2010_03_22 - Broward College

Www.broward.edu/observer
Volume 24, issue 12
Back page
‘Getting Out’
Editorial
From our staff
April Fool’s
Theatre department has
new production showing
North Campus’ security
blunder
A short history and the pranks
that go with it
Center spread
Entertainment
Aviation
The Flight Team wins big
at regional competition
Page 18
Pages 12-13
march 22, 2010
Page 23
Page 24
Laughing out loud
Photos by reuben zuazua
Kevin “Damn Fool” Simpson uses comical gestures and entertaining faces to get his laughs.
Diverse comedians bring down the house at Laughapalooza
By Cristina Miralles
Central Bureau Chief
CENTRAL -- Laughapalooza, a comedy
show held at Central Campus, returned for
the second time this year and brought the
tropics with them. With a well-known cast of
comedians including Jessi Campbell, Kevin
“Damn Fool” Simpson and Chris Spencer,
along with an outdoor afterparty hosted by
Power 96, Laughapalooza created a luau
theme that brought in a larger audience than
the previous fall semester show.
“We gave out about 1,200 tickets and with
this Hawaiian after party, we’ve had a good
turnout,” said Omoy Watson, programming
coordinator.
The comedians had everyone falling out of
their seats laughing. “It was really good and
better than past shows,” said Kim Padilla, a
Broward College (BC) student.
The comedians may come from different
backgrounds and have different lifestyles,
but they each have one thing in common:
they love to make people laugh.
“To be able to pay for things like private
school and my bills with jokes is a blessing,”
said Spencer, a Jamaica native who now lives
in Los Angeles. Throughout Spencer’s career
he has worked with several well-known
comedians including Bill Cosby, Chris Rock
and Dave Chappelle.
“My whole life of comedy has been great
so I can’t say that there have been any big
highlights yet,” said Spencer. He claims to
find comedic inspiration everywhere in daily
life. Spencer admits that the inspiration
comes to him whether it is through a personal
experience, an encounter during his day or
even a conversation with his wife.
Campbell, performer and host of the
evening, is originally from Arizona and
currently lives in Minnesota as a working
comedian. Campbell believes that she has
had a good career. “I’ve been pretty lucky and
right now I’m actually one of the finalists for
TMT’s ‘Next Big Comic,’ which is a contest
that the network is having,” she said.
Beginning her career at the age of 18,
Campbell had a rough start and is still
looking for ways to improve her comedy. “I
was very bad for a long time,” she said. “I
think that maybe I was too young and as of
now I don’t think I have developed who I
really am yet,” Campbell said.
comedian damn fool
continued on page 10
The long road to a degree: Woman attends college at 84
By Sheri Wieseman
South Bureau Chief
SOUTH -- There is something to be said for someone
embarking on a quest that only a few people attempt.
Elizabeth “Betty” Reilly is accomplishing a task that anyone
would find difficult. This 84-year-old Broward College
student is in the process of earning her first college degree
and has so far integrated herself into the college lifestyle
successfully.
While many students seek to unlock the answers of
the past, Reilly has lived throughout the arguably most
progressive century in history. Her life experiences blossomed
into the foundation for this new goal. Jaenne Koesters,
Reilly’s daughter, says her mother is a “self-taught woman,”
and her studies at BC only further her already increasing
intelligence.
Reilly was born in 1926 in Youngstown, Ohio. She was the
eldest of five children. With the era of the Great Depression
as her earliest childhood memories, Reilly recalled moving to
New York after her father was forced to close his bakery.
“It was a different way of life,” she says, “We lived in the
old tenements in various places.” Brooklyn, Queens and
Long Island all once
all considered home to
Reilly.
As a child growing
up in New York City,
the Big Apple was
Reilly’s
playground.
At 10-years-old, she
started wandering the
city by herself. She
spent her afternoons
at the Metropolitan
Museum of Art, where
the curators would
turn a blind eye to
photo courtesy of betty reilly
admission prices for
Betty Reilly’s got school spirit.
her.
“I copied what
other people would do,” she said chuckling. “I would go
to each painting and study it.” Reilly also saw a slew of art
students with their easels at the museum. “So I brought
my composition book and crayons,” she said. “I abused the
security, but I loved it.”
Reilly did not spend her entire childhood within the
peaceful walls of the museum. “The years that would define
me would be from when I was 15 to 20,” she reminisced.
“These were very impressionable years…years of coming of
age.”
In those years, Reilly’s mother fell ill, leaving Reilly as the
maternal role for her four siblings. A few years later after her
father injured himself at work, Reilly took it upon herself to
become the breadwinner of the family. Although she worked
at Merrill Lynch during the day and attended night school to
get her high school diploma, Reilly’s schoolwork suffered.
“There were no GEDs then, [and] no loans,” she said.
“And who had money? I had brains, so I was up for a
scholarship.”
Unfortunately that scholarship would never come.
Reilly finished all of her classes and was scheduled to take
her final high school exams, but a routine outing to a raw
clam bar in Times Square put a stop to that. Reilly caught
Hepatitis A from the clams, and in a time before antibiotics,
“I caught every bug there was and went down to 80 pounds,”
never toO late continued
on page 10
march 22, 2010
page 3
News
Famous author
comes to campus
By Lisa Leung-Tat
North Bureau Chief
NORTH -- Attention all
budding writers, spring is about
to blossom on North Campus in
more ways than one. A literary
explosion of authors, artist and
poets will flourish over a three
day period as a precursor to the
upcoming spring season.
For the past 19 years North
Campus has been hosting the
literary festival known as “wRites of Spring” which celebrates
the up and coming literary talents of students through
contests in poetry, short story and art.
This year’s theme for the event, Acts of Courage, is
demonstrated through the novel “Rooftops of Tehran” by
Mahbod Seraji, who will be on hand to discuss his novel and
share his insights on Iranian culture, leaders and the people.
The basic premise reveals how to stand firmly for what
you believe in, even in the midst of opposition. The story
which is set in Iran, tells of the triumphs and challenges of
young Pasha Shahed and his friends as they experience love,
life and the pursuit of dreams.
Professor Ariana Bianchi who chairs the committee
responsible for the event, says, “Through the festival we hope
to promote literature, literacy and cultural awareness as well
as engage students beyond the classroom through reading,
writing and author programs.”
wRites of Spring will be a three day long event starting
on March 29 and will also be featuring other speakers and
presentations from faculty members. There will also be an
art show by John Moscowitz, English Professor at Broward
College and a poetry slam.
Presentations will be held in the North Campus library,
and is open to all students. Past featured writers were Pulitzerwinning Junot Diaz, author of “The Brief Wondrous Life” of
Oscar Wao, Sue Monk Kidd author of “The Secret Life of
Bees” and Ruth Ozeki, author of “All Over Creation.”
The festival will culminate with an Awards Ceremony
showcasing the winners of the writing contests held prior to
the event.
Water balloon fight for charity
Photo by Andres Bedoya
An award-winning water balloon fundraiser.
By Lyssa Ray
Contributing Writer
NORTH -- Armed with water balloons in hand, Broward College (BC) students ran loose in 2009 soaking their
fellow classmates head to toe while managing to simultaneously give back to youth in need. Students involved in
campus clubs came together to support the Toys for Tots Foundation by hosting an event called Splash for Tots.
During the event, students raised 220 dollars by competing in a water balloon fight.
Not only did the balloons, which were sold for ten cents each, provide students with a memorable laugh, but they
also gave students the opportunity to positively impact the community and highlight an important charity.
Splash for Tots was more than a fundraiser; it was a chance for BC students to reach out and touch the lives of
children around the world. The Toys for Tots Foundation focuses on providing toys for needy children every year
around the holiday season. They collect unwrapped toys during the months of October, November and December.
The toys are later wrapped and distributed to children in the community.
Their mission is one that is focused, direct and inspirational. The program plays an active role in the development
of one of our nation’s most valuable natural resources: our children. They unite members of local communities in a
common cause for three months each year during the annual toy collection and distribution campaign.
The Toys for Tots Foundation is a program that depends on the efforts and charity of organizations and individuals
like students at BC. The mission is simple, the need is great, but the desire to help impoverished children in the
community is lacking.
If you wish to get involved in this cause or to donate your time toward this outreach program for children visit
www.toysfortots.org. If you are looking to help build a better community then help the Toys for Tots Foundation.
New literary magazine debuts on North Campus
By Lisa Leung-Tat
North Bureau Chief
NORTH -- Hot off the presses, a new
twist on the term “Blue Monday” is about
to be released by the members of the Sigma
Kappa Delta (SKD) National English Honor
Society. The usual humdrum Blue Monday
that students dread after coming off of a
great weekend is going to be revamped and
energized into a new literary magazine that
will hit the scene at the end of the month.
The publication, made possible through
funding by Student Life and the office of
the Provost on North Campus, has been
in the making since last semester. It will
feature about 40 pages of original poetry,
short fiction and photography by Broward
College students.
The name Blue Monday has been chosen
for the magazine and was derived from Kurt
Vonnegut’s novel “Breakfast of Champions,
or Goodbye Blue Monday.” Like the novel,
the magazine aspires to expose the truth,
beauty and art of the collegiate society
through creative expression that can be
appreciated by all.
Photo by Lisa Leung-Tat
Members of Sigma Kappa Delta will work on the new literary magazine called Blue Monday.
Editor-in-chief Juan La Rosa and SKD
President Anita Noorali organized the
editorial board along with Professor Ariana
Bianchi, the faculty advisor.
The SKD National English Honor Society
will be using the wRites of Spring festival
as a platform to introduce the first issue of
Blue Monday. The students who have work
featured in the magazine will be on hand to
recite poetry and narrate short fiction.
The launching of the literary magazine will
be held in the library auditorium on March
30 at 2 p.m. and thereafter the magazine
can be found in the North Campus English
department.
Students wishing to submit works
for consideration in future issues can
email Bianchi at abianchi@broward.
edu. Submissions are open and ongoing
throughout the semester.
march 22, 2010
page 5
News
Harmony, respect and understanding
Spiritual icon speaks to South Florida students about moral responsibility
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet speaking at Nova Southeastern University.
By Farrah Fleitman
Staff Writer
COLLEGEWIDE -- “That’s top
secret,” joked the Dalai Lama, in
reference to what was discussed at
his meeting with President Obama
last month. The Dalai Lama’s arrival
put the world on edge. After the
U.S. opened their doors to China’s
most renowned exile, the question
of where the nation stood with the
communist country still lingered.
The audience sighed with relief
and laughed at the lighthearted
moment in midst of such political
clamor.
The spiritual leader and
head of state of Tibet, the 14th
Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso, was
welcomed at Nova Southeastern
University (NSU) by a crowd eager
to hear from this important figure.
“Universal Responsibility” was the
theme of the talk.
The Dalai Lama covered several
topics including the promotion of
harmony, equal respect, genuine
understanding and our individual
responsibility in contributing to
the happiness of ourselves and
therefore the happiness of others.
A large crowd gathered Tuesday,
Feb. 23 in the Arena at NSU’s Don
Taft University Center to listen to
the guest of honor speak.
The talk opened with a song
by the NSU choir. Afterwards,
President David J. Armstrong Jr.
presented the Dalai Lama with
Broward College’s first honorary
baccalaureate degree. The Dalai
Lama poked fun at how he
obtained a degree without earning
it, and hoped it wouldn’t “start an
inauspicious cycle.”
Once seated cross-legged and
with a translator by his side,
“His Holiness” spoke about the
promotion of harmony.
According to the Dalai Lama,
religious peace is one of the most
crucial things to strive for. He said
a mutual understanding among
the six billion people on the planet
must be reached so there can be
“equal respect” and a genuine
acceptance of one another.
The Dalai Lama used simple
examples to portray a large-scale
scenario. For instance, in a family,
each member carries a sense of
Photo by esteban peralta
responsibility. Each individual’s
future depends on the rest of the
community. This analogy was used
to describe the way in which the
U.S.’s future depends on other
countries. “Common interest and
individual interest rely on one
another. [It is] necessary not just
for spiritual enlightenment.”
The Dalai Lama also encouraged
the crowd by saying that although
the economic times are difficult,
“You must remember America [is
the] champion of liberty, freedom
[and] democracy.”
He believes humanity should
not be discouraged through money
matters and hardships. “When
dealing with other countries,
display these values to gain respect,”
he added.
Given the current situation our
world is in, the Dalai Lama touched
on the concept of war, a concept of
“destruction, greed, self-victory”
and “obstacles toward progress.”
Several BC students of all
different spiritual backgrounds Buddhists, Muslims, Christians,
Jews, Atheists, Agnostics alike formed their own opinions based
on this spiritual leader’s premise. “I
personally have not been directly
affected by what he promotes, but
I would have to agree with [him],”
said Patrick Garcia, an art major.
The Dalai Lama’s speech also
stressed a positive approach despite
negative situations. “I always try
to look at different angles to find
good things,” he said.
The focus should be shifted off
bad aspects and more toward the
good. According to the Dalai Lama,
it is our “moral responsibility to
think good,” but we are too quick
to be extremely excited over good
things, and extremely disillusioned
over bad things - extremes are not
good. “Be calm,” he added.
At the end of the speech, the
Dalai Lama presented BC’s
President Armstrong and
NSU chancellors with
white Buddhist robes of
honor in a display of
gratitude.
Also present were two Tibetan
students, studying here in South
Florida on scholarships. Tenzen
Chokden, 23, and Tashi Wangla,
24, spoke of how “amazing” it
is to “live the American dream”
with this opportunity afforded to
them both. Two Tibetan students
are selected every four years to be
awarded full scholarships to NSU,
accomplishing what many young
people across the world yearn to do
but simply don’t have the means of
doing: getting a college education.
Read more about this widely
respected spiritual leader at www.
dalailama.com, or search “Dalai
Lama” on both Facebook and
Twitter.
Photo by esteban peralta
The Dalai Lama.
Creative Writing Contest
open to all BC students
Fiction or Poetry (up to 3
poems)
Any topic or style but must be the writer’s own work
A maximum of 3 pages
DEADLINE: April 23
Send to:
A) Dr. Michael Cleary
English Dept.
Central Campus
Bldg. 7, rm 107
B) Student name
Address
Phone
Campus
SS number
Date
BC campus last enrolled
march 22, 2010
page 7
News
Program teaches students road map to success
The Key Steps
1-Define Yourself
2-C
3-G
4-R
5-A
photo courtesy of www.broward.edu
Broward College graduates in Fall 2009.
By Lisa Leung-Tat
North Bureau Chief
COLLEGEWIDE--“It takes one match to
start a fire,” began Dr. Ed Key, vice president
of Student Affairs, as he ignited the interest
of the students sitting in front of him.
The students are a part of a campus-wide
effort to inspire other students who may
be losing interest or falling behind in their
academic progress.
The “Finish What You Start” initiative is
the vision of President J. David Armstrong
Jr. and Angelia Millender, Vice President of
Student Affairs.
The initiative’s aim is to provide a road
map that can lead to the success of students
through key guidelines which are discussed
during the presentation.
The unique aspect of the program is that
it is being presented by Broward College’s
(BC) own students. Presenters must have a
3.5 GPA and have completed 12 credit hours
to be able to address other classes.
et financial aid
egister early
ttend
6-M
reate an education plan
& finish all classes
aintain your
GPA
Key has been making his rounds on
campuses by training students and getting
them fired up to motivate others. He shared
that some students start college and through
unforeseen circumstances were forced to end
their pursuit all too quickly.
For returning students, BC wants to make
sure that this time there are no obstacles in
their way. They strive to insure that once a
student starts college they follow through
and graduate.
“Who best to encourage a student than
another student,” Key said with a knowing
smile. “Each of you has a story and if you
reflect on one of these six points, at least one
of them pertains to you and how you used it
to succeed here at BC.”
The premise of the entire program is
to emphasize the importance of planning.
Using the outlined strategy of the initiative
is imperative to achieving scholastic success,
and BC is behind its students all the way to
make sure this goal is realized.
march 22, 2010
page 9
News
Clubs join forces to raise money for Haiti
By Lisa Leung-Tat
North Bureau Chief
photo by lisa leung-tat
PTK members, Jacky Davey, Sara Tours and Nelih White, proudly display their ‘Walk for Haiti’
sign as they lead the pack.
NORTH -- When students made plans to
walk on a Sunday morning no one knew it
was going to be a chilling 47 degrees outside.
To many native Floridians, the number is
downright cold. With the wind making for
blustery conditions, Broward College (BC)
students set out to make the five mile trek in
less than two hours and no one complained.
The students had one driving motive: to help
Haiti.
In a joint effort to raise awareness and
donations for the people in Haiti, members
of three different clubs got together on North
Campus for the organized walk through the
city of Coconut Creek.
The Roots Club, the Honors Society and
Phi Theta Kappa gathered in the Breezeway
on a brisk Sunday morning to make the trek.
The walk began from the campus to Lyons
Road onto Atlantic Boulevard, then State
Road 7 onto Coconut Creek Parkway and
back to the campus, making the feat about
five miles.
Although the attendance was small with
only 23 participants, spirits were high and
the feat was accomplished in an hour and 45minutes. As students walked, carrying Haiti
signs, passing drivers honked in support.
Each person who walked made a donation
of five dollars or more. Donations were even
collected from individuals who could not
attend the walk.
Jessica Donette, a member of the Roots
Club, was not born in Haiti but grew up
there. She and two other club members,
Laurence Gonzalez and Betty Jean, are about
to make a week long trip to Haiti. “We’re
each taking a tent. It can accommodate a
family of four and would help provide much
needed shelter,” she said.
The students would have to travel to the
Dominican Republic and take a six to eight
hour bus ride to Haiti. “There are a lot of
direct flights being cancelled and it has
become increasingly difficult to go through
the airport. By taking the bus we are sure to
get there,” said Donette.
Johnny Petit, a member of the Roots Club
and president of the Honors Society, plans
to visit Haiti in August. “My brother who
lives in Haiti is fortunate because my mother
sends him stuff and he gets it, but others are
not so lucky. People are in dire need of our
help,” he said.
During the summer more of the Roots
Club members are planning a larger scale
mission. With the monetary donations the
club has collected, the group hopes to build
a small school for the children that were
displaced during this disaster. They look
forward to staying in Haiti for enough time
to inspire the children by mentoring and
helping them in any way they can.
march 22, 2010
page 10
News
It is never too late to return to college
continued from FRONT PAGE
Without looking back, Reilly continued
working diligently at Merrill Lynch where
she met her husband, Tom. “We had a
great romance, married in 1950 and raised
five children,” she wrote in one of her
numerous essays, “[They] grew up here in
South Florida- healthy, highly literate and
with strong characters. [They are] five men
and women, all well-respected in their own
fields. My Tom passed away in 1989.”
Although Reilly said she has lived a very
fulfilling life, these obstacles prevented her
from continuing her education sooner.
Once the Reilly family moved to South
Florida, Reilly’s love of classic literature
motivated her to seek out a job at her local
library. The library’s only requirement was a
high school diploma. “It had been over 60
years and I couldn’t remember,” she said.
“So I called up the New York public school
board.” Upon realizing she didn’t have her
diploma, Reilly recalled seeing a sign for a
GED degree at a local school. They assured
her they would help her receive her GED
in no time. she received her GED in March
2007 at 80 years-of-age. After receiving the
equivalent of a high school diploma, Reilly
began tutoring at Plantation High School.
Friends were the first to plant the thought
of college in Reilly’s mind. She didn’t think
her Social Security checks would cover the
expenses, but someone suggested she apply
for a Pell Grant. “[I thought] they would
never waste that on me,” she said. “But they
did!” Her eyes light up at the memory.
“It has opened up a whole new life for
me,” Reilly said. “When you get older it’s
like you’re a battery winding down, but I’m
winding up.” Still, beginning college at an
advanced age had its drawbacks. Reilly had
to cross over from a typewriter generation
to a new millennium of computers and the
Internet. “I could Google and had been on
ebay twice,” she said, “I wasn’t even semiliterate.” Walking into orientation at BC’s
Central Campus almost had Reilly running
for the hills when she saw the machines. A
kind advisor “was determined that I wasn’t
photo by sheri wieseman
Betty Reilly might be 84, but she still attends
class like every other student.
going to leave,” Reilly said.
“I had buried the idea of college years
ago,” she said, but she soon found herself
doing something she hadn’t done in more
than 60 years: walk into a classroom on the
first day of school. “I felt like an oddity,” she
admits. “I didn’t know where to sit.” It didn’t
help that some students asked her if she was
the professor, either.
Soon college became “like a candy store...
I wanted it all,” she said, “My 20-year-old
wish didn’t die, it was just dormant.”
Reilly takes a bus “rain or shine” everyday
to school from Sunrise. Her GPA is 3.8,
something that makes her “damn proud,”
she said. “I am always in competition with
my last grade...always striving for more.”
“I found out I could write three years
ago,” she said. Writing, along with history,
has become a passion for her and she plans to
have her writings published someday.
Reilly doesn’t want to be a “condo clone,”
a term she uses referring to the sedimentary
people of her age group. She discusses her
dreams in the way most students do: “When
I grow up...”
Reilly wants to be a role model for those
who feel their dream is too far out of reach
and their moment for greatness has come
and gone. With her rolling book-bag in tow
and pearls around her neck, she will continue
working toward her renewed dream and will
continue reverberating: “It’s never too late,
look at me!”
Comedian ‘Damn Fool’ bases
his act on life experiences
continued from FRONT PAGE
photo by reuben zuazua
Comedian Jessi Campbell fooling around before the
show.
Read Online!
The closing act comedian and aspiring actor, Simpson,
was a crowd pleaser. Simpson chose the stage name “Damn
Fool” because he thinks life’s lessons can be learned in any
situation.
“I believe that you could learn something from everybody
including a fool. When people hear my name they think of
me as ignorant and really I’m far from it,” said Simpson.
His material also comes from personal experiences. “It’s
how I see my experiences from a damn fool’s perspective,”
www.broward.edu/observer
he said.
Throughout the tropical-themed event, Student Life
staff gave away free t-shirts and cups to the audience while
dressed in hula skirts and flowery necklaces. To create a
luau atmosphere, everything from the stage to the tickets
were decorated with flowers. The entrance to the Power 96
afterparty fit in with the theme as a long line of students
endured the cold to get inside and enjoy the music and
dancing.
Members of Student Life considered the event to be a
success.
By Whitney Johnston
Staff Writer
Marc Quesenberry, former flight team captain, checks the plane’s gas
as part of his preflight procedure.
It’s hard work with little free time, but
the members of the Seahawks Flight
Team have caught the bug- the aviation
bug. Team member Niv Karni explains:
“Flying is like a virus, and when you see so
many people that have the same virus you
have, it’s exciting. You know that you’re
not alone.”
Don’t worry, the virus isn’t contagious.
Most are born with it. However, if you
hang out around Broward College’s (BC)
Aviation Institute long enough, you might
start to feel the placebo effect.
As most of you probably know, the
institute is sandwiched between South
Campus and North Perry Airport. This
is the home of the award winning team,
and it is here that its members live and
breathe all things aviation.
As part of the professional pilot
technology program, these students spend
their days (and nights) studying everything
from airport operations to aerodynamics,
from aviation safety to interpreting
weather conditions.
They can be so busy “changing in and
5th School Overall Ranking
4th School Flight Events Ranking
5th School Ground Events Ranking
1st Message Drop Ranking - Niv Karni & Oryn Compton
Drop an eight ounce object out of a plane traveling 110 mph
at 200 feet, and try to hit a target about 5 by 5 feet.
1st Ground Trainer Ranking - Niv Karni
Design by
Melissa Correa &
Liz Fleming
Briefing Room
Check the
weather. Meet
with instructor.
Discuss flight plan
and procedures.
out of uniforms that [they]
forget to put on socks,” said Marc Quesenberry,
last year’s team captain. They wake up at 5 a.m.
to do cross-country flights, practice emergency
operations and put in a minimum of 40 hours
flying time for each certification they go for.
When you’re manning the controls of a plane
7,000 feet in the air there can be no jack-of-alltrades, master of none.
As the flight team’s coach Eric Boylan puts
it, “You must be a master of all.”
Boylan is not only the team’s coach but
also an assistant professor in aviation, a
pilot, a flight instructor and the adviser
for Eta Pi, the BC chapter of Alpha Eta
Rho (AHP), a collegiate fraternity
for those interested in the field of
commercial aviation.
This attitude has set an example
for the team, who had the
opportunity to show how much
their hard work pays off at the
most recent Region IX National
Intercollegiate Flying Association
(NIFA) Safety and Flight Evaluation
Conference (SAFECON).
In November of last year, the team
traveled to Jacksonville, Fla. to compete in
ground and flight events against both four-year
and two-year programs from seven colleges
within Florida, Alabama and Georgia. Against
schools such as Embry-Riddle Aeronautical
University and Miami-Dade College.
“Embry-Riddle, Embry-Riddle, Embry-Riddle,”
mocked Quesenberry about the awards ceremony.
“That’s what we kept hearing.”
Finally, it was their turn. The team ended up
taking home two first places and were the only twoyear program students to place in four of the events.
They also placed ahead of all two-year programs in all
of the overall rankings.
Currently, AHP and the current flight team members
are planning for the 2010 Region IX NIFA SAFECON,
which they will be hosting Nov. 9-13. This will be BC’s
first time hosting the event, and the team is gearing up
to squash the competition.
If you think you might have the bug or just have
an interest in aviation, AHP is looking for volunteers
and sponsors to help with the upcoming event. For
more information contact Eric Boylan at eboylan@
broward.edu.
Attempt to fly a very specific pattern at changing airspeeds
and altitudes solely through the use of instruments.
Preflight
Before take-off
Check flaps, oil,
gas, etc. Put on
socks. Untie
plane. Get in.
Call tower.Taxi to
runway. Identify
yourself and your
flight plan.
Take-off & landing
Take-off. Do
maneuvers.
Landing. Post
flight check.
Jay Bishir, current flight team captain, demonstrates the controls of one of a Cirrus
SR-20.
Photos by Liz Fleming & Whitney Johnston
march 22, 2010
page 15
Entertainment
‘Greenzone’
explores Baghdad
Damon keeps viewers on edge
By David Levitan
Staff Writer
Within the first few minutes into
the new movie “Greenzone” you’re
thrown right into the invasion of
Baghdad in 2003. While the film
focuses on the military leaders of
Iraq escaping from the tumbling
capitol, its images resemble the
historic truth and actuality of the
events occurring in the country.
Director Paul Greengrass fuses the
vivid realism of the war on terror
into a fictional story.
The film jumps ahead into the
year 2006 where U.S. Army Chief
Warrant Officer Roy Miller (Matt
Damon) and his team search for
weapons of mass destruction yet
none have turned up. The team is
disappointingly sent to ridiculous
abandoned toilet manufacturers
and empty lots in search of
weaponry.
Upon returning to base, Miller
questions the credibility of the
military’s informant regarding the
faulty locations they have been
sent to. Despite his weary feelings
on the unreliable source, ranking
officials claim that their informant
photo courtesy of aceshowbiz.com
Roy Miller searches for weapons of mass destruction in ‘Greenzone.’
is accurate and continues to send
Miller and his men on another
wild goose chase.
Detailed and realistic images of
the situation and events occurring
overseas in Iraq bring this film to a
utilitarian view of what American
soldiers are going through. With
a strong cast behind Damon, who
merges his strong past action roles
in order to bring Miller to life, the
film’s believability is outstanding.
Damon may be the big name in the
cast, but Brendan Gleeson (Martin
Brown) and Khalid Abdalla
(Freddy) steal the screen in their
magnificent performances.
Every scene in the movie is well
thought out with every detail and
piece placed in front of the camera.
While the cinematography is
shaky, it takes you into the element
of the cameraman, (almost like an
on-the-scene journalist,) racing
through the streets of Baghdad.
The only down side to this style
shooting is the grainy shots during
the nighttime battles and chase
scenes through the city.
Greengrass creatively adds
news broadcasts at the climax of
the film to relate the theme to the
viewers personal memories. The
juxtaposition of the broadcasts,
including former U.S. President
George Bush’s famous “Mission
Accomplished” speech, alongside
the terror of the war in the film
adds a certain irony. The irony
continues to drive the storyline and
even bring humor to the serious
subject matter.
“Greenzone” will have you
sitting on the edge of your seat as
Miller hunts for his own reason for
being in Iraq. While keeping the
facts straight and inventing more
of a backline story to outline how
important the rebuilding of Iraq
the Iraqi people, Greengrass has
formulated a strong movie with a
powerful plot.
Public
Service
Announcement
Don’t drink &
post on social
networking
sites.
Sober you will
thank drunk
you later.
Your Friends,
The Observer
march 22, 2010
page 16
Entertainment
Laughs abound in ‘Our Family Wedding’
By Cristina Miralles
Central Bureau Chief
This time America Ferrera is
not about to share a pair of pants,
but a life with the man she is going
to marry. Compared to her roles
in the puerile and convivial “The
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants”
and “Ugly Betty,” Ferrera has
grown up. Ferrera may have found
romance in enchanted denim and
soared through the world of New
York City high fashion in the past,
but she is now venturing down
the aisle in her 2010 movie, “Our
Family Wedding.”
This is not your typical wedding
film by any means. The common
wedding film may consist of a few
bridal family altercations which
later result in a heartfelt conclusion
celebrated with wedding cake and
bridal blessings.
In this particular film you will
find a large difference in family
feuds; the prospective wedding is
almost called off because Marcus
(Lance Gross) and Lucia’s (Ferrara)
fathers don’t seem to get along.
Bradford (Forest Whitaker) and
Miguel (Carlos Mencia) can’t
seem to wrap their heads around
a Black and Latino wedding. The
racial quarrel only adds turmoil to
Marcus and Lucia’s engagement
plans.
While the young couple has
no other wish but to get married,
their families are too caught up in
traditions and the color of skin to
focus on what is really important:
love. When it comes to planning
a wedding, the characters begin to
realize that although the marriage
may be theirs for a life time, the
wedding is simply an elaborate
show for their families. The director,
Rick Famuyiwa, has cultivated the
tense battle of interracial marriage
versus conservatism into hilarity.
The weeks leading up to Marcus
and Lucia’s wedding may have
been dreadful for the couple, but
serves as a hysterical refuge for
moviegoers.
The ideas of family, tradition,
and love make the movie
meaningful while still keeping
an edge of humor. “Our Family
Wedding” is a much deserved
break from your customary love
story. The cast were all well-chosen
and had great chemistry on the
screen. Gross and Ferrera were
highly convincing in their romantic
This is not your typical family wedding.
performance; viewers will be easily
persuaded that the fictitious couple
are truly in love.
Of all of the relationships the
film offered, the rapport between
Bradford and Miguel, stole the
show. The fathers’ loathing of each
other added more laughs to the
successful film.
Along with the incredible cast,
the music complemented the film
very well and set the perfect mood
for each scene.
“Our Family Wedding” is a fall
out of your seat comedy and keeps
viewers entertained the whole time.
If you want to watch a film that has
a little bit of romance, action and
Photo courtesy of www.latinaroom.com
a lot of comedy, then this is your
movie.
The film serves a little bit of
everything for everyone. Family
always tends to find a way to
intervene dramatically, but makes it
all the more thrilling. As the tagline
of the film states, “To have and to
hold … till dads do us part.”
march 22, 2010
page 17
Entertainment
Rock out to an opera
about a ‘Rat Bastard’
By Skylar Siegel
Contributing Writer
For more than two decades Frank Falestra,
better known as “Rat Bastard,” has shaped
the South Florida music scene. A masterful
producer and an eminent luminary in the
noise music movement, Falestra is without
a doubt one of the most admired local
heroes. Falestra is no stranger to Miami
music and tales of the musician have been
circulating over the years. These stories often
involve elements of humor, insubordination,
obsession, destruction and violence. Despite
the antics and legends, Falestra is often the
target of violent intentions rather than the
perpetrator of them. He is somewhat of a
pacifist; he would rather raise the volume of
his guitar than his fists.
To pay tribute to Falestra, Rob Elba (of
the Holy Terrors) and friend, Brian Franklin,
began to form a proper memorial. Last year,
they started writing a musical -- yes, really
-- based on Falestra’s life. The project has
been dubbed “Hearing Damage: the Rat
Opera,” and this March 6 marked its first
public performance, at Tobacco Road in
downtown Miami. The atmosphere was
one of celebration, with Falestra himself
making the rounds and catching up with old
friends.
The concert began with the energetic,
boisterous “Wings and Parts 1,” followed
by “A Boy Called Rat.” Although many of
the songs performed at the beginning of the
night were acoustic, things eventually got
revved up by band mates Will Trev, Russell
Mofsky, Andre Serafini and Jim Camacho.
Another highlight of the night was the
song “Outside the Bar,” a tribute to Falestra’s
guerilla method of mounting spontaneous
concerts in unlikely places. The song really
captured the magic of his creative approach.
All in all, the evening was a fun unveiling
of a well-deserved musical tribute to one
of Miami’s legendary musical mavericks.
If you missed the event don’t fret, another
performance is planned for Oct. 3 at
Churchill’s, which promises to be a more
fleshed out and theatrical stage show.
Photo courtesy of www.ratopera.com
A tribute to Frank Falestra, a local musical icon.
Don’t wait for the DVD to experience ‘Wonderland’
By David Levitan
Staff Writer
Tim Burton’s “Alice in Wonderland” has
you falling down the rabbit hole with Alice
(Mia Wasikowska) as she searches for her
greatness, or as the Mad Hatter would call it,
her “muchness.” Burton’s spin on the classic
takes the audience forward about 10 years
into the future with Alice as a 19-year-old
young woman finding her way through the
mysterious land of Wonderland, or in this
film’s case, Underland.
Burton’s interpretation of the Lewis Carroll
classic brings back the world of nonsense
and madness that the original Disney film
captured, but with an unorthodox twist. The
crafty design leaps right off the screen with
presence and beauty.
The movie was originally set out to
be filmed two dimensional and was later
converted into a three dimensional feature
with the ability to play on an IMAX screen.
Although the film was converted to 3D,
Burton avoided cheesy graphics and kept
the details throughout each scene. The
film is a uniform work of art that
has the perfect balance to enjoy
on any format.
For Wasikowska, the role
of Alice was well-chosen and attributed
with her obvious beauty and her stunning
performance. Her counterpart,
Johnny Depp is no stranger
to Burton’s eccentric cinema.
Depp, who has been a lead player
in Burton’s “Sweeney Todd” and
“Edward Scissorhands,” presented
his role as the Mad Hatter without
overacting
and
overpowering
the other roles around him. He
brought a new maniacal genius to
his character that exceeds the already
high expectations of Depp’s ability.
Similar to the juxtaposition
of “Hook” is to “Peter Pan,”
screenwriter Linda Woolverton
kept “Alice in Wonderland”
in the same realm of Carroll’s
vision in “Alice’s Adventures
in
Wonderland.”
Woolverton parallels the
artistic spin-off to the
original story.
This trip to Underland may have the same
premise with a rabbit hole to another land,
but is not entirely on cue with
Carroll’s book. The film begins
with Alice being taken to
a Victorian suitor, but her
head is in the clouds
with nonsense.
After being
proposed
to by
h e r
suitor she catches sight of a peculiar hare
with a waist-coat pocket and a watch. She
follows the hare running through the white
rose bushes and soon she falls down the rabbit
hole into Underland. In this mystery land,
the Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter) has
seized control of the land from her sister, the
White Queen (Anne Hathaway).
Alice is reintroduced to the land she once
knew, while its inhabitants question if she is
the “right” Alice. According to the people of
Underland, Alice is the only one who can slay
the jabberwocky, an evil monster guarding
the Red Queen, and restore Underland to
the White Queen.
Burton’s “Alice in Wonderland” merges
major elements from the 1951 animated
film and Carroll’s classic novel. Familiar
aspects like the Red Queen’s croquet match
and the mad tea party hone a darker tone,
but pay homage to the classics.
For fans of the original movie, this
version is by no means a remake. The film
offers a brand new adventure in Wonderland
that has yet to be seen. With a strong storyline
played out by a well-chosen cast, the
film brings out a strong modern
day visual of the classic that won
the hearts and young imaginations
of many.
Upcoming
Hot Tub Time Machine
March 26
Rated R
Chloe
March 26
Rated R
Date Night
April 9
Rated PG-13
How to Train Your Dragon
March 26
Rated PG
Clash of the Titans
April 2
Not rated
Kick-Ass
April 16
Rated R
march 22, 2010
page 18
Entertainment
Jazz Ensemble serves up their specialty at brunch
By Buzz Lamb
Staff Writer
One of Fort Lauderdale’s most
popular community events, the
Sun Trust Jazz Brunch, welcomes
music lovers, picnic parties and
Sunday strollers to the Riverwalk
Arts and Entertainment District
the first Sunday of every month.
On March 7 the Broward
College (BC) Jazz Ensemble,
under the direction of Jason
Ainsworth, played some mean jazz
on the Esplanade Stage alongside
the New River in downtown Fort
Lauderdale. According
to
Ainsworth,
this was the first time BC had
performed at the popular music
venue. Their music made you want
to dance, clap your hands or tap
your feet.
Ainsworth, 36, a music
professor at the college for the past
seven years, said he arranged for
the ensemble to appear a couple of
years ago but the event was rained
out. “A torrential downpour,”
he recalled, “no one could play a
single note.”
“I’ve been working with
Stephanie Brady from the parks
and recreation department to set
up another time. We finally made
it and it feels good,” he said after
PHOTO BY BUZZ LAMB
The BC Jazz Ensemble performs at Riverwalk Arts and Entertainment District.
the musicians completed their first
of three 45-minute sets.
The group kicked off the jam
session with an energetic rendition
of “Sugar,” written in 1927 by
Maceo Pinkard, followed by their
version of Oliver Nelson’s “Critic’s
Choice” and the swinging bossa
nova tune “El Comandanté.” Each
song featured three or four soloists
who kept the arrangements lively.
Ainsworth said there were
20 members of the ensemble
appearing on stage. He said the
jazz group is comprised of about
50 percent students and 50 percent
volunteers. “The volunteers are
local professionals who mentor
the students,” he said. “This is a
great opportunity for the Broward
Spend some time getting
into ‘Getting Out’
BC theatre
department puts
on new play
Tickets
March 18- 28
Thurs. - Sat. 8 p.m./Sun. 2 p.m.
$5 Students, Faculty & Staff
$10 General Admission
BC Central Fine Arts Theatre
Bldg 6 - 2nd Floor
By Lyssa Ray
Contributing Writer
Opening March 18 on Central
Campus, “Getting Out” is a gritty
play that highlights the duality
of one woman’s character as she
fluctuates and evolves between
two psychological personas. The
cast of “Getting Out” is made up
of Broward College (BC) students
and is directed by theatre professor,
Jett Canary. Written by Marsha
Norman, the play focuses on the
multiplicity of human nature as
represented through the life of one
woman as she matures during her
time in prison and the time shortly
after her release.
Utilizing a Jekyll and Hyde
twist, “Getting Out” makes a
distinction between the two
psychological personas with the aid
of two distinct names: Arlene and
Arlie. Arlene, the more mature
nature of the character, is portrayed
by a poised Pamela Della Bella
College students to perform in
front of a huge crowd.”
Ricardo Esquilin, 19, is a
BC sophomore who plays the
trumpet and the flugelhorn in the
jazz ensemble. Esquilin hopes to
transfer to the New School in New
York or William Patterson College
in New Jersey after he completes
his studies at BC in May. “In any
case, I’m going to the New York
area,” he said with a smile. “That’s
where all the big name performers
get their start, and that’s where the
jobs are.”
Esquilin started playing the
trumpet when he was 11 years old. His ultimate goal is to become
a musical arranger and a soloist.
According to Esquilin, Glen
Friedman, a volunteer musician,
has been an inspiration to him. “He played with jazz flautist Nestor
Torres,” Esquilin exclaimed.
Freidman, 35, said he attended
Broward Community College
in 1998. “Now I have my own
recruiting firm.” Friedman said the setting at
the Esplanade Stage was a perfect
opportunity for the students to get
some needed exposure. “These kids
really sound so much better than
some of the other young groups I
have heard.”
The next performance of the
BC Jazz Ensemble will be at Bailey
Hall on Friday, April 16 at 8
p.m. “We also do jazz jams every
Tuesday night on Central Campus
in building 4, [room] 104 and
there are four additional combos
that play on Tuesday and Thursday
nights as well,” said Ainsworth. For more information contact
Ainsworth at 954-201-6696.
Photo Courtesy of bc theatre department
The diverse personalities of Arlie and Arlene give a Jekyll and Hyde twist
to the new production.
in a passionate yet surprisingly
grounded performance. Meanwhile
the more aggressive side of the
character is portrayed with a
mesmerizing primal performance
by fearless Shelbe Steel. The
different performances allow for
an ample juxtaposition between
the imprisoned Arlie and more
reformed Arlene.
Many theatergoers may shy
away from “Getting Out” because
of the gritty truth it represents. It
is not, by any means, a pretty play.
Adam Marks plays the character
Carl, a drug-addicted pimp, and
feels that “the mentality of [Carl’s
relationship with the Arlene] is that
it’s a power struggle.” This idea of
a power struggle is one that will
weave in and out throughout the
entire theatrical performance as the
characters fight, both physically and
psychologically, with one another
in order to achieve their goals.
Canary used his role as director
as an opportunity to bring
various elements together in an
artistic collaboration to reflect his
interpretation of the play’s theme.
“In order to achieve redemption or
reformation one must accept the
past,” described Canary.
From the acting style to the set
design, Canary’s directorial vision
seems to revolve around his choice
of theme. Religion is the tool
through which Arlene achieves
“redemption and reformation,”
and religious undertones are
exemplified by the displayed
picture of Jesus Christ on the set
and the religiously styled dialogue
are clear throughout the play.
“Getting Out” is an edgy
theatrical piece that will leave the
audience members awed by its
presentation of artistic excellence.
The cast, crew and directing
members of the production display
obvious creative talent while
incorporating their various skills
to create a truly defined theatrical
performance.
Yet for all the
accolades this play may deserve,
some people may not accept it
simply because of its dark nature
and mature themes.
Despite what conservative
optimists may say, the play is a
captivating story that bravely looks
at the darker side of life full in the
face while maintaining a conscience
by upholding the possibility of
hope. It is a story about the freedom
one woman achieves by walking
out of a prison, releasing herself
from internal demons and finally
achieving a state of redemptive
grace. In short, the play is about
getting out.
march 22, 2010
page 19
Features
Top cop joins campus safety in new position
By Buzz Lamb
Staff Writer
District Director of Campus Safety,
Security and Emergency Preparedness. That
is the title of the new position created by
Broward College’s (BC) Board of Trustees at
their January meeting on South Campus.
At the Feb. 23 Board meeting on North
Campus, BC President J. David Armstrong
Jr. introduced Larry Massey Jr. as the person
who has been selected to fill that position on
an interim basis.
In a recent interview, Massey, 47,
said that as a student at Plantation High
School he knew he wanted to work in law
enforcement. “I didn’t have the opportunity
to go to college right out of high school so I
went into the U.S. Army,” he said.
Massey said that after his stint in the
Army he returned to Plantation in 1986.
“I used my position in the military as a
springboard to get into the Plantation Police
Department.” Massey was employed by the
city for 24 years, working his way up from
patrol officer to the chief of police in 2003,
a position he held until he retired from the
agency in October 2009.
During his career in the police department
Massey spent time furthering his education
as well. “Coincidently, it was Broward
College that gave me my start in the world
of education,” he said with a smile. Massey
enrolled at Broward Community College in
1992 and then went on to Florida Atlantic
University to get his bachelor’s degree in
criminal justice policy and management.
Massey likened what occurred during his
tenure in the Plantation Police Department
to what he sees at the college. “The police
department might not have kept pace with
the growth of the community. Campus
Safety might not be keeping pace with the
growth of the college,” he said. “I can see
it…the college has grown exponentially
during the last few years.” Massey said that
when the Loaned Executive Management
Program, commonalty known as LEMAP,
report was presented the college decided
it was time to bring about some change to
campus security.
Massey said when he was initially
contacted by Linda Wood, dean of the
Institute of Public Safety, he was not
interested in the position. “I had worked
very hard for 24 years. I had just retired
and was reintroducing myself to my family
because I hadn’t been spending enough time
with them,” he added.
During an interview, Massey said that
President Armstrong told him the college
was looking for a reformer, a change agent
who could build on the existing foundation.
“That piqued my interest. It reminded me of
what I did with Plantation. Suddenly, I had
an interest in the job.”
Massey said, “I could see that the president
and the board had a firm commitment to do
what is right for the college to act in the best
interest of the people who work, learn and
play here.”
Massey said his first day on the job was Feb.
15. “I hit the ground running,” he said with
a laugh. Massey said he has already learned
that managing a city police department is a
whole different ballgame.
“I now have to operate under the theory
of cogovernance…of leadership by consensus
and decisions by committee,” he said.
“That’s not a bad thing, because we have a
Disabled student uses
grant to receive diploma
by Caroline Hopton
Columnist
There is more to 24 year-old Broward
College (BC) student, Tim Tsang, than
meets the eye. Tsang is deaf but has proven
through sheer will and determination that he
can succeed despite his disability. Not only
has he accomplished an Associate of Arts
degree but is now helping others as a math
tutor. He appears to be well on his way to
achieving his ultimate goal of becoming a
computer engineer.
Tsang, set to graduate in May after
finishing some additional classes, says
he is grateful to BC’s disability services
department and the TRIO (grant) program.
Their combined resources have enabled him
to achieve his AA a great deal faster than
anticipated.
In addition to portraying himself as
a smart and confident young man, Tsang
possesses good self-advocacy skills which
have no doubt set him on the right path.
Using sign language, through his
interpreter, Tsang was animated and at ease
while expressing his personal challenges,
ambitions and hope for the future. He
said that communicating with his peers can
sometimes be difficult as most are unable
to sign. He added, however, that today’s
technological advancements have made it a
lot easier.
Apart from word communication on a
cell phone or computer, there is a telephone
relay service available to him. He signs to
an operator through a two-way video camera
and the operator voices the message to the
receiver.
Tsang was not born with a disability.
He acquired hearing loss through a common
childhood illness, chicken pox, at eight and
a half months. He feels that he compensates
for his disability with heightened senses in
other areas. He said, “Because of my deafness
I am more visually aware of my surroundings
and more keen to visual perceptions.”
Tsang has an adventurous side to him
and considers himself “internationally
orientated.” His parents are Chinese. He
was born in Suriname and has traveled to
several countries, including Canada, where
he was raised, and still has plans to visit
Europe and other countries in Asia.
In addition to his professional
ambitions, Tsang said that on a personal level
he definitely wants to be married and have
children but that he will have to wait until
his studies are complete as “girlfriends take
up a lot of time.”
Photo courtesy of buzz lamb
Larry Massey served on the Plantation Police force for 24 years.
collective imagination from an entire group
of people.”
Massey says he doesn’t intend to look at
the past but plans rather to determine where
BC is now and what the future holds for
campus security. He also wants to develop
a greater visibility for campus security. “I
haven’t looked at our security programs or
our methodology for staffing levels. At this
point in time I can’t take on both roles of
supervising the day-to-day operation of
campus safety and moving us from where
we are now to where we need to be in the
future,” he said.
In a nutshell, Massey said he will focus
on customer service and protection of people
and property. In doing so, Massey would like
to implement a college version of a computeraided dispatch center and a centralized record
management system. “My goal is to have top
notch professional campus safety people and
on-going training for those people.”
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march 22, 2010
page 21
Opinion
Once the travel bug bites, you keep traveling
being in another country is everything that’s
different from your own.
The longest period I have spent living
overseas was 14 years in Antigua, West
Indies. I went
to Antigua in
1996 with the
intention
of
staying for three
weeks and then
moving on to
explore South
and
Central
America.
However,
Antigua worked
her magic on
me, like so
many
others
before me, I was
hooked. Life in
Antigua was the complete opposite of my
fast-paced life in London.
I was in a third world country, with dirty
water running from the faucet, roads that
had more potholes than flat surface, and
power could be off for up to eight hours a
day. Gone were the everyday conveniences
“
that I once took for granted. However,
beautiful weather, incomparable beaches and
a far more relaxed way of life compensated
for all the shortcomings.
Don’t
ever
be fooled into
believing that it is
easy to adapt to a
new way of life, no
matter how easily
you believe you
adjust to change.
It takes years of
perseverance,
tolerance and hard
work to become
totally comfortable
and be accepted
as a part of a
community.
It’s
really like starting
from scratch.
I have no idea where life may take me
next, but I do know that Antigua will always
be as much a part of me as my country of
origin, England. I am certain that I will
never lose the urge to visit those countries I
have yet to see.
Discovering and
appreciating new
experiences and patterns
of thought are critical if
you really want to fit in.
Ethnocentrism definitely
has no place abroad.
“
The travel bug was instilled in me at a
very young age. Venturing overseas has
always been a major part of my life and has
greatly influenced my way of thinking and
perspective on life. I believe it broadens one’s
range of thought and heightens creativity. I
highly recommend it and encourage fellow
students not just to travel overseas, but to
take any opportunity that arises to study or
live abroad.
To truly understand and appreciate
another culture, one needs to spend time in
another country and be willing to adapt to a
new way of life. Experiencing the world can
also give you a competitive edge.
Being culturally sensitive and aware is
crucial to survival in another country. We
can offend people through ignorance and
insensitivity without even realizing it. Be
open-minded, intuitive and have
the will to explore. Discovering
and appreciating new experiences
and patterns of thought are
critical if you really want to fit in.
Ethnocentrism definitely has no
place abroad.
I consider myself very
fortunate to have been raised in
the United Kingdom where travel is not only
viewed as a luxury, but as a part of life. This
is no doubt due to the lousy weather which
drives people to the sunnier climates of the
Mediterranean to toast themselves on the
beach, or the snow-capped mountains of the
French or Italian Alps for a spot of skiing.
I have vivid memories of my first time
living abroad. I was five years old when my
family moved from a sleepy town in England
to Queens, New York; my brother and I
loved it.
The highlights for us were being escorted
to the school bathroom by a policeman with
a guard dog, trick-or-treating at Halloween
and watching cartoons from the early hours
of the morning (much to the annoyance of
our parents). This may seem strange, but
what’s most exciting and exhilarating about
Is chivalry really dead or just lying dormant?
By Farrah Fleitman
Staff Writer
“Woman, shut up and make me a
sandwich.” A sensible gal shudders at the
thought of her significant other barking
such orders while he’s watching the ball
game with his buddies, potbelly visible
underneath a mustard-stained Dodgers
tee.
This seemingly exaggerated image is
not such a far cry from what can happen
on a date gone awry. Two people meet,
they hit it off, and they fall head-overheels, but eventually the initial spark of
romance starts to fade, and both parties
let down their guard and reveal the lessthan-attractive aspects of themselves. She
yells at him for everything and he shrugs
it off, but sooner or later they realize
they had nothing in common anyway
and go their separate ways. She thinks to
herself, “Man, what happened to him?
He used to be the perfect gentleman.”
Once back on the dating scene, she still
can’t help but wonder, “Do all seemingly
perfect gentlemen eventually degenerate
into these gross pastrami-and-mustardsandwich-eating slobs? Are they all going
to somehow forget how to hold a door
open and how to bring flowers home or
even how to sweep a lady off her feet?”
Not a perfect man.
This begs the question: Is chivalry
dead?
Webster’s defines the chivalrous man as a thanks to the jerks that stood me up after
“gallant or distinguished gentleman.”
waiting hours for their calls that never came,
Can the idealized knight-in-shining- or the ones that mumble degrading names
armor persona translate to this day and age? “jokingly,” or that fully expect you to play
The answer is yes, and though I’ve personally the sugar momma role by having me pay
had plenty of experiences in which to believe for everything, or drive everywhere. I was
otherwise, I do still know that there are true even starting to become one guy’s personal
gentlemen out there. Could they still be chauffer.
diamonds in the rough? Perhaps, but they
However, when I look at both sides of the
exist.
spectrum, I can definitely see how women can
I’ll admit the opposite sex has done make you want to act anything but civilized.
nothing short of to infuriate me. Many a Between mixed signals, mood swings, false
feminist book was devoured in my day. All infidelity accusations and endless complaints,
indecisive even though we want to
be assertive. We are woman, hear
us roar; watch us as we demand
independence and equality, yet feel
a stinging wave of annoyance when
a guy expects us to foot the bill on
the first date.
I don’t want clichés. I don’t
want Fabio to swoop down on a
white horse and whisk me off into
the sunset. Nor do I want a sleaze
ball who thinks it’s okay to treat
women like sex objects. Don’t leave
dinner with me to go dancing with
somebody else and then rattle off
a, “Baby, you know you’re the only
one in my life.” It’s incredulous and
nothing short of ridiculous. All I
want is a mutual understanding
that we are both human beings and
should be treated as such.
At the end of the day, no matter
how independent and seemingly
impervious a girl may be, or how
tough-skinned a guy comes off as,
all they really want is to be loved. If
you truly love and care for someone,
you’ll respect them, appreciate
them. It’s not about the outlandish
gestures - the expensive dinners, the
thousands of roses at your doorstep
Photo Courtesy of http://www.fabioifc.com
on Valentine’s Day and tickets to
see your favorite band (although
no one’s complaining if you do want to take
it’s hard to say which of the two genders gives that initiative.) It’s about being genuine and
going out of your way for the one you share
the other a bigger headache.
It must be terribly frustrating for you your heart with.
These aren’t the medieval times. There is
fellas when women disregard “the nice guy”
who treats her like a queen, and instead fall no suit of armor, but the fairytale romance
for a deadbeat who won’t give her the time little girls dream of, if that is what you want,
of day, or even when it seems like we are that’s what you’ll get. Well, it’s true; you do
ungrateful for all the sweet things you do. have a couple of frogs to kiss before prince
There are double standards to everything, charming waltzes into your life. But he’ll
come around nonetheless, and ladies will
and two sides to every story.
Some perceive the line between chivalry experience a modern-day twist on the old
and sexism to be a thinning one. On behalf code of chivalry, which is still in fact, very
of my gender, I will say we can be quite much alive.
March 22, 2010
page 22
Opinion
Confessions from your neighborhood cat lady
By Whitney Johnston
Designer
I recently attended a ceremony
to receive one of two scholarships
being awarded. The girl who
went up before me to accept
her scholarship received a long
introduction about how intelligent
she was, how she had been
accepted to graduate programs
at UCLA and Columbia, pretty
much her all around greatness.
For me to follow that was hard.
Fortunately, the most detailed part
of my introduction declared to the
audience my “passion” for chasing
down cats. Top that, Ms. Perfect.
Start date: March 1, 2009. The day
I moved to Miramar, Fla.
Kittens chased down: 10
Feral (wild) cats trapped: two
Semi-feral cats trapped: three
Of these there have been: three
trips to the Humane Society of
Broward County, two pick-ups by
Broward County’s Animal Control
and
Regulation
Department
(ACaRD), one euthanasia due to
feline leukemia virus, three months
of socializing kittens, three new
additions to my family, many days
of growing attached, many nights
of feeling heartbroken.
Broward County
Animal Care and
Regulation Division
End date: Never.
I’ve been doing this a long time,
chasing down animals, fostering
them, socializing them. I deal
mostly with cats, not because I don’t
like other animals, but because
it just happened to turn out this
way. I come from a long line of
cat whisperers. The past year has
been different than all the others,
though. All of the cats and kittens
were rescued in my backyard alone.
My backyard in the suburbs.
I don’t like to think about the
fates of the ones picked up and
dropped off. There are really only
two options for them: euthanasia
or adoption, and feral cats aren’t
Local places that
can help you
get your cat
fixed cheap:
Cats Exclusive, Inc.
Humane Society of
Broward County
Cartoon courtesy of www.countrysideanimalrescue.org
You won’t always be able to run away from it. Some areas offer hefty
fines for failure to spay or neuter your animals.
usually considered adoptable. I
try to take the advice of my good
friend, Arvella, who helps run a
rescue in New Orleans, La. She
is constantly reminding me that I
have to look at the big picture. For
every cat I send away, I am saving
thousands.
And she’s right. The statistics
prove it: One pair of breeding cats
and their offspring can produce
420,000 cats in seven years- 10
million in 10 years. The fact that
all 10 of the kittens I have rescued
over the past year came from the
same mama cat proves it.
Unfortunately, I’m a glass halfempty kind of girl. The numbers
that I pay more attention to are ones
like these: “About 30,000 dogs and
cats were euthanized in Broward
County last year, and six million
dogs and cats are euthanized in the
country every year because there
aren’t enough homes for all these
pets,” according ACaRD’s website.
Still, I try not to think about it.
I get it that some people believe
the myths about spaying and
neutering making pets overweight
or changing their personality
and whatnot. Do your research.
Pretty much all of the myths are
discredited.
I get it that having a pet fixed
can be expensive, but there are
programs and places that can help.
ACaRD’s SPOT program offers $10
spay/neuter if you qualify, and lowcost clinics such as Cats Exclusive,
Inc. in Margate, Fla. offer an array
of discounted services. There are no
excuses.
I get it that there are those who
just aren’t animal people.
You end up with this cat that you
don’t want. You don’t care about it,
so of course you’re not going to get
it fixed. Unless you are a complete
sociopath, you probably still care
about other people, though. Keep
in mind the animal control officers
who must deal firsthand with the
thousands of neglected animals.
Humane Society of
Greater Miami
Miami-Dade Animal
Services
Palm Beach County
Animal Care and
Control
Discount Spay &
Neuter
Peggy Adams Animal
Rescue League
The veterinarians who must
euthanize both the adoptable and
unadoptable ones and the workers
at shelters who grow hardened as
people come in to drop off litters
of kittens day after day, keep them
in mind, too.
Finally, don’t forget me, your
neighbor, who is exhausted from
cleaning up your mess.
march 22, 2010
page 23
Editorial
FROM OUR STAFF:
Among the many priorities of Broward College (BC), the safety of faculty, students and staff is
number one. Or at least it should be.
BC has provided students with a safe environment where they can be worry-free and do what they
have come here to do: learn. But that hasn’t been the situation this past semester on North Campus
when a disagreement between the college’s attorney and the Coconut Creek Police Department
(CCPD) was sparked over the wording of a contract.
For years, the CCPD has aided North Campus’ safety department in ensuring security. The
CCPD officers are essential because with them, our safety department is fully equipped to handle
every security issue.
When the contract came close to expiring, North Campus Provost Dr. Barbara Bryan proposed
a renewal to the Board of Trustees. BC’s attorney denied the proposal because he did not agree with
the contract’s wording. Contract disagreements are expected, but the Board needed to establish a
temporary solution to keep CCPD on North Campus while the long-term contract was being
discussed, in order to continue to keep students safe.
The Board left Dr. Bryan stuck between a rock and a hard place and so she did what she felt was
best to keep everyone safe: she asked for a contract extension with CCPD to continue their patrol of
the campus until she worked things out with the Board.
Unfortunately, that process took too long for CCPD and officers left the campus on Dec. 12, 2009
refusing service until they were paid the $38,000 that was owed to the department by the school.
North Campus was left poorly secured and without police protection for over a month until Bryan
presented the issue at the next Board meeting on Jan. 26, 2010. Out of necessity, the Board could not
prolong the issue any longer and they approved a contract renewal without fixing the wording at all,
which is the same reason they had denied it the first place.
According to North Campus Safety, the number of incident reports filed from the time the
security left to the time they returned, rose from eight to 19 reports. These unacceptable numbers
prove that the presence of the police was necessary, but completely overlooked due to the political
disagreements of the Board.
A system needs to be put in place so lapses in the college’s contracts – whether they
are concerning safety or campus food – can be prevented and everyone can be
assured that they are getting the best services BC can offer.
Politics got in the way of the safety of the students, which
should never happen.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Layout Editor
Managing Editor
Copy Editor
News Editor
Photo Editor
Sports Editor
North Bureau
Chief
Central Bureau
Chief
South Bureau
Chief
Liz Fleming
Jillian Goltzman
Lisa Lueng-Tat
Staff Writers
Stephanie Brossard
Vanessa Chang
Farrah Fleitman
Clayton Gutzmore
Jessica Poitevien
Buzz Lamb
David Levitan
Alexandra Martinez
Matthew Porche
Cristina Miralles
Melissa Correa
Alex Crawford
Sheri Wieseman
Contributing Writers
Lyssa Ray
Skylar Siegel
columnist
Kelly Rivera
Megan Finnerty
Adviser
Jennifer Shapiro
Caroline Hopton
Adviser’s
assistant
Designer
Chris Cutro
Whitney Johnston
The Observer is a bi-weekly consolidated newspaper
produced by students of Broward College. Our office
is located at South Campus, Bldg. 68-268, 7200 Pines
Blvd., Pembroke Pines, FL 33024. The newsroom can
be contacted at 754-273-LEAD, or Observer@mail.
broward.edu.
E-mails to the editor are encouraged. The writer’s
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For information concerning editorial policy or
advertising rates, call 954-201-8035.
Opinions expressed in this publication are those of the
writers and do not necessarily reflect those of BC students,
staff, faculty and administration.
History, pranks and gags
Written and designed by
Melissa Correa
Famous pranks
In 1996, Taco Bell claimed to have
bought the Liberty Bell. A few
hours later they stated that this
was a hoax after many civilians
were outraged.
In 1998, Burger King released a
“Left-Handed Whopper” which all
condiments were rotated 180 degrees
for left-handed customers. The next
day, Burger King announced that it
was all a practical joke.
In 2001, a Copenhagen
subway train appeared
to be rising from the
ground in front of the
town hall.
Photo Courtesy of everythingishistory.com
How it began
April 1, or as we all know, April
Fools Day, has been said to have many
theories behind how it first originated.
The most known is said to have begun in
France in 1582, when Pope Gregory XIII
introduced the Gregorian calendar to
replace the Julian calendar.
This change moved New Years Day
from March 25 to Jan. 1. During the Julian
calendar, the new year was celebrated
for eight days, up to April 1.
Many people were not informed
immediately or they denied this change.
They were made fun of or called fools
for not keeping up with the new year
date which continued the tradition to
this day.
Traditional pranks
Whoopie Cushion- The classic of all pranks, this is a bag
filled with air that imitates the sound of a fart when sat
on.
Flaming bag- A paper bag filled with fecal waste, placed on a
front porch, on fire and the prankster rings the doorbell.
When the person opens the door they stomp it out and get
poop on their shoes.
Baby powder in a blow dryer- Placing baby powder inside
the blow dryer will powderize your victim’s hair and face.
Snake Nut Can- While you think you’re going to reach for
some nuts, a fake snake jumps right out of the can.