ommunitarian - Delaware County Community College
Transcription
C ommunitarian The Volume 12, No. 3 Happy Thanksgiving from your favorite campus newspaper! Executive Editor Joe Smith goes behind the scenes at a Flyers game. See Page 3 DCCC maintenance man works magic with discarded pieces of wood. See Page 2 November 26, 2008 The DCCC Golf Team had a great season and came in second place at the EPCC Championship. See Page 7 Going under the knife with Nurse Pearsall By Laura Pizzuto Staff writer One’s first impression of Elizabeth “B.J.” Pearsall, R.N., BSN, a professor of perioperative nursing at Delaware County Community College, is that she is exactly the type of person that could comfort a patient’s anxieties about having surgery. This self described “healer” has kind eyes and a sensitive demeanor when she speaks about her experiences in nursing. She is also a 10-year survivor of breast cancer and has undergone surgeries herself. “It helped me put myself in the patient’s place,” said Pearsall about her surgery experience. “It has given me more empathy and I am more attuned to the patient’s fears.” Pearsall has been teaching at DCCC for more than 10 years. She enjoys being a part of DCCC’s Allied Health and Nursing program and working with Jane Rothrock, RN D.N.Sc., the head of the perioperative nursing and surgical technology program, she said. “I like the atmosphere of academia,” Pearsall said. Nursing and Allied Health are two of the most popular majors Elizabeth Pearsall, R.N., BSN, feels at home near the operating table. (Photo by Laura Pizzuto) for DCCC students. Nursing is a growing and secure industry for students to enter, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which reports that registered nurses have the largest number of healthcare jobs, with 2.5 million jobs in the United States. Registered nurses also have one of the largest growing occupations in the United States and are expected to generate about 587,000 new jobs from 2006-2019. Around 59 percent of these jobs are in hospitals, the BLS reports. Nursing jobs in physician’s offices and home health care services are expected to grow considerably faster then in hospitals because more procedures, including surgery, are being done on an outpatient basis, in or outside of hospitals, according to the BLS. An average of two perioperative nurses per surgical technologist is needed per surgery, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information. Pearsall was attracted to nursing because she thought it was a secure field, she said. Pearsall has 31 years of experience in nursing at Taylor Hospital. She has been working in the operating room, better known as the OR, since 1985. She also worked in the intensive care unit for eight years. See NURSE on Page 6 DCCC veterans group hosts reception By Walbert Young Staff writer The Armed Forces Information and Networking Association hosted a reception on Veterans’ Day to recognize, support and show appreciation for veterans who attend DCCC. About 30 students and faculty members attended the event, which was held in the café on main campus. The association has been working to reestablish its presence after being out of service since the Vietnam War, members said. The number of veterans in the school is rapidly increasing and approaching levels not seen since the late 1970s, said former Army Sgt. Michael Clifford, 26, veteran and vice president of the association. The association’s primary mission, according to Clifford’s wife, former Army Cpl. Victoria Clifford, 25, is to “ease the tension and frustration” that DCCC veterans face upon their return to civilian life by informing them of available benefits and helping them to network with other veterans. Victoria Clifford is the president of the association. Michael Clifford said he had a difficult time returning to the workforce in November 2005 after spending nearly five years in the service. His transition was particularly difficult, he believes, because his return home coincided with the beginning of the Michael and Victoria Clifford are joined by David Castor at current recession. a reception held in the campus Cafe on Veterans’ Day. The “It was a real uphill battle,” he said, “not knowing three veterans are the executive officers of the Armed Forces what programs were specifically engineered for Information and Networking Association. veterans.” The Cliffords, both of whom spent time in Iraq (Photo by Walbert Young) and, most recently, Germany said they are committed to helping veterans readjust to society through the association. They are aided by faculty advisor and Vietnam veteran Michael Sidoti and David Castor, a student association officer and liaison to Congressman Joseph Sestak. While attendees enjoyed cookies, crackers, cheese and pretzel nuggets, they picked up several handouts from a one-inch stack that outlined the benefits and services available to veterans, as well as their eligibility requirements. The benefits range from health care to housing loans, and are offered by agencies on the local, state and federal level. The association’s goal, in the very near future, is to have an easy-to-navigate Web site “instead of a table full of papers,” Victoria Clifford said. At the reception, members signed a guest book so they could be notified of future events and other important information. During the mid 1970s, the veterans club was the largest club on campus, according to DCCC faculty member Dennis Davis. Student veterans, Professors Linda Durkin and Labron Shuman, and financial aid adviser Annette Kelly were instrumental in reactivating the organization, now referred to as an association, nearly a year ago when they planted a tree in dedication of Veterans’ Day, said Durkin. The association is still relatively small, but its officers believe this will change soon. They stressed that the association is not only for veterans, but also for anyone who knows a veteran. “We want to cast a net out to as many as will grab onto it,” Michael Clifford said. Contact Walbert Young at [email protected] Page 2 November 26, 2008 CAMPUS LIFE An artist in our midst By Catherine Gledhill Staff writer DCCC maintenance man Richard Doney remembers the day his doctor told him, “You’ll never use your hands again.” After a head-on car collision, Doney experienced paralysis on the right side of his body, in addition to the severe damage of his hands. Although he was one year away from graduating as a machinist, he was unable to complete his certificate because of his injuries. So 32 years ago, Doney took a job as a Delaware County Community College maintenance man, hoping that mopping would strengthen the right side of his injured body. Now Doney is a self proclaimed “mopjockey,” whose hands are worn and rough from sculpting and molding wood into functional art. Those same hands delicately perform the whittling and smoothing of tiny pieces of art, collected and stored in many a customer’s home. Doney also taught a wood carving class his first 10 years at DCCC. When he became interested in carving wood, Doney said he didn’t know where to begin. So he created a course for students who wanted to learn how to carve wood, but didn’t know how to get started. His hope was to inspire and guide others through a process he had traveled alone. Eventually, he was forced to stop teaching so that he could devote all his energy and focus toward his father, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Doney exhibited his work while caring for his ailing father. Through the years, his work has won countless first, second or third place ribbons at the Media Art Fair. Doney creates his winning pieces in a barn’s renovated horse stall decorated with stained glass windows. He tore down the walls and insulated the 9 foot by 18 foot space, producing his own studio. These hand-carved wooden bowls are created by designer and maintenance man Richard Doney (Photos courtesy of Richard Doney) “If I take a deep breath,” he joked. “I’m touching the walls.” There in his studio he patiently plans, cuts and glues his work. First, a chunk of wood 15 inches in diameter is cut. Next he cuts two fitches, or halves, 15 inches long. His salad bowls are constructed of two halves glued together, creating what is called a bowl blank disc. Next he puts the bowl blank on a band saw and cuts it into a disc. A face plate is attached to the lathe, a machine used to turn a subject while being shaped by other tools. He then roughs out the shape of the bowl. The walls are left about an inch thick. Doney applies a coat of green wood sealer, which keeps the wood from cracking and warping. After approximately three months, equilibrium is achieved and the wood has shed its water weight. He puts the bowl back on the lathe and power sands it. Up to a day may pass each time the bowl is oiled before the bowl can be sanded again. He alternates power sanding with oiling, until the oil has completely permeated the wood. The exterior can be buffed to a silky finish and or notched, a process used to texture the exterior with divots. A unique piece is produced each time. Last summer, he planted a community garden on the estate, where he rents his studio from another tenant, whose children help care for the garden, working and learning beside Doney. “We grew tomatoes, beets, sweet potatoes, carrots and broccoli,” he said, adding, he’s thinking of building a green house in the future to house the garden year round. He enjoys creating and working with resources from the earth, especially local resources. His philosophy stems from a time when “people grew their own gardens,” he said. He also commented on the number of unhappy people in the world. Despite an overabundance of instant gratification, Doney said people are still left feeling “empty and dissatisfied.” Being able to do something for yourself is more interesting and rewarding, he said. Doney draws inspiration from nature and all that surrounds him. He searches the landscape for elegant organic forms that he can replicate in wood. He has mimicked the shape of nature, following the line, building the contour, influencing the curve, casting the essence in sculpted wood. He peruses the local area, constantly seeking to replenish his stock of wood. When someone has a tree cut down he will approach the individual and offer a proposal. One such barter produced a set of salad bowls for a mother. Her son was marrying soon. She lamented the loss of the tree Doney wished to take, telling of the years her son had spent climbing from branch to branch while still a small boy. The tree became a salad bowl set, a wedding gift, and a piece of someone’s childhood forever commemorated in a functional piece of art. Doney tries to educate people about wood, including its care, purpose, and enduring quality. He wants people to appreciate the medium. “It’s not just something that drops leaves on your property,” he said. “I look at a tree and think look at all those salad bowls.” He feels most rewarded when customers approach him and say how Doney’s piece is even more beautiful today then it was 20 years ago when they bought it. His infatuation with wood began as a 10-year-old boy, crafting skis, stilts, house signs and benches, in elementary woodshop. Through the years his skills have transitioned him from carpenter to craftsman to artist. His work is priced from $10 for a bottle stopper to $65 for a salad bowl. The most popular item is the salad bowl sets, Doney said. He sells so many bowls he’s been told he should write a salad dressing book. Another customer told Doney if he bought anymore bowls he’d have to build an addition on to his house. Doney’s most valued piece resides in the Temple Chapel in Philadelphia. He was contracted to repair and replace the decorative wood supports also known as finales or corbels, which run perpendicular to the chapel ceiling. Whether large or small, Doney said, he puts the same quality workmanship into all his work. “I try to go the extra distance,” he said, “in all that I do.” Doneys’ work can be seen at the upcoming Wayne Art Show, which includes the “Reflections of Radnor Township” exhibit. It runs from mid-February through March 2009. He has won the “Reflections of Radnor Township Award” two years in a row. Retirement is looming in the future for Doney. He smiles and talks of exploring new avenues, continually learning, expanding, and perhaps building a Web site, maybe some teaching. Wood and all that it entails for Doney will follow him wherever his path may turn, he said. “I love carving wood,” he added. “Money doesn’t come into it.” His motto is that if you do something you love, you will always find happiness. “Everybody shines at something,” he said. “That’s what they should do.” Contact Catherine Gledhill at [email protected] Theater troupe brings Shakespeare to life By Katy O’Dwyer Staff writer Carrying her letter in hand, Malvolio seeks his mistress, the countess Olivia, to embrace her confession of love. “Sweet lady, ho, ho,” he greets the object of his affection, displaying the yellow stockings she presumably admired in a letter. But his display of affection is in vain because someone else wrote the letter. The tricky maid and uncle of the countess forged Olivia’s handwriting as a joke, and Malvolio is thrown into a jail cell for making advances toward Olivia. Such farcical scenes were brought to life on stage by the DCCC student theater troupe in a somewhat modernized performance of William Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night,” which ran from Nov. 12 through the 22 in the large auditorium on the Marple Campus in Media. “Twelfth Night” is set on the ancient Mediterranean island Illyria and mostly centers around Viola, a shipwrecked woman whose identity is masked by men’s clothing while she searches for her twin brother, all the while posing as one of Duke Orsino’s gentlemen. Cross dressing, mistaken identity, trickery, and unrequited love pepper this classic Elizabethan comedy, and the actors here seem eager to take on the task of performing the difficult piece. The director, theater professor Stephen Smith, wants to make Delaware County Community College a destination for the arts, he said. “Twelfth Night” and the first DCCC Performing Arts Festival are two projects attempting to do that, he added. Because of his ties to many theater schools and independent troupes, as well as years of experience as a professional actor and director, Smith believes he has the ability to beef up DCCC’s theater scene. “We’ve just started a Shakespeare course,” Smith said, because he feels Shakespeare’s plays are something every actor should know how to perform. “This is my first Shakespeare play,” said Greg Friedrick, 19, who plays Valentino. Most of the actors in “Twelfth Night” are in one of Smith’s theater classes. “All my theater Terence Salmon, Mario Canavarro, and Nick Roscioli as Sir Andrew Aguecheek, Feste the Clown, and Sir Toby Belch. (Photo by Rowland Barnum) students are required to see the play,” Smith said, though enrollment in a theater class is not required to perform in a production. “I’m not a big Shakespeare actor,” said Michael Tambon, 21, who plays Antonio. “[But] the director really knows how to work with students, and explains everything [about the play] to us.” All performers said that working with Smith was their favorite part of acting at DCCC, second to working with their fellow cast members. “I like the cast,” said Friedrick, a first semester liberal arts major who is acting in his first DCCC production. “We all have a good chemistry,” he said. Contact Katy O’Dwyer at [email protected] November 26, 2008 Page 3 An Evening of Wine and Body Checks By Joe Smith Executive Editor “Dave Schultz is going to break my head open,” I couldn’t help thinking. “I’m going to get beaten senseless by an ex-Flyer in the middle of a wine tasting, of all things.” If there’s one guideline I try to stick by, it’s never to annoy someone nicknamed “The Hammer.” I was breaking this rule by snagging Schultz for a photo-op after he had just waded through a gaggle of fans, signing autographs. Which is exactly when my camera decided to die on me. When I accepted an invitation to represent The Communitarian at a Philadelphia Flyers game, this was not how I envisioned my night would begin. But there I was, standing in the Wachovia Center’s Cadillac Grille, two hours before face-off, ready to accept the dent in my skull that was surely coming. Fortunately for me, Shultz’s fearsome reputation, built upon routine facial rearrangements of his opponents’ faces, does not extend to college newspaper reporters with busted cameras. “Don’t worry about it,” Schultz said. “We’ll try it again once you get it worked out.” As he walked away, I took a moment to appreciate his congeniality before resuming my duties as a reporter. For the time being, that meant taking part in the unveiling of signature wines from both Schultz and fellow legend Bobby Clarke. The Cadillac Grille, although certainly appropriate for the event, couldn’t be further removed from my usual experience at a Flyers game. The muted, purple-tinged lighting, threepiece jazz band, and plates overflowing with gourmet cheese were a far cry from the drunken revelry that I’m used to amidst the mob in the seats. For my part, I sampled the wine and food, and generally tried to look and act like I knew what I was doing. I must have been doing something right, because at one point somebody confuses me with a member of NHL Productions. They should be so lucky. After an hour or so, the band mercifully ended their set and the event began to wind down. It’s at this point that team publicist Shauna Adams asked if I’d like to see some of things that go on behind the scenes at a Flyers game. I said yes, of course, and beneath my calm exterior, I was smiling from ear to ear. Our first stop, after a short but cramped elevator ride and a walk through the surprisingly calm press area, was the control room. It was sparsely lit, the main source of illumination being the endless array of computer and TV monitors that control the lighting, sounds, and other aspects of the arena. The dozen or so employees barely noticed me, so deep were they in concentration, as they prepared for the game, less than an hour away. I left the control room and was led down to the lower levels of the arena. The corridors that honeycomb the arena aren’t the dingy messes that sports films might lead one to expect. The carpeting, neutral paint job, and framed pictures could be right out of any office building. That is, until the hallway opens up on a wide concrete surface, still wet from the melted ice dripping from the recently used Zamboni Above, a view from the press box shows Flyers fans enjoying highlights of previous hockey fights. Below, many hockey fans dream of driving the Zamboni during a game. This is as close as Joe will get. (Photos by Brian McGroarty/Courtesy of Shauna Adams) machines that dominate the space. This is the tunnel area that leads directly onto the ice surface, spitting distance from all of the spectacular goals, brutal hits, and eye-popping saves that I’ve seen both on TV and in person. While I explored the area, Adams asked me if I wanted to sit on the Zamboni, fulfilling a wish that anyone who has ever picked up a hockey stick no doubt shares. As I clambered down, trying desperately not to break anything on the multimillion dollar piece of machinery, I noticed a familiar face walk by. Flyers television analyst Steve Coates was on his cell phone, trying to determine where he is going to be for his next assignment. Leaving Coatesy and the Zambonis behind, I found myself in the area designated for the post game press conferences, which is a lot smaller than you’d think. I can only imagine how cramped it gets after games, choked with reporters asking questions of the players and coaches. We made our way out to the concourse area, and along the way, it hit me that every single person I’ve met has been incredibly nice, from Flyers personnel to the elevator operators to former players such as Gary Dornhoefer and Bob “The Hound” Kelley. I thought this over as I took a short break, eating a delicious, if overpriced, pretzel. It was a welcome break too, because I’m out of shape and had been walking around a lot. “One of the good things about working here is that you definitely get your exercise,” Adams said. With the game about to begin, we made our way back to the tunnel. It was now bustling with activity. Officials from the NHL and the arena crew were milling about, and I was careful not to get in anybody’s way. Through the opening onto the ice, I could see that the lights have been brought down in the arena. Someone let out a sharp whistle, and the referees for the game made their way onto the playing surface. As a hockey fan, I had the urge to boo them on the spot, but I erred on the side of professionalism and bit my tongue. One of the crew members pulled a black curtain over the opening as the players hit the ice from the locker rooms. The players were introduced, and it was time for the national anthem. As Lauren Hart began her stunning rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner,” Adams motioned for me to peek around the curtain, and I was greeted with quite a sight: Hart, bathed in spotlight, before a crowd of 20,000 fans. From where I was, I could almost imagine all those eyes pointed down on me. After the lights came back on — and with a grin still plastered on my face — I was nearly floored when Hart graciously let me take a picture with her. No sooner had I started mugging for the camera than perhaps the loudest foghorn in creation blared out behind me. Simon Gagne had just scored, giving the Flyers a 1-0 lead less than a minute into the game. “That’s a good sign,” Hart said. “Maybe you’re good luck.” I have since considered asking Flyers management to let me hang out in the tunnel for every game, for the good of the team. With the game underway, I made my way back to the press box. It was much busier than an hour previous, with media personnel, Flyers staff, and scratched players making use of the area. After taking full advantage of the complimentary snacks, I looked for a spot from which to watch the rest of the game. The space reserved for Flyers press was full of reporters hunched over their laptops, so I sat down in enemy, but not exactly hostile, territory. Hunched over the short glass partition in the uppermost area of the arena, I had a much different view of the crowd than 15 minutes earlier. While admiring the view, it wasn’t long before I was nearly blasted out of my seat by announcer Lou Nolan. You see, the speakers that pipe out the announcements, music, and sound effects for the whole arena are hung from the ceiling, and positioned in such a way as to maximize hearing damage for those in the press box. Remember that unbelievably loud horn? Thanks to a Mike Knuble goal with 20 seconds left in the first period, my hearing may never fully recover. Over the remaining two periods, I watched as the Flyers downed the Atlanta Thrashers 4-3. But the game was secondary to the things I saw before the puck even dropped. As I walked to my car, readying myself for the joys of post game traffic, I realized that most fans will never get to explore the stadium like I did, see the things I saw, or meet the people I met. Of course, the next time I go to a Flyers game, I’ll be sitting in the same old upper level seats I’ve grown accustomed to. But while my vantage point will not be any different than it has been over the years, the view will never be the same. Contact Joe Smith at [email protected] 3 Occupational Therapy degree programs. Countless ways to foster independence. BS/MS, MS and OTD degrees at Thomas Jefferson University’s Department of Occupational Therapy Open house and workshop dates at www.Jefferson.edu/JCHP 1 - 8 7 7- J e f f -C H P THOMAS JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY Page 4 November 26, 2008 EDITORIAL Show respect for the new president By Anthony Leone Graphic Design Editor Maybe it’s a generational thing. The previous generation was fighting two unpopular wars: a combative one in Vietnam and a civil rights one on the home front. More than 40 years ago, that young generation was split into two groups: one showing respect for the establishment and the other spitting in its eye. And as time went by, it seems as if each new generation grew bolder in showing disrespect with elected leaders to the point where it went beyond petty remarks to downright nasty comments. These new attitudes have become increasingly brazen and shameful towards the president in recent years. Many Americans, sadly, were atrocious and downright belligerent to President George W. Bush these last eight years, as a recent example. Many have allowed their political bias to take over, causing them to call Bush stupid, a murderer and a warmonger, with little regard to the fact that he is the President of the United States of America. A lot of these same people have childishly said that he is not their president because they did not elect him. And sadly, this same immature demeanor has unjustly been aimed at President-Elect Barack Obama. Because certain people cannot see beyond either his skin color or simply his political beliefs, they have already said that he is not their president. This type of ignorance is being spread far and wide, from liberals to conservatives, from politicians to voters. It’s the increasing political bias of the people that is creating this near socially accepted disrespect for any elected official. Believe it or not, there was once a time in this country when saying a discouraging word about any U.S. president would result in a bloody nose by anyone, despite his party affiliation. But where is that respect now? We must respect whoever is in office, whether we have voted for that person or not. Yes, we can disagree with the president. We would not be called Americans if we ignored our First Amendment rights and kept silent about things we do not agree with. It was not what our forefathers fought for. However, there is a strong, bold line between disagreeing and being disrespectful. We must bring back that level of respect to our elected officials, especially the ones we disagree with most. If not, it just furthers hateful feelings and severely slows the healing process this country desperately needs. So I welcome, respect and honor Barack Obama as my new president. But I will also respectfully disagree with any of his policies and decisions with which I may take issue. Hopefully, all of my fellow Americans will do the same in welcoming Barack Obama into the White House as commander-in-chief. After all, it’s the respectful thing to do. Contact Anthony Leone at [email protected] The Communitarian is produced by both current and former students of Fundamentals of Journalism II in collaboration with Campus Life and published at Delaware County Community College. Students who would like to write for the campus newspaper and have already completed Fundamentals of Journalism I should register for Fundamentals of Journalism II (ENG 131). Students who have completed both classes are welcome back to join the senior staff. For more information, see Bonnie McMeans in Room 4311, call 610-359-5271, or send an e-mail to [email protected] or [email protected]. Joe Smith Executive Editor Lisa Foreman Managing Editor Anthony Leone Graphic Design Editor Lilach Assayag Web Editor Time to get rid of the Electoral College? Feeling relief now that Election Day is finally over? Think again. The real election won’t take place until Dec. 15. That’s when the Electoral College meets to pick the winner — and it hasn’t always been the candidate with the highest number of popular votes. The popular vote is for a slate of representatives to the Electoral College, where the electors choose the next president. More than once, the candidate with the highest number of popular votes has come up short, thanks to the way votes are distributed by states on a winner-take-all basis. The last time was in 2000, when Al Gore lost to George W. Bush despite receiving 543,816 more popular votes. Isn’t it time to get rid of this horse-andbuggy-era political contraption? The theory behind the Electoral College was that it would create a rough balance between states with large and small populations. Without such protection, small states feared that they would be overlooked as presidential candidates campaigned in states with the most voters. Because it was the states that created the central government, this made sense to the framers of the Constitution. In the modern era, however, it’s the states with some of the highest populations — California, New York and Texas among them — that usually are ignored because the outcomes in those states are considered a done deal. Indeed, Florida is the most populous state to enjoy — if that is the right word — a real presidential campaign, because it’s a swing state. These days, candidates focus almost entirely on a few states where the race is close, regardless of size, thanks to the Electoral College. In 2004, President Bush and Sen. John Kerry spent almost 90 percent of their campaign time and money in fewer than a dozen states. This tends to depress turnout in states that are overlooked. It discourages potential voters who believe their vote has no real significance. Giving swing states more clout is inherently undemocratic. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., says it also violates the basic principle of one man, one vote. He’s right. Sen. Nelson wants to get rid of the Electoral College through a constitutional amendment. That, however, would require a two-thirds’ majority in Congress and approval of 37 state legislatures, an almost impossible political obstacle. There is another way. Four states — Hawaii, Illinois, New Jersey and Maryland — already have passed bills to cast their state’s electoral votes for the winner of the national popular vote. This would take effect when states with an electoral majority — 270 of the 538 electoral votes — also have passed such laws. The sooner we are rid of the Electoral College, the more representative our democracy will be. (c) 2008, The Miami Herald. Visit The Miami Herald Web edition on the World Wide Web at http://www.herald.com Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. Laura Pizzuto Junior Editor Reporters Katy O’Dwyer Catherine Gledhill Donald Wood Jr. Walbert Young The Communitarian Opinion Policy The opinions expressed on the editorial and the op-ed pages do not necessarily reflect those of The Communitarian staff or college. We welcome your comments on any matter relating to Delaware County Community College, and responsible rebuttal is encouraged. Write to [email protected]. Please write “letter to editor” in the subject box. November 26, 2008 Page 5 COMMENTARY Learn some manners and respect “World f--king champions!” yelled Phillies second baseman Chase Utley at the World Series Championship celebration held at By Citizens Bank Park Catherine Gledhill Oct. 31. No doubt intoxicated with adrenaline and pride, the all-star baseball hero made quite the verbal faux pas. Philadelphia had finally won a championship. I can understand Utley’s error; but, on the other hand, I can’t. In times of anger, extreme joy, and high levels of stress, the all encompassing word “f--k” bursts forth. It’s just a word, people say. But growing up, I was taught manners and respect. If I wanted a cookie, I had better say “please” and “thank you” and deliver it with a Broadway smile or it was no cookie for me. I was taught not to mouth off to adults, to listen to my teachers, and to never curse. Even saying “fudge” was not an acceptable replacement term for the commonly used fword that peppers my ears daily in today’s society. My father would say, “You may as well say the real word because either word will earn you a slap.” I sound like a grandma, but perhaps Grandma was right. Maybe things were better back then. When I sit and watch America’s youth stroll past making their way home from school, they spout foul language. “F--k this and f--k that!” they holler. “Suzy sucked Johnny’s d--k!” they scream, oblivious to the elderly, other adults, and even children. Cars speed past and obscenities loud and rancorous entwine and twist to the beat as they trail behind the moving vehicle, their notes ending where they may. How about the man who flips you the bird and machine guns a few hundred curses in your direction while you’re driving? Please. If you wouldn’t say it to your mother, don’t say it to me. I recently encountered a fellow cursing loudly. The f-word substituted for the noun, verb and adjective. I approached the man and asked, “Why so much cursing?” “Oh, I’m sorry,” he said. “I didn’t realize there were ladies around.” The irony is, a woman standing beside him was delivering a speech that started with the infamous f-word. I suppose, in all fairness, I should have approached her too, but I don’t think I would have received the same answer. She most likely would have told me to “F--k off!” Unfortunately, when people talk this way they sound ignorant. This is not the way educated people speak. Their sentences do not require the f-word to be completed. Clearly, one’s vocabulary is lacking if curse words are the only way to get your message across. Some will say it’s a matter of free speech. We are free to say as we please, just as we are free to disagree with one’s way of speaking. But the issue isn’t about freedom; it’s about class and whether we wish to appear illmannered or uneducated. When and how did this notorious word become commonplace? The rise, acceptance and prominence of cursing have many contributing factors. Parents allow their children to partake in too many adult activities, entertainment, and more. They should remember that a movie is rated R for a reason, along with the video games and music clearly labeled for adults. Commercials and music on television and radio drip with sex, crime, and explicit language, with little censorship despite young audiences. When I went to high school, cursing at one’s teacher earned a student a few days of suspension. Now it is nothing unusual. This is unacceptable. We are supposed to become more advanced with time. Civilization is supposed to evolve and move toward loftier goals. So why are some people speaking like they are uncivilized? We forget that as manners and respect fade and become obsolete, so does the respect we have for ourselves. Each time we’re vulgar or crude, we strip away our own character. Vulgar language is rude and disrespectful. Vulgar language is classless and ignorant. Above all, some of us have forgotten what it is to be polite. We need a refresher course on manners. Contact Catherine Gledhill at [email protected] Get your quills out, the Edith Garlow Memorial Poetry contest is here FIRST PRIZE: $1000 SECOND PRIZE: $800 THIRD PRIZE: $400 CONTEST RULES: 1. All contestants must be currently enrolled in a college or university in Delaware or Chester County. 2. Each contestant may submit only one poem, a work of his or her own creation. 3. The poem must employ a definite metrical and/or rhyming pattern. 4. The submitted poem must be typed in conventional manuscript form and identified on the reverse side of the sheet(s) by the contestant’s name, name of college or university, student number, home mailing address, e-mail address, telephone number and signature in ink. No other format will be accepted. 5. Submissions must be mailed to Gina Gennari c/o Delaware County Community College, 901 S. Media Line Rd., Media, Pa., 19063, and postmarked no later than January 30, 2009. 6. Contest Winners will be announced in April 2009. 7. Winners will receive their prizes and read their poems during a reception at DCCC in April 2009. "%! "!"! ! "!"%! ! "100"" 877-518-6486 #2008 " " $ Page 6 November 26, 2008 Kids experience homelessness first hand By Joan Verdon The Record (Hackensack N.J.) (MCT) HACKENSACK, N.J. — Fifty-five temporarily homeless teenagers huddled against the cold in cardboard huts on the grounds of Paramus Catholic High School on Sunday night. The teens were homeless by choice to show support for those who have no choice but to be homeless. The outdoor sleepover is intended to increase the students’ empathy for the less fortunate. But participants said the economy is already doing that, by making them realize how quickly someone’s fortunes can change from good to bad. “There’s a lot of people who didn’t think they’d ever be homeless, but if you lose your job on Wall Street it could be you out there, too,” said Matt Sartori, 18, of Lodi, N.J., a Paramus (N.J.) High School graduate. You don’t have to look hard to see growing numbers of Anthony Valente and Zach Zoccolli, 16 year-old juniors from Paramus Catholic High School in Paramus, New Jersey, repair cardboard sleeping areas after the wind had knocked them down. Students slept and ate outside to learn what it is like to be homeless. (Kevin R. Wexler/The Record/MCT) homeless, said Sartori, a freshman at Seton How to create an inexpensive gift basket By Catherine Gledhill Staff writer With recent drops in consumer sales, shoppers are tightening their budgets. So you may be fretting over the cost of gift giving this coming holiday season. But don’t despair. Homemade gifts and goodies are a caring and inexpensive way to say “Happy Holidays.” Follow these easy steps to create your own holiday gift basket. Whether you decide to bake a sweet treat or wrap a thoughtful gift in colorful packaging, the result will be well received. Gather your Materials You will need a basket, plastic basket bag, ribbon, packing material, tags, hole puncher, gifts and scissors. Choose your Gift “With less money to spend this year, your gifts should be well chosen,” said Verjin Kazanjian, an employee of Soprano’s Trattoria and Caterers in Broomall. Kazanjian makes gift baskets year round, stuffed with imported Italian goods. Unfortunately, Soprano’s gift baskets could be a bit pricey for the working student. So Kazanjian suggests that you “think personal, not price” when filling your own basket. The thought you put into the gift is more important than the price you pay, she said. A basket filled with favorite cookies or candies shows you listened and cared, she added. If you can’t afford certain items, you can make them at home. Choose your Basket It’s important to pick the right size. “Too big will leave the gifts floating and will look sloppy,” Kazanjian said. She recommends color coordinating the basket and wrapping because the overall appearance is important. According to “Betty Crocker Christmas Cookbook,” jars, cans, bottles, bags, and boxes are another unique way to package your homemade gift. Choose your Packing and Ribbon Materials used for packing come in a variety of shapes, colors, and designs. Silver stars, gold bells and spun colored packing are popular options. Ribbons come in thick, thin, bright, dull, silk, satin, velvet and more. The choice in design is endless. Be sure to coordinate the packing with the basket and ribbon. Also, choose your ribbon with the recipient in mind. If the person is conservative, “you don’t buy a flashy ribbon,” Kazanjian said. Make your Tag Handmade tags can be constructed of card stock, old cards, magazine pictures, glitter, colored pens and markers. A handmade tag gives you more control over the message, but a carefully chosen store bought card will [also] do,” Kazanjian said. Fill your Basket First, place the packing in the basket. Next, organize your gifts in a pleasing composition. Work from big to small or alternate colors and shapes to add contrast and texture. Now fill in empty space with extra packing or small filler items such as hard candies. Package your Basket Place your basket in the center of the plastic basket bag. Tie off the top with a rubber band or a twist tie. Measure and cut the ribbon, leaving excess at the end for the bow. Now, trim the plastic bag to size. Next, tie the ribbon around the twist or band and then tie a bow. You can experiment with the type of bow you tie. “Double tie big or small, curled ends” all make for a pretty touch, Kazanjian added. Attach your Tag Punch a hole in the tag; then pull the ribbon through. If the ribbon is too large, add some curly ribbon to attach the tag. Many of these supplies are available at A.C. Moore. “There are tools and materials for every gift idea,” said Rob Armenio, an employee at A.C. Moore in Broomall. For inexpensive store bought gifts and fillers, shop outlet stores or dollar stores. “Have fun and don’t worry if it isn’t perfect,” Kazanjian said. “It’s because you made it that they’ll love it.” For more information read the “Betty Crocker Cookbook” available in book stores or visit www.homemadegiftbasketideas.com. Contact Catherine Gledhill at [email protected] Hall University. “I can walk two blocks off campus and see homeless people at the Dunkin’ Donuts.” Sartori was one of a handful of Paramus Catholic grads who showed up to encourage the students. They’ve had their consciousness raised by helping hand out food and toiletries in twice-monthly visits to areas in New York City where homeless people congregate. The trips are coordinated by Paramus Catholic’s Dean of Campus Ministry Joseph Wilson, along with Bridges Outreach, a homeless support non-profit based in Summit, N.J. Lois Bhatt, the executive director of Bridges Outreach, visited the Paramus Catholic box city Sunday and said the need for services for the homeless is growing every day. “We’ve seen the demand for help increase over the last couple of months,” as the economy has cratered, she said. “People who have parttime jobs are losing hours and people who are day laborers are seeing those jobs drying up.” The Paramus Catholic teens arrived at the school midday Sunday, with refrigerator and appliance boxes they or their parents had scrounged from Route 17 stores. They then staked out spots in a section of the school grounds sheltered from Sunday’s gusty winds by a stand of trees. Some of the cardboard huts had whimsical touches. One had a castle-like turret fashioned out of flattened boxes. Another had a small American flag mounted on the cardboard roof. Temperatures were in the 40s during the day, but were expected to dip into the low 20s overnight. Last year, the first night the school staged the outdoor sleepover, the temperature fell to 5 degrees, Wilson said. “Depending on how you look at it, we either got the worst possible day or the best possible day,” Wilson said Sunday afternoon as the students shivered around him. It was the best possible day, Wilson said, to achieve his goal of making students understand what it’s like to not have a roof over your head. The event tries to simulate homelessness as closely as possible. The students turn in their cell phones, watches and iPods at the start. They are fed “soup-kitchen style” _ made to line up for their bag lunch and for their dinner. The teens couldn’t bring blankets or sleeping bags with them, and had to depend on whatever blankets were donated to the school’s clothing pantry, which collects clothes and bedding for the poor. NURSE from Page 1 Pearsall is a 1976 graduate of Philadelphia General Hospital School of Nursing and has a bachelor’s of science degree from Eastern University. She is a member of the Association of Operating Room Nurses (AORN). Pearsall received Taylor Hospital’s first annual Nurse Excellence Award for her exemplary contributions to Taylor’s nursing program after she was nominated for the award by her coworkers. Some said Pearsall’s experience and expertise has made her a mentor and role model for younger nurses at Taylor Hospital, as well as her students at DCCC. Pearsall currently teaches four sections of Nursing 205, Perioperative Nursing, as well as the simulating labs that accompany the course. She is also a clinical educator for surgical technology students. Often called operating room nurses, perioperative nurses are responsible for keeping a safe surgical environment for patients before, during, and after surgery. They provide comfort and care to surgical patients that may be anxious about being in the OR. Before a procedure, perioperative nurses are responsible for obtaining the patients’ documentation, including medical history and known allergies, as well as obtaining consent forms. They are also present in the OR to ensure that the surgical procedure runs smoothly. A perioperative nurse’s duties include making sure that the patient is positioned and prepared correctly for surgery, that the required tools are set up and functional, that the procedure performed is sterile, and that all surgical supplies are accounted for. Pearsall said that change is the biggest obstacle that nurses face. There are constant changes in procedure, equipment, and personnel and nurses have to be adaptable, she said. Pearsall said that her decision to become a nurse might sound cliché, but she “knew that she wanted to help people.” Pearsall always wanted to be either a nurse or a social worker, she said. Pearsall also wants to become a nurse’s and patient’s advocate since she has experience on both sides, she said. “You’re up on everything if you teach,” she said. Pearsall chose to specialize in perioperative nursing while attending PGH. “I loved it and I was scared of it,” said Pearsall, “but it was exciting. Maybe I have a sadomasochism tendency, but I was drawn to it because it scared me.” Pearsall recalled one of her favorite experiences in nursing. She described how she comforted an elderly gentleman that was undergoing surgery for cancer. Another nurse described the patient as grouchy and abrupt and was reluctant to care for him. “I said to him, ‘You’re very frightened, aren’t you?’ and he began to cry,” said Pearsall. “We closed the curtain around us and cried together for an hour.” This patient remembered Pearsall years later at another hospital visit. She has had similar emotional experiences with other patients, but this was the first time that she felt such a strong connection, she said. When Pearsall gives tours of the two simulated ORs that students use for practice, many are surprised by how realistic it is. With real operating tables and tools available, students practice their techniques with life-size dummies. They have a real scrub-in sink where they wash their hands. Machines and equipment that are used in real surgeries are present. Pearsall plans to continue teaching at DCCC. She says that she likes her students and sees an improvement each year. “Over the years my students have become more knowledgeable and interested in their field,” said Pearsall. Pearsall hopes to inspire her students by sharing her nursing stories in class, such as the elderly gentleman that she comforted, she said. “I try to remind them of what’s important about our role in surgery,” said Pearsall. “We can touch the patient’s life.” Contact Laura Pizzuto at [email protected] November 26, 2008 Page 7 SPORTS Congratulations Top from left is Anthony Spatacco, Brian Smarsh and Tim Feehery. Bottom from left is Sean Glavin and Brian Scott. The DCCC Golf Team finished in second place at the Eastern Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference Championship, and all five qualified to participate in the Pennsylvania Collegiate Athletic Conference State Championship. Four of the team members qualified as “Players” and one as an alternate. Brian Smarsh was the alternate. At the State Championship, they finished in fourth place as a team. Player Anthony Spatacco captured fourth place in All State Honors and received a medal for that. (Photo courtesy of Wayne Horn, DCCC Head Co/Ed Golf Coach) Spot n Professional paintball player amongst DCCC ranks By Donald Wood Jr. Staff writer As a child, you idolize the athletes of your favorite sport. You look to them for guidance and wish to be just like them as you grow up. For many who reach adulthood, that is where the dream stops. But for one DCCC student, he is living the dream. Chris DeSignor, 21, is a criminal justice major playing professional paintball for the DC Arsenal in the National Professional Paintball League (NPPL). When DeSignor was 14, he started to play small time paintball with his friends in the woods by his home in New Jersey. His hobby became an obsession and led him into the professional ranks. Now that he has become pro, he gets perks from the sponsors. All of his equipment is paid for and he has the best of everything, he said. DeSignor is on the front lines of the paintball battles because he is a forward in the sport. That means he is the closest to the opponents, so he tends to be a main target. “Strategy is a big part of the game and practice makes perfect,” he said. He practices every weekend, sometimes with his teammates and sometimes against other professional teams. “We try to play against our semi-pro team because it is the best competition around here,” DeSignor said. The NPPL has five nationwide competitions a year. Two are held in California, two are held on the East Coast, and the fifth is selected each year from the Midwest. After dodging shots, Chris DeSignor and his team DeSignor looks to lead his of seven players are flown team to a championship in to the city of the event, all the near future. expenses paid. First prize for the competitions totals (Photo courtesy of Chris $10,000. DeSignor) DeSignor’s team is currently in ninth place out of 18 teams. “We’re pretty good, but we’re in the middle of the pack,” said DeSignor. “It’s a new team that I’m playing pro with so I’m playing with a lot of people who haven’t played pro yet and who are still getting used to it.” With all of the positives that come with achieving your dream, there are also negatives. DeSignor said that with all of the pressure of being pro comes great commitment. “It’s a lot of time,” DeSignor said. “It’s a lot of work and training.” Although a lot of commitment is needed, DeSignor believes it is all worth it. While he goes to college at DCCC and works part time, he still makes sure his dream doesn’t take a backseat to anything. “Yeah, it’s a lot of work, but this is what I want to do,” DeSignor said. “I want to do this until my body can’t anymore.” Contact Donald Wood Jr. at [email protected] The Phillies are phinally champs By Donald Wood Jr. Staff writer The Philadelphia Phillies are the 2008 World Series Champions. After beating the Tampa Bay Rays four games to one, the Phillies brought a title back to Philadelphia for the first time in 28 years. It was only the second title in the Phillies 125 year history. After capturing their second straight divisional title, the Phillies faced off with the red hot Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Divisional Series. The Phillies won the NLDS series in five games. Brewers ace pitcher CC Sabathia struggled against the strong Phillies hitters, and even Phillies pitcher Brett Myers went 3-3 at the plate. After winning the divisional series, the Phillies went on to the National League Championship Series where they met another streaking team in the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers came into the series the favorites because of their stellar pitching and their mid-season acquisition of outfielder Manny Ramirez. The Phillies were not impressed. They beat the Dodgers with relative ease four games to one. Ramirez hit well, but it wasn’t enough as the Phillies hit the Dodgers’ pitching hard. Phillies Pitcher Cole Hamels had two strong outings that both provided wins for the team. These performances helped get him the Most Valuable Player for the NLCS. After all of the work that the Phillies had done all year it came down to one series. The Phillies would play the best team in the American League, the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays were a young team with very little playoff experience. In fact, this was the Rays’ first trip to the playoffs in their short 11 year career The Phillies bats really came to life during this series. Key homeruns in wins came from Chase Utley and especially Ryan Howard, who had three in the World Series. Another unlikely homerun came in the fourth game, when Phillies pitcher Joe Blanton hit a line drive homerun to left field. This was the first homerun by a pitcher in the World Series in 34 years. With the Phillies leading the series three games to one, the two teams faced off in game five with heavy rain in the forecast. After playing six innings the officials suspended the game. This was the first time in World Series history that a game was suspended. After the game resumed two days later, the Phillies strong bullpen outplayed the young Tampa Bay team and the Phillies beat the Rays to win the World Series. Cole Hamels’ perfect record ensured him the World Series MVP. After the win, the city embraced the moment, and Philadelphia Brad Lidge celebrates with the team as the Phillies capture their first World Series victory in 28 years. (Photo courtesy of PhiladelphiaInquirer.com) truly felt like the City of Brotherly Love. Contact Donald Wood Jr. at [email protected] Page 8 November 26, 2008 4 1 & $ * " - * ; & % 1 3 0 ( 3 " . 4 ' 0 3 5 0 % ": ± 4 " % 6 -5 4 5 6 % & / 5 4 “Albright’s program was a perfect fit for my busy schedule as a working mother.” Monica Moran ’06 B.S. Information Systems Albright College Earn your bachelor’s degree in accounting, business administration, crime & justice, information systems or applied psychology/organizational behavior. Finish your degree where you started! Albright offers classes at nine locations including Delaware County and Exton! $2500 Transfer scholarships are available for DCCC graduates. www.albright.edu | 1-888-253-8851 " $ $ & - & 3 "5 & % % & ( 3 & & 1 3 0 ( 3 " . 4
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