up with. The
Wolf Among Us made its debut, a prequel to
Bill Wittingham’s FABLES series. In special
working with DC Comics, Vertigo Comic Imprint, and Telltale Games, The Wolf Among Us becomes an experience unlike
anything else.
Once upon a time, all the fairy tales that enlightened, terrified, and fantasized
our childhoods were real, happy, and prosperous. Until one day, an evil king laid
waste to the land, sending death, destruction, and ruthless tyranny to the legend-
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ary kingdoms. With nowhere to go, the Fables were forced to flee to a land even
the king wouldn’t go to: America. The year is 1986, deep in the heart of Manhattan. Living within the millions of New Yorkers are the Fables in the concealed
village of Fabletown. To maintain the secrecy and safety of their world, rules are
established. Any non-human Fables, like the Three Little Pigs, are to use “glamour” magic to disguise themselves and live within Fabletown. If they are unable
to afford glamour and conceal themselves,
they are sent to a large, hidden ground known
as The Farm. Those that benefit from a human appearance stay within Fabletown and
enforce the laws. Crime is ever present, but
peace is maintained for hundreds of years,
until a grisly murder occurs and rattles the
very foundation of Fabletown. Then begins
a dark tale of tragedy, evil, corruption, and
hope.
Players play as the Big Bad Wolf, also
known as “Bigby,” the Sheriff and enforcer of the law of Fabletown. Through five
episodes, players will need to navigate the
gritty streets of New York and solve a brutal
murder mystery, while maintaining the secrecy of Fabletown. Each episode lasts 2-3
hours long and gives players a multitude of
choices to make, many of which have direct
influence on your progress through the story,
as they will change words, outcomes, and
entire paths to the game. Players will need
to keep a keen eye, observing their surroundings and paying attention to what is
going on.
The story is exceptionally well paced and charged with emotion, never leaving a dull, boring moment for the player. The immersion is deep, and players
will want to see what happens next. This is coupled with absolutely fantastic
voice acting and dialogue that not only push along the brutality of the mystery,
but also the strong emotional connections the characters have. There are several
incredibly choreographed action segments, requiring quick time input and movement from the player, but the scenes are focused so as to remember the action
on-screen and not random button prompts.
As he is the Big Bad Wolf, it is easy for Bigby to transform and unleash
his inner monster in several engaging sections. To see him fight and struggle with
that side of himself is fascinating, and lends itself to the talent of the storytelling team. As Bigby is the main protagonist, it is exciting to see his reactions and
stances. Bigby, as one could imagine, has had a previously rough history with
the Fables, with terror and fear added to his reputation in lieu of destroying the
famous three houses. Throughout the course of the game, we see Bigby grizzled
and still attached to his old ways, but making a huge effort to find justice. Whether the rules of Fabletown matter more to Bigby than his own personal pursuit of
justice is entirely up to the player. In addition, his interaction with other various characters such as Mr. Toad, Hansel & Gretel, The Jersey Devil, and Snow
White, demonstrates a strong struggle and development of conflicting feelings
between professionalism and something more than courtesy.
The presentation of the game is incredibly sharp, with vivid cell-shading and
fluid cartoon-like animation that evokes the sensation of graphic comic illustrations. The game has a heavy, gritty, noir look and feel, making the world of 1986
NYC very distinct. The music, composed by Jared-Emerson Johnson, evokes a
low synthesized score to evoke the sensation of the secrecy of the Fables, the
dark criminal underworld, and the hope to solve the crimes.
The Wolf Among Us is a must-play for gamers from all walks of life, because
it immerses you into its world and doesn’t let go. It will feel hopeless and terrifying, but like Bigby,
you’ll cling on to
hope for justice
to prevail. From
beginning to end,
from graphics to
gameplay, all gamers should play this.
As it is available on
PlayStation, Xbox,
Steam, and even
iOS/ Google Play,
there is no excuse
to miss this.
February 23, 2015
Your Voice
Page 23
I Wonder
Tyler LaQuinta
Argo Staff Writer
One can only wonder what the world would be like
If we said no to corruption and stopped this fight
Put an end to starvation, join together, unite
To prevent the illness and hatred that grips us so tight
Rip out the pages of discrimination with all our might
See beyond the colors of black and white
What makes the future is not yonder sight
But right here, right now, making today bright
It starts with the moment as a sudden ignite
Not set aside collecting dust in the night
Culminating the wisdom that is our birthrights
Discover the beauty of humanity within the inner light
I cannot help but wonder, with the savage outbreak that has been plaguing
civilization, what it would be like to live in society free of meaningless conflict
that takes the lives of innocent people. What would happen if we took to ordinary
citizens of America and Iraq and had them sit down and chat about life? Sure
there might be a bit of bickering in the beginning, but that would soon pass as
they would realize that they are both in a situation where they have been screwed
by both sides. It’s us against them. People have a natural inclination to love each
other, it takes years of schooling, “One nation under god,” to program this mentality, this insanity, that the person sitting across from you is somehow different
from you if you were not born from the same country. We are all individuals, but
we are still fundamentally people who all want to live fulfilling, meaningful lives
with an abundance of laughter, love, and solitude. Even though it may manifest
individually, the same way as all the waves are still part of the ocean, we too seek
these facets in our individuation.
Somehow we have moved far from this idea and insist that the only way to
run this world is through mass war and chaos. It really does not make any sense
why we need to invade and be in conflict with countries on this large a scale
with the amount of information that is out there. So I wonder if information even
changes the way we view the world because we can still choose at the end of the
day to be ignorant or aware. I think there is something more than that, strings
of words on a page, to get people to change their behavior for the greater good
of a planetary society. The reductionism that is used to fuel the world needs to
branch out into different perspectives and points of view, and include the untold,
forgotten side of humanity, the non-measurable aspects of our lives. Somehow
we have forgotten that not everything in life can be studied in a laboratory, that
some things need to be experienced to be instilled upon ourselves. Experience
is not only in planted in the mind, but in the body as well. Reading something
online about a situation or activity does not enable you to automatically learn
it. I find that many people will read a bunch of articles believing that now they
have learned something of importance. That is only the first step, my friend; you
haven’t even stepped through the door until you go out and try it for yourself. See
if what you read is true for you, because finding the truth inside of you is finding
the truth for all of humanity. If you want to gain the knowledge and insights that
are more valid than words, then you must go and experience it yourself. They say
that certain writers carry more wisdom than others, that certain books contain
more knowledge than can be disclosed in this form; it is because you need to
experience what they are saying. Once we have the experience, it is held within
your mind and body as long as you live.
If information was truly the gateway toward liberation and bliss than we
wouldn’t have moved beyond our sense to kill each other for the faceless factions
we have aligned ourselves with. I know I am not the only one who hears stories of
destruction and wonder why we still need to continue down this merciless path.
What if this emanating force of devastation was turned around? What if this allegiance of evil was used to command us in the opposite? People are dying for their
beliefs, believing that they are doing it for the greater good. Instead of sacrificing
oneself for the belief system; why not arrange ourselves to with the unification
of the earth itself? It is where we live, where are past lies, and where the future is
headed. What if the same energy was used to cultivate life on this planet? I can’t
help but wonder what magnificence we can rediscover if we used all our efforts
to connect with this planet and each other.
Career
AND
Internship
FAIR
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2015 • 10:00 – 2:00
CAMPUS CENTER, EVENT ROOM
A.M.
Bring plenty of resumes!
Professional dress is REQUIRED and will be strictly enforced!
For professional dress criteria and for a list of employers attending the event, go to:
stockton.edu/careerconnect
For additional information, call us at 609.652.4650
CAREER
Thank you to our sponsors:
CONNECT
Stockton College is an AA/EO institution.
P.M.