Nursing - Passaic County Community College

Volume X Issue 7
The Student Newspaper of Passaic County Community College, Paterson, NJ
April 2011
Nursing
Department
Gets an
Upgrade
By Eric Godfrey
By Eric Godfrey
The Passaic County Community
College Theater Program presented a
play by Renee Taylor & Joseph Bologna directed by R.G.Rader, Theatre
Coordinator and English Professor, in
the college theater April 12-15. The
play presented itself as a humorous
approach to relationships in the 20th
century.
The play was performed by (listed
in order of appearance) Jerry played by
Jason G Rader, Brenda played by
Athena Scandalis, Hall played by Jorge
Suarez, Cathy played by Suheyla Star
Tuncer, Wilma played by Michele
Nicole Owens, Johnny played by
Charles DeCesare, Mike played by
Anthony Florencio, Susan played by
Saniyyah Williams, Bea played by
U`Asia Cowan, Richie played by Jorge
Suarez, Frank played by Alexander
Onik, and Joan played by Suheyla Star
Tuncer.
The play began with an opening
Dance introduction by the Dance Club
of PCCC. The Dancers, Nicole Sanchez, Akeem Minto, Darwin Cipion and
Megan Quirk did a wonderful dance
routine where two dancers acted as if
they where on the strings of a marionette and the other two dancers acted
as if they controlled their strings. The
performance lasted for just a short
time but it was electrifying and a creative endeavor none the less.
The play began just moments
after the dancers finished, opening
with a funny and almost too true to life
skit about a man and a woman on
their first date. The man is trying to
seduce the girl but in hilarious twist
the woman ends up trying to seduce
the man. The act was intensely funny
drawing many laughs from the crowd.
The following act was about another
skit about a married man and his mistress. Equally well performed and hu(Play continued on page 16)
STEM Builds Bridges with Montclair State University
By Jerry Gutierrez
This semester the
Passaic County Community
College Science Department
along with the STEM (Science,
Technology, Engineering, and
Mathematics) grant started
building an academic bridge
between PCCC and Montclair
State University (MSU).
Professor Eduardo Areche, a graduate from PCCC
and now a Science Department professor at PCCC was
the contact person for the involvement. According to Areche the PCCC STEM grant has been a key component to
the building of this science bridge between PCCC and MSU.
Professor Areche holds an Associates Degree in Science from Passaic County Community College, a Bachelors
in Science Biology, a Masters in Science Biology and a
Masters of Arts in Environmental Management all from
Montclair State University. Besides being a Professor at
PCCC for the Science Department he is also a research collaborator at MSU.
It was his experience and
knowledge of the MSU Science
Department that gave Areche
the idea to build a bridge. Areche was also familiar with a
particular researcher. This researcher would be Dr. James
Campanella, an Associate Professor of Science at the Biology
Department of MSU. Knowing
this gave Areche the idea that
maybe Dr. Campanella would
not mind to have help from possible future MSU science students.
Areche mentioned that “it was a great day when STEM’s
coordinator Kate Joyce and I met with Dr. Quinn Vega, the
chair of the department of Biology and Molecular Biology at
MSU to discuss this possible involvement."
(STEM continued on page 10)
This past March Associate Professor Heather Griffiths, MSN,RN,
Passaic County Community College,
Passaic Campus Nursing Instructor,
and Associate Professor Linda Siegrist, MSN, RN,CEN,CNE of the Sussex
Campus, which is part of our Satellite
Nursing Program, where among 50
applicants, out of 200, at the Baltimore, Maryland Health Information
Technology Conference (HITS) to receive the Electronic Medical Health
Records Upgrade (EMHR).
The EMHR is a new simulation
system designed to fill the gap in training due to hospital regulations that are
limiting Nursing students exposure to
the system. The Simulation helps students get real hands on experience
with a computerized documentation
system. The system will help students
get documentation basic skills in the
skills laboratory, Initiate care planning,
and documentation of care on assigned clients.
The EMHR will also immerse the
student in the laboratory setting letting them order entry and order review, as well as Documentation of
care provided. Professor Griffiths,
spoke of how “As a benefit to the students, as it will help them simulate
real life cases in a simulated hospital
setting”. Professor Siegrist said “The
Industry is pushing to incorporate
technology into the documentation
aspect of the medical hospital setting
by 2014. They want to have clear concise documentation at all levels, including the level of nurses and doctors”.
The integration into the Passaic
campus will begin this summer when
the system will be installed around the
beginning of June. The system will be
up and running for the fall 2011 Nursing IV students letting them simulate
geriatric care planning. In spring
2012, Nursing 1 will be able to do
Basic Skills labs, care planning and
also simulation. In fall 2012 Nursing II
students will be able to do basic skills
lab, basic care planning, and documentation of the clients’ admission/
(Nursing continued on page 5)
In This Issue
News .............................. Pages 1-5
Features ........................ Pages 6-11
Opinion ........................... Page 12
Clubs & Organizations .. Page 13
Arts .................................. Page 15
Page 2
News
April 2011
SGA: The Students Sounding Board
If students do not know where to go with concerns, they can always go to the SGA
By Frank Zane
Staff Editors and Writers
Jerry Gutierrez, Editor-in-Chief
Sadia-adu Phillips, Managing Editor
Juan Cordero, Editor
Steve Cuello, Junior Editor
Advisors
Dr. Christine Redman-Waldeyer
Christopher Sweerus
Photographer
Raheen Nelson
Contributing Writers
Tatiana Cabrera
Thomas Feliciano
Eric Godfrey (Staff Writer)
Shanta Jones
Lesroy Marshall-Tyrell
Ashley Ortiz
Kristopher Perovic
Melissa Petrina
Brionne Ramsingh
Xavier Rosa
Amanda Vlavianos
Frank Zane
Journalism Class
Thomas Feliciano
Eric Godfrey
Xavier Rosa
Kyle Thompson
Amanda Vlavianos
Frank Zane
Have you ever wondered what
the SGA does and why it is important
for the college to have it? Ever wondered why they charge a Student Activity Fee in you college bill?
The PCCC website posts that,
“the Student Government Association
is the official voice of the student body
before the faculty and administration.”
The SGA’s function is to provide students with activities and programs as
well as to encourage students to become involved with the college. They
serve as a sounding board to receive
student questions, complaints, and
suggestions.
I sat down with Doris A. Alcivar,
Director of Student Activities, to obtain
more information on the subject. Alcivar’s role with the SGA is along the
lines of the administrative aspects.
Alcivar states, “the SGA contains a
structure, a political structure that
contains an Executive Board
(President, V-President, Secretary and
Treasurer), a Speaker, and Senators. It
also contains a programming committee, which is responsible for the social,
cultural, and educational events held.
The SGA decides how to spend
the student activity fund. Alcivar
stated that her role as the Director of
Student Activities is to make sure the
funds are spent on activities students
want and follows the college policy. All
advantages of getting ahead
By Shanta Jones
The semester is over now it is
time to kick back and relax. The sun is
beaming, some students are home
sleeping late, and some students are
waking up early to hit the beach –
then you have those who decided to
give up some of their summer.
According to CollegeTips.com,
summer classes have several advantages over regular semester classes.
Summer classes gives you the chance
to improve your GPA, take a class that
fills up fast during the regular semester, get a semester ahead or take a
class over that you failed. Summer
classes also give you the chance to
accumulate extra credits and decrease your time for graduation.
Passaic County Community College has two summer sessions available. One course begins May 23,
2011- June 29, 2011. The second
course begins on July 6, 2011- August
11, 2011. The classes run about 6- 8
weeks compared to the typical semester which lasts about 15 weeks. You
are able to earn the same amount of
credits in half the time.
Some people may not want to take
summer classes because it may interfere with their summer vacation while
others are taking advantage of summer classes and trying to get ahead
faster.
A former PCCC graduate, Nate
Bryant, 23 an Education Major, was
one of the students that took advan-
of the events on campus are funded
through the student activity fee listed
along with your tuition in your college
bill. The funds are spent on events
such as: Women’s History Month, African-American Heritage Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, Summer Trips,
guest speakers, and performers.
It is important to have a Student
Government Association because “it’s
a great opportunity for students to
practice decision making, leadership
skills, writing skills and communication skills,” according to Alcivar. “It is a
great way to build relationships outside of the classroom and those are
skills that you are going to use in any
job. It helps inside and outside of the
classroom.”
The SGA holds elections for any
position every April. The requirements
for the positions are the following:
ulty in order to find an answer. They
can also advocate on behalf of the
students on a pressing issue that a
large number of students want the
college to take action on.
“All students should get involved
and learn what the SGA is doing.
SGA’s meetings are open to any student. The Executive Board meets
every Tuesday at three o’clock in the
afternoon, and the Senate meets
every Monday at four in the afternoon.
Also, students should always be on the
lookout for any positions if they are
interested in getting involved. They
can come to my office to obtain more
information. They can join any club;
they are specific in their mission such
as the Dance Club, Baseball Club, etc.,
- clubs are student-run and only exist if
students are really interested in
them,” stated Alcivar.
 Senator – 2.5 + GPA
 Executive Board and Speaker –
3.0 + GPA
 A student must earn at least 9
college credits by July 1st and they
must take at least six credits per
semester that they are in office.
How to contact the SGA:
Student Government Association
Office of Student Activities
Room E 102B
One College Boulevard
Paterson, New Jersey 07505-1179
If students do not know where to
go for concerns, they can always go to
the SGA because they are very connected to the administration and fac-
via Email: sga@pccc.edu
Phone: 973-684-5255
tage of the summer classes. He took
five classes during the fall and spring
semester. Bryant chose to take summer classes so that he could graduate
from PCCC sooner to further his education at Syracuse University. Even
though Bryant felt that the pace of the
work during the summer classes was
harder, he was able to keep up with
the work by forming study groups with
friends. If Bryant could choose summer classes over the typical semester
classes he would most definitely
choose summer classes because they
are shorter and worth the same
amount of credits.
Below are sample lists of classes
being offered this summer:
Summer I
Financial Accounting
Managerial Accounting
Appreciation of Art
American Sign Language 111
Human Biology
Biology
Anatomy & Physiology 1
Microbiology
Intro to Business
Marketing
Business Statistics
Env./Business Gov. Society
Intro to Chemistry
General Chemistry 11
Computer Concepts/Applications
Fundamental/Applications
Programming Fundamentals
Microcomputer Software
Fundamentals of C++ Prog.
Juvenile Delinquency and Youth
Criminal Justice Practicum 11
Legal & Ethical Issues Mass Communication
Economics 1
Writing Skills 1
Writing Skills 2
Composition 1
Composition 11
Summer II
Appreciation of Art
Human Biology
Biology
Anatomy & Physiology
Intro to Business
Business Law
Management
Intro to Chemistry
Computer Concepts/Applic
Microcomputer Software
Drug, Alcohol Abuse, Misuse
Criminal Justice Practicum 1
Criminal Justice Practicum 11
College Experience
Economics
Supervised Fieldwork
CDA Externship
Writing Skills 1
Writing Skills 2
Composition 1
Composition 11
Intensive Writing
Intro Literature
Adv.Readings/American Studies
The student newspaper of Passaic County Community College, One College Blvd., Paterson, NJ, 07505-1179, (973) 684-5288
Visions is an independent student newspaper. The staff of Visions tries to adhere to the standards and ethics of the Associated Press
Stylebook and guidelines. Any errors are solely the responsibility of staff members and advisors. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the individual writers and are not necessarily representative of the college in any manner.
Visions encourages all members of the college community to express their opinions. Letters should be submitted to News@pccc.edu or
to Visions c/o the Student Activities office, and must include the name and phone number of the author to verify authenticity. If possible,
submit letters typed with a copy on a computer disk. Visions reserves the right to edit and/or reject all work for publication for grammar,
spelling and space considerations.
April 2011
News
PCCC STUDENT- ATHLETE
AWARD WINNERS FOR 2010-2011
PCCC Student-Athletes received
many honors and awards for their
hard work and athletic excellence at
the Student Activities/Athletic Awards
Night held the PSA on Wednesday
April 20th.
Men’s Soccer: Besmir Dzila was
given team MVP honors and 2nd team
All Region 19/All GSAC. Besmir’s
mother travelled all the way from the
country of Macedona to see her son
receive is recognition.
Women’s Volleyball: Shaila
Camilo was selected as the team’s
MVP and 2nd team All GSAC, Dawn
McLean was selected to the 1st team
All Region 19 and 1st team All GSAC,
Jackie Cruz was selected to the 2nd
team All region 19/All GSAC.
Women’s Basketball: Luisa Marin
named the team’s MVP, Shakira West
was selected to the 2nd team All Region 19/All GSAC and Sade “Chicken”
Jones was selected to the 1st team All
Region 19/All GSAC, NJCAA All American Honorable Mention and the 20102011 PCCC Female Athlete of the
year.
PCCC’S Student-Athlete All Academic Team
Men’s Soccer: Miguel Flores (now attending Rutgers Newark)
Women’s Volleyball: Chevelle Carridice
Women’s Basketball: Gena Taylor
Men’s Basketball: Ardell Roberts
2011 SGA Awards
Men’s Basketball: Malcolm Gilbert was selected to the 1st team All
Region 19/All GSAC and he was
named the team’s MVP, David Bellamy
was selected to the 2nd team All Region 19/All GSAC, Eddie Williams was
selected as the 2010-2011 PCCC
Male Athlete of the year.
Coach Anthony Virgil, Head Men’s
Basketball Coach was named “Coach
of the Year” for the Garden State Athletic Conference Men’s Division III Basketball.
Page 3
Page 4
News
Annual Scholarship Gala
By Jerry Gutierrez
On Thursday, April 28, 2011 the
Passaic County Community College
Foundation presented the 20th Anniversary Scholarship Gala at the historic Hamilton Club.
It was a night of food, music, congratulatory remarks and thanks to
many whom through their generosity
this foundation can continue its mission.
The Passaic County Community
College Foundation was established in
1976 and its mission was to provide
student scholarships to support any
PCCC students who, without the assistance of scholarship funds, would not
be able to attend college.
According to Dr. Steven Rose
President of PCCC the “philosophy of
the foundation has always been and
still is to open the door to opportunity
for deserving students, many of whom
overcome both financial and personal
challenges to pursue their dream of a
college education.”
Dr. Rose mentioned that the distinguished donors have increased in
number to more than 50 companies,
organizations, and individuals who are
dedicated to supporting education and
helping others realize their potential.
Thanks to their generosity, the
PCCC Foundation expects to award
over half a million dollars in scholar-
ships for the 2011-2012 academic
year. Dr. Rose in his closing remarks
expressed how grateful he was to all
the donors and he mentioned how
very proud he was of the worthy scholarship recipients.
During the Gala the foundation
recognized companies, organizations
and individuals who have generously
continued year after year to contribute
to the foundation.
This year Dr. Rose had the honor
to present a Citation from Senator
John A. Girgenti and the Outstanding
Leadership Award to Mr. Philip K
Beachem and he presented a Citation
from Senator John A. Girgenti and the
Outstanding Community Service Award
to Robert F. Guarasci.
The Foundation also had a the
presentation of Sponsorship Certificates for A & A Construction Management & Consultants, Verizon, PSE&G,
Railroad Construction Company,
Comerro Coppa Architects, New Jersey
Alliance for Action and the New Jersey
Development Corporation.
Every year the Foundation has a
student speaker who through the
Foundation their education has been
possible; this year that student was
Ofelia Almedina.
For information or for donations
email the foundation at foundation@pccc.edu or you may call the office at (973) 684-5656.
April 2011
April 2011
News
Page 5
The following is the speech of Ofelia Almedina to all present at the Annual Scholarship Foundation Gala held on April 28, 2011:
school. I graduated high
school early and rebelled by
postponing college, so I could
figure out what really appealed to me. I briefly worked
at a dress factory - two weeks
of loud sewing machines was
enough to send me back to
school. Instead of college,
though, I went to vocational
school and acquired the skills
to become an administrative
assistant.
Ofelia Almedina
Good evening everyone,
It is an honor to be here tonight with
so many distinguished guests. Our
college president, Dr. Rose, the event
co-chairs, John Ballantyne and Rick
Ricca, the honorees Philip Beachem
and Robert Guarasci. A special thanks
to Meredith Behrens, Assistant Director of Grants and Institutional Advancement, Nieves Martino, PCCC
Foundation Event Coordinator, and
Deeanne Hackett, Assistant Director
of Student Activities. They encouraged
me to share my story tonight.
You may be surprised to see an "older"
student. You might not guess that I
graduated high school at age 16 and
entered college for the first time at
age thirty-something. How does that
happen? Well I asked myself the same
thing until I walked into my first class.
My mother pushed me to do well in
One job led to another, I had
my daughter, thought I had
the single-parenting thing all
figured out. Then in April
2009 I became a statistic. I
was packing away my personal items at work, straightening up the desk before going on vacation. My phone
rang and the head of HR called me to
the conference room. She handed me
a package of documents, explaining
the terms of my severance.
I had been with the firm for a year,
even through rumors and gossip of 30
secretaries being downsized nationwide. Now it came down to my name
on a list. I walked out of the conference room, finished packing up my
desk and waited. When my teenager
called to say she was home, I grabbed
my things and left the office to figure
out what to do next.
While on vacation, I kept work as far
as possible from my thoughts. But I
could not avoid thinking about my future. All my friends and family said
"you're smart, you have valuable skills, you'll get another
job." But none of them knew of
a job, any job. I sent resume
after resume in response to
Nursing
(Nursing continued from page 1)
care. The final phase will be spring 2012 where Nursing III students will
be able to do basic care planning, documentation of client’s admission
care and simulation lab.
This new system will mean that in 2014 when the industry needs
EMHR capable nurses our students will be there to fill that need. A special Thanks to both Associate Professor Heather Griffiths, and Associate
Professor Linda Siegrist for all their hard work. We will continue the
proud tradition of producing competent and qualified Nurses.
ads, signed up with a temp agency,
still nothing.
During the summer of 201 0 I finally
got a call for a job that sounded interesting. I can say it was the most interesting, challenging job I could have
asked for. Still, it was a temporary job
and not the start of a career. After the
assignment was over I decided it was
time to upgrade my skills, by enrolling
at PCCC. I am on track now for a degree in Business Administration, Accounting, Management and Marketing. That's quite a mouthful, so I usually tell people I'm getting a degree in
Marketing.
I applied for admission, took my placement exam, then applied for financial
aid within three weeks. Do you know
what happens when someone waits
until August to enroll in college? The
financial aid people do an evaluation,
days before classes begin. All the incoming students pour into the gym,
waiting to be called. When the counselor reviewed my paperwork and told
me the federal grant would not cover
all my classes, fees and books, I
nearly cried. In that moment I thought
about postponing college, and once
more falling short of the potential everyone saw.
Some people may say what happened
next was luck. I am more prone to say,
my guardian angels were hard at work.
There was the PCCC scholarship fund.
I got $300 for books and that made all
the difference. I walked into my
classes feeling fully prepared and
ready for success. The payoff at the
end of Fall semester 2010 was a 3.7
GPA, and last week the Dean's Award.
The boost to my self-esteem, knowing
now that I can achieve so much, has
been immeasurable. Now when I tell
my daughter "yes dear you're going to
college" she knows every late night,
every early morning, is worth the effort.
If you ask my daughter, my pastor, or
any of my classmates, about me, I
hope the answer includes my enthusiasm for sharing ideas. One definition
of marketing is: the process of
planning and carrying out a program
to attract and convince consumers.
Now that I am learning accounting,
management and marketing skills, my
career plan includes: finding a company that supports the community
where it operates, then working in the
specific area of public relations. That
is more than I ever imagined as a
teenager, and definitely not what I
thought when I was holding that severance packet.
Erich Fromm said "Why should society
feel responsible only for the education
of children, and not for the education
of all adults of every age?" I can tell
you, it is energizing to be at a school
with faculty, staff and administrators
who care so much.
To the benefactors who have given so
generously, I want to say "thank you."
It may have seemed to you that your
donation would go unnoticed. I can tell
you, in August 2010, I noticed and I
was grateful. I can never expect to pay
it back, but I intend to pay it forward.
Page 6
Features
April 2011
Professor Hillringhouse Opens Photography Exhibit
By Amanda Vlavianos
“The only way I know how to stop
time is through photography; something is always different and things are
constantly changing.” This is the aspect of photography that Professor
Mark Hillringhouse, English professor
at PCCC, enjoys the most.
Professor Hillringhouse will be
opening an exhibit of his photographs
that he has taken over the last 20
years in Paterson, New Jersey. The
exhibit is titled “Paterson in Color and
Black & White,” and is scheduled for
the Broadway Gallery in Paterson for
April and May and will move to William
Paterson University for an exhibition in
June.
The show will include about 40
pieces total, with 20 color photographs and 18 black and white. The
photographs will be on sale, including
unframed prints. Professor Hillringhouse’s book of photographs and poetry , “Between Frames” will be published this spring via ServingHouse
Books and will also be available for
purchase at the show. The book includes all photographs at the exhibit.
Professor Hillringhouse has been
photographing Paterson since 1984.
He enjoys photographing the city because its details reflect the history of
the country and of the city. “The silk
mills really put Paterson on the map
and should be preserved,” Professor
Main Street Paterson, Sunday Morning" – by Mark Hillringhouse
Hillringhouse continues.
In 2005, the last silk mill of
Paterson closed. Teshon Mill sold their
looms and industry to China. Professor
Hillringhouse was given the opportunity to take pictures of the mill for two
days, just the way the workers had left
it, “with silk on the looms and cups of
coffee left in place. It was quiet as a
church, “ Professor Hillringhouse described.
“I photographed in black and
white all my life until I switched over to
digital photography, which is all in
color,” Professor Hillringhouse admits.
“Color is another dimension. I used to
see Paterson as a black and white
study, but there’s such color. I love the
surprises of Paterson,” he continues.
Professor Hillringhouse said he is attracted to the abandoned areas of the
city, but was not looking to show a
depressing side of the city. He also
mainly enjoys to photograph the historical mill district.
Professor Hillringhouse also enjoys photographing urban landscapes
and Newark, New Jersey. Overall, he
enjoys photographing “New Jersey in
particular,” and enjoys the industrial
aesthetic of the state.
Professor Hillringhouse, always
busy, is also part of the 4th Biennial
William Carlos Williams Society Conference from June 16th through 18th at
William Paterson University. He will be
photographing East Side High School
throughout the school’s renovations
and is also partaking in a documentary about the life of Maria Gillen.
Gillen is a well-known poet and Executive Director of Cultural Affairs at
PCCC. She also runs the Creative Writing program at Binghamton University
and runs the PCCC Poetry Center and
poetry readings.
Professor Hillringhouse also will
be writing for NJ Monthly in September: a 9/11 10th anniversary article.
He has taken pictures of memorials all
over New Jersey. He has conducted a
total of over 50 interviews and profiles, over 30 photo essays, and over
50 book reviews.
Professor Hillringhouse graduated from Hope College in Michigan
and studied French. He also has a
Masters in English and an MFA in
Creative Writing. He has been teaching at PCCC for over 20 years and has
been teaching full time for four.
At PCCC, Professor Hillringhouse
has taught Creative Writing, Philosophy, Art Appreciation, Critical Thinking,
Intro to Literature, and Composition I
and II. He also is creating a Creative
Nonfiction class, which is a large part
of an MFA program. He said that Joan
Didion calls Creative Nonfiction, “The
impalpable I.”
Professor Hillringhouse’s full collection of photographs can be viewed
at http://mhillringhouse.zenfolio.com
PCCC Professor: Women Supporter
By Xavier Rosa
Christine Redman-Waldeyer, an
English professor from Passaic Community College has started a journal
that deals with women’s issues and
topics. She named it Adanna which is
a Nigerian name for “my father’s
daughter.”
The journal is about everyday
hard working women and the struggles
or obstacles they endure in their everyday lives. You will find poetry, short
stories, essays, and book reviews. You
will also find guest writers, such as
Robin Lim who was recently named a
CNN hero for her work with poor
women in Bali who cannot afford
healthcare and began a center to train
midwives and house women and their
newborns for as long as they need.
The process for accepting submissions for the first journal started
this past January and ended April 31,
2011 with a projected book release of
June.
When asked of Redman-
Waldeyer what motivated her to start
the publication, she replied that
“woman can be competitive and I
wanted to create a place where
women can support one another.”
Throughout her career RedmanWaldeyer has stated that she has gotten more support from men than
women. She understands that it can
be hard for women to progress. She
wanted to create a space that empowered women.
When asked: Why did you choose
to start the publication, Professor
Redman-Waldeyer replied that she is a
“hard working wife, mother, and professor thus making it difficult to attend
literary events.” In order for her to remain active in the literary community
she decided to start her own journal.
When asked why she chose to
name the journal Adanna, RedmanWaldeyer replied that women can be
defined by men but not always in a
bad way, sometimes it is in a good way
like when her father supported her
education.
When asked what are her expectations for the publication, RedmanWaldeyer replied that she wishes it to
become international, that women all
over the world could benefit from it.
Causes such as Robin Lim’s or the
women’s plight in Congo are close to
her heart.
Redman-Waldeyer invited Diane
Lockward to be her first guest editor.
Diane Lockward is a poet from New
Jersey who has celebrated Women’s
History Month over the last three years
by inviting poets from around New
Jersey to read their poems on
women’s topics at the West Caldwell
Library.
Redman-Waldeyer is happy to
have avenues like Facebook to get the
word out there. Through facebook she
received hundreds of submissions
from around the world.
Please visit the website at
http://adannajournal.blogspot.com/.
You will also be able to purchase the
Professor Christine Redman-Waldeyer reading
her poem, Masquerade, April 23, 2011 at the
Yale University Bookstore which was included in
the Caduceus Journal.
book on Amazon.com and Adanna
Journal website. If you would like to
submit your own poems/short stories
you can send it to adannajournal@yahoo.com.
“Nothing So Near Can Take You...” to Pasadena, California
By Kristopher Perovic
Bryan Hunt is a Passaic County
Community College student of Engineering Science and is also one of
eighty students from community colleges across the country that has been
selected to travel to a NASA center to
develop robotic rovers. The National
Community College Aerospace Scholars program, which is sponsoring the
experience, encourages students to
pursue careers in science, technology,
engineering and mathematics (STEM)
disciplines.
Students will visit NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California on April 27-29 to establish
teams and form fictitious companies
pursuing Mars exploration. Each team
will shape a company infrastructure to
develop and design a prototype rover.
The on-site experience includes a tour
of NASA facilities and briefings from
agency scientists, engineers and astronauts.
"This innovative experience allows students to take what they've
learned in the classroom and apply it
to technical questions in the real
world, simulating what NASA engineers and scientists do every day,"
said Leland Melvin, NASA associate
administrator for education. "It will
help them develop the skills they need
to be the problem solving explorers of
tomorrow."
The program is based on the
state of Texas' Aerospace Scholars,
originally created in partnership with
NASA and the Lone Star state's educational community. Through this program, NASA continues the agency's
investment in educational programs
that attract and retain students in
STEM disciplines critical to NASA's
future missions.
As students of Passaic County
Community College, we should all be
inspired by Bryan Hunt’s opportunity
and be proud of his accomplishments – successes such as his are a
testament to our school motto,
“Nothing So Near Can Take You So
Far.”
April 2011
Collaborated effort of the
Journalism EN 105 class
$100 please! That is what one
has to pay to retrieve your vehicle if
you park in the Wendy’s parking lot
across the street from the Main Campus of Passaic Community College in
Paterson. Wendy’s parking lot is
meant only for Wendy’s customers.
Jonathan Veras, 23, currently a
Passaic County Community College
part-time student, also a former
Wendy’s employee stated,
“Management takes the parking situation in their parking lot very serious;
they even have spies in the parking lot
parked in cars.” Veras also mentioned
that while working at Wendy’s he witnessed at least fifteen cars being
towed in the parking lot. The Wendy’s
establishment has six signs around
the building warning drivers that parking is for customers only. Unfortunately, at least two cars a week are
being towed in the parking lot.
Blame it on negligence, or blame
it on stupidity.
Management declined an interview.
At the end of the day one should
understand that Wendy’s is a business, and it is not right to take paying
customers parking spaces. So the next
time when you are thinking, “Should I
park in the Wendy’s parking lot?”
Think twice and check your wallet because not only will it devastate you
when you return and your car is gone
but you will also have to fork over a
nice chunk of change to bail it out of
jail.
According to njtransit.com, when
Montclair State University was faced
with parking problems in 2004, an
MSU Station was opened. It included a
1500-space parking deck and ride the
NJ Transit; less traffic trouble and an
overall faster commute.
Over the last year, William Paterson University opened a solar energy
parking facility, consisting of rooftop
and parking lot solar installations. According to prnewswire.com, the lot will
save WPU energy costs of 4.3 million
over the next 15 years.
Also in 2004, Kean University
experienced parking crowding due to
Features
an increase in enrollment. According
to cougarsbyte.com, KU purchased
land close to the main campus for
additional parking lots, as well as
working with NJ Transit like Montclair
and PCCC. Full-time PCCC students
receive a 25 percent discount by entering their student ID to a link within
the portal.
Bergen Community College’s
parking garage is a two floor structure
with an area designated for staff. The
entrance to the garage is a bit out of
the way and it is a bit difficult to really
maneuver to the ramp. It is set back in
the corner and the parking early in the
morning is not a problem. There was
a lot of foot traffic in the garage and
no obvious security present.
Ian Godfrey, 19, a part time night
student at Bergen stated, “parking is a
big problem at the beginning of the
semester when everybody is at school
trying to register for class.” Godfrey
continued, “It is terrible; I am glad I
have night classes because it makes
getting to class easier. The parking is
safe; I never feel like I have to watch
my back. Additionally, I feel my girlfriend’s car is safe since there are just
so many people in the lot."
Ian’s girlfriend, Lori Nanni, 20, a
full time Professional Studies major at
Bergen County Community College
takes classes during the day, and at
night. She drives Ian to school for the
classes they share together. Nanni
said, “During registration I see other
kids with four-wheel drive vehicles
parking on the lawn. Parking is really
bad during registration and the daytime. I find it much easier to park at
night, but recently the parking problem
hasn't been so bad during the day."
Nanni also said
she feels safe; “I
am always with
my boyfriend Ian
at night, and the
daytime is very
busy. The campus is very beautiful and well
maintained.”
N a n n i
stated, “I think
they are doing a
great job here;
the parking is an
issue at all the
schools, but Bergen has such a good
reputation, and it’s a short drive to get
here."
In an interview with Samantha
Guibor, currently a Pre-Nursing Student who goes to Bergen full time at
night she said, "I find the parking very
easy at night; I never have a problem.
When I come to register my husband
drops me off at the main entrance so I
do not have to deal with parking. The
parking situation at night is simple
and easy. I work all day and at night it
is important that I find parking
quickly." Guibor said, “There are no
problems with safety. They do an excellent job at keeping the criminal element at bay. I have never seen anybody’s car broken into or even heard
of any kind of problem. If there is one,
I have never seen it.”
Guibor also stated that “Bergen
is doing a great job; they have the best
nursing program and they really maintain the campus. The parking problem
is a minor issue; it’s not something I’m
worried about."
In an attempt to find out whether
the parking issue is a real problem at
Passaic County Community College,
we talked to Bryant Catano.
Bryant Catano, 19, an Education
Major at Passsaic County Community
said he really does not have a problem
with parking at the Main Campus. “I
usually find parking on the 4th or 5th
floor.”
Catano continued, “I usually find
a spot, and the school is easily accessible.”
Catano had few problems with
parking in general
before he got is
parking pass. But
even then it was
just parking a block
away.” Catano explained further, “I
used to park a block
over from the White
Castle. I just had to
make sure to park
on the other side of
the street if it was
street
cleaning
day.” Unfortunately
that parking spot
got him a ticket. One time I got a ticket
because the road was covered with
snow and I didn’t see this one section
of the curb that was yellow,” Catano
stated.
A question that did seem to identify a problem with parking was when
he was asked if he saw a problem with
the college parking as it is rumored to
be. “Only at the Passaic Campus,” he
stated, “because of . . . the nursing
program; there is never enough parking there.” His response clearly identi-
SUMMER I & II
Summer I Classes Start May 23
Summer II Classes Start July 6
Fall Classes Start September 1
Page 7
SPECIAL REGISTRATION DAYS
May 16 12:00 pm - 7:00 pm
May 17 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Waiver Day
May 18 11:00 am - 7:00 pm
Late Registration
May 23 8:30 am - 7:00 pm
Center for Student Success 973-684-5524
fies a parking problem elsewhere. According to Catano, a way to resolve
that issue would be to “expand the
parking at the Passaic Campus.”
There was some interesting data
to be found while examining the responses from the questionnaires issued to the PCCC student body. Out of
the 99 students surveyed in reference
to the Paterson Campus (19 surveys
were issued in Wanaque; several were
issued in Passaic, but in reference to
Paterson), only 48 of those polled
drove their vehicles to school, leaving
51 responses irrelevant to the parking
situation.
Quite shockingly, out of these,
48, there were 24 reported accidents
in the parking garage. Even more
shocking was that one individual reported 10 of these accidents, with 4
by another. In Wanaque, it turns out
that 79 % of the student populous is
discouraged from taking courses in
Paterson due to parking concerns.
Nearly 42% of the students polled reported getting tickets, including one
student who responded to the question by stating they received a ticket,
“everywhere.”
Being late to class appeared to
be an issue upon the survey responses, with almost 73% of the responders claiming to be late often,
looking for a parking spot. Amazingly,
however, the average time to find a
parking spot is a meager 8.5 minutes.
Perhaps this is why the students reported that PCCC Professors are not
terribly understanding of students who
are late to class because of parking
issues.
SUMMER II
SPECIAL REGISTRATION DAYS
Waiver Day
Late Registration
July 5
July 6
8:30 am - 7:00 pm
8:30 am - 7:00 pm
Page 8
Features
April 2011
April 2011
Features
Page 9
Page 10
By: Tatiana Cabrera
Marva Cole-Friday
Meet the newly appointed Assistant Director of the Trio- Student Support Services, Ms. Marva Cole-Friday.
Ms. Cole-Friday is passionate about
providing academic support services
to students; she is committed to working with students in their pursuit of a
post-secondary education. She brings
a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to the position of Assistant Director of The Trio Program.
Prior to this appointment Ms.
Cole-Friday served for ten years as the
Director of the Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) Program at the College
of Saint Elizabeth (CSE). During her
tenure at CSE, Ms. Cole-Friday served
in different capacities, such as Student Development Specialist, Counselor, and Coordinator of Programs.
Prior to CSE she served in the Educational Opportunity Scholars (EOS) Program at Drew University.
Ms. Cole-Friday has spent the
majority of her professional career in
STEM
(Stem continued from page 1)
According to Areche, Dr. Vega
was “very happy to hear from us" and
the program was effectively started
soon after Dr. Campanella “kindly allowed Professor Areche and one student to get started with the program
using his research laboratory"; which
according to Areche and Laura Slavin
is truly exciting.
Professor Areche mentioned that
STEM provided the funds and the support to get the project started. He also
mentioned that this would not have
been possible with out the help of the
STEM grant director Kate Joyce, STEM
coordinator Thomas Van Aken and Dr.
Ida Graidanus.
Laura Slavin, 27 years old and a
resident of Wayne NJ, who is finishing
her first year at PCCC is currently the
only PCCC student involved in the project. Slavin's major is Science Liberal
Arts focus in Chemistry.
Slavin herself did not know what
to do with her life and it was on a
whim of chance that she checked to
see if she could enroll in PCCC. She
really did not know what do study, so
like most she tried different majors;
from nursing, radiography and finally
settling in the science field after she
Features
higher education with increasing responsibilities for over twenty years.
Ms. Cole-Friday has developed an understanding of the needs of firstgeneration students and implemented
proven strategies for student success.
Ms. Cole-Friday holds a Bachelor of
Arts degree from Drew University and
a Master of Science from the College
of Saint Elizabeth.
Joyce Addo
Joyce Addo is the Senior Counselor and Coordinator of the TRIO Program. She has enjoyed her
time in that position for almost two years. Prior to joining the great staff here at
PCCC, Ms. Addo was a Secondary Science teacher at Sussex Central High School, DE
where she taught Biotechnology, Biology and Physical Science for five years.
She attended Overbrook
High School in Philadelphia,
PA. After high school, Ms.
Addo journeyed south to Delaware State University where
she graduated with a BS in
Biology and Psychology. Durtook a chemistry course. When
asked why chemistry, she replied because “it’s fascinating”.
Her face filled with a great big
smile that showed her passion
for the subject.
In the program according
to Areche and Slavin, students
engage in active learning and
critical thinking, helping the
student clarify their interest in
the sciences and possibly shape
their future career in the field.
Areche states that students “learn Molecular Laboratory Techniques such as DNA
extractions, polymerase chain
reaction (PCR) amplification
techniques, DNA sequencing,
field biology techniques such as
sample taking, proper methods
of observing and recording scientific data, the proper use of
metric units and graph data”.
Professor Eduardo Areche, the PCCC
Science Department and the STEM
Grant hope that more students would
like to get involved in future projects.
This project will help PCCC science
students dedicate their minds and
talents on learning the necessary concepts crucial to transition into university level classes. With this program,
science students have the opportunity
to conduct authentic research early in
ing each summer of her undergraduate years, Ms. Addo participated in
biomedical research at institutions
such as the University of Washington
in Seattle, WA and the University of
Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA.
Her love of learning speared her
toward a career in education where
she would share her knowledge while
continuing to learn. Ms. Addo became
recognized as a highly qualified
teacher after completing her teaching
requirement through the University of
Delaware. Later, she enrolled and
earned her master's degree in counseling from Wilmington University.
Ms. Addo is a self-directed, enthusiastic educator with a passionate
commitment to student development
and learning experience and skilled in
the design of challenging, enriching,
and innovative activities that address
the diverse interests and needs of
students. She welcomes the opportunity to play a role in the formation of
her student’s emotional memories as
together they journey toward selfactualization.
their careers. It is an opportunity to
experience what is like to be in a laboratory using specialized equipment
such as spin columns, thermocyclers
and DNA sequencers.
Professor Areche mentioned
“students that engaged in research
have significant advantages over students who learn these techniques
later in their academic years." Students get to learn the process of scientific inquiry at a much deeper level
than what is explained in the class-
April 2011
Tashia Burton
Tashia Burton was recently appointed Counselor for Trio-Student
Support Services. She brings a wealth
of enthusiasm and excitement to her
new position.
Prior to joining PCCC, Ms. Burton
spent several years working in the
hospitality field. In an effort to
expand her professional career
and fervent desire to help people
she went back to school and received her Master’s degree in
Counseling with a concentration
in Higher Education. She is committed to ensuring students receive the guidance necessary to
achieve their educational goals.
Ms. Burton holds a Bachelor
of Science degree from the University of Maryland Eastern
Shore and a Master of Arts degree from Montclair State University.
room. As they practice these techniques, students will be more confident in new projects. Maybe some
time in the future these students may
become scientist and have laboratories of their own where they can
search for new answers to our evergrowing questions in medicine, technology and the environment.
To learn more, students are encouraged to talk to Professor Areche
or any member of STEM.
April 2011
Features
Page 11
Nestled in Founders Hall, on the Main Campus, is the little known program that has been providing
academic support to PCCC students since 2005.
By Tatiana Cabrera
There are many students who are
either unable or discouraged from
obtaining an education. This is due to
the current economic recession and
its effect on families already struggling
to meet their financial responsibilities.
Many students have expressed their
concerns regarding their hardships at
one point or another. Their cries are
echoed in class and private conversations. Juggling employment and making time to tackle school assignments
is overwhelming. Many find it difficult
to remain focused on their academic
achievements when their personal
financial obligations are unmet.
However, all is not gloom at
PCCC. I have found that despite the
adversities, the college is staffed with
some of the most dedicated individuals. At any given moment, they are
willing to assist any student in need. I
personally have the opportunity work
closely with, by, and for many of them
in various capacities. Whether in an
extra-curricular activity or classroom
setting, as work-study or simply in
need of information, I have been impressed and taken aback by the undivided attention given to students.
Nestled in Founders Hall, on the
Main Campus, is the little known program that has been providing aca-
demic support to PCCC students since
2005. Student Support Services is a
U.S. Department of Education funded
grant that provides services to low
income, first generation students, as
well as the disabled. The ultimate goal
of SSS is to increase the number of
students graduating with an Associate
Degree.
The Trio SSS Program is structured so students reach their academic potential success. We offer
students academic support, financial
assistance, paid child-care, book
vouchers, in addition is individual tutoring in all academic areas. Each
student in the program is assigned a
student support service counselors to
help them in all aspects of their educational planning.
This includes
course selection, major/career counseling, transfer planning, and financial
planning. The Trio SSS counselors
ensure that students within the program are focused and goal-oriented.
In addition, the counselors will assist
students with strategies to help overcome any personal challenges. The
SSS computer lab offers students tutorial services in Math, English, and Science. It is an environment where students can complete homework assignments, conduct internet research, and
study for upcoming exams.
Another major component of the
program is to enhance students’ cul-
tural awareness through field trips
that will enrich their lives. The following are Trios students who have recently graduated or have transferred
to a four year university.
Trio’s Student Achievements
Barbara Dickinson is a recent graduate of PCCC and an active participant
within the Trio’s academic program;
she has demonstrated that with the
assistance of the astute tutors she
was able to meet her academic goals.
Barbara entered the Trio program in
Spring 2007 often hearing about the
program through a flyer posted in the
financial aid office. After being out of
school for many years, she knew she
needed academic support. This support was found in the Trio Program.
She took advantage of the tutorial
services and enrichment activities
plus she valued the one-on -one personal counseling session. As a result
of all her hard work, on January 28,
2011, she participated in the nursing
program’s annual pinning ceremony
and plans to continue her education at
the College of Saint Elizabeth. Congratulations Barbara!
Leonel Cantillo is currently a Trio student who understands the importance
of participating in student activities.
He is the President of the Public
Speaking and Debate Team, a member of the soccer team, and involved
in numerous community activities. He
entered the Trio Program in Fall 2009,
after being referred by a friend. He
appreciates the tutor’s assistance
within the Trio Program. He took advantage of all the resources that Trio
offered.
The financial assistance
given to him as helped him cover
some of his academic fees. As a result, Leonel will be graduating in May
2011. Leonel has been accepted to
Rutgers University, Rider University,
Montclair State University and Seton
Hall University. Congratulations
Leonel!
Fahmida Sultana was a Trio student
on a mission. She entered the Trio
program in 2009 with a specific goal
in mind: attending Montclair State
University. She faced several challenges in high school and was originally denied admission to her dream
school. With the assistance of her Trio
counselor, Fahmida remained focused
on her educational goals. She was a
dedicated student. As a result, in the
summer of 2010, she received her
acceptance letter to Montclair State
University, where she has continued to
pursue her academic endeavors. Congratulations Fahmida!
Have a
Wonderful
Summer!
Page 12
Opinion
April 2011
Studies have shown that over 47% of teenagers state that they can text with their eyes closed.
By Lesroy Marshall-Tyrell
Time and time again we have
found things to be addicted too; we
can add cell-phone addiction to the
long list.
The younger generations cannot
do without their cell-phones. Based on
a survey conducted by Google, nearly
half (47%) of US teens say their social
life would end or be worsened without
their cell phone, and nearly six in 10
(57%) credit their mobile device with
improving their life. Studies have
shown that over 47% of teenagers
state that they can text with their eyes
closed.
Cell-phone has been one of the
most popular devices in history; however, can we say that this change has
really benefited our society?
Cell phones are great to get in
contact with people in emergencies. If
one wants to reach a friend or family,
By: Ashley Ortiz
On Sunday, April 3rd, 2011 the
Dioceses of Paterson declared that
whichever Catholic Church is dead;
inactive, shall be closed down. For
example, if there are no youth involved
in the ministry or anything of the sort,
then it shall be closed down.
Even though there are numerous
churches that have a youth ministry,
they still may be shut down because of
the debt they have accumulated.
Some have a much larger debt than
others. So those who have a smaller
or a large debt, and those that get
closed down, the money that was
earned by that parish, goes to those
By Brionne Ramsingh
The award-winning documentary
“Gasland” was screened by the Business Club on Wednesday, April 27,
2011 in the Paterson Room. The
screening attracted about 50 students
the cell phone is the best way to go;
however, the younger generations
have taken the use of cell phone over
the limit. We use the cell phone while
walking, driving, in class and even in
places where the use of cell phone are
prohibited like the library.
Studies have shown that the average person cannot go a day without
their cell phone. When they were
asked why this is so they said, I will
feel lost, lonely, crazy, some even say
like a dead man.
Roy Tyrell, 55, says he first got a
cell phone in 1989. Tyrell says he
bought his first cell phone because
one day his car broke down on a highway. At the time Tyrell was nowhere
near home. He says he was stuck and
had no one to help him. He stated
after long hours waiting in the cold, he
convinced himself to get a cell phone.
Tyrell says after 22 years, the cell
phone has been beneficial.
Tyrell says that his family is in
Jamaica and with his cell
phone he can get in contact
with them anytime. Not one of
the addicts, Tyrell also says he
could go over a week without it.
Tamara Freeman, 23, a
Radiology Major at PCCC, says
she got her first cell phone at
the age of 18. She says having
her first cell phone was like the
best day of her life. She states
that since that day she cannot
go a day without her cell
phone. “My cell phone is my
life,” stated Freeman.
Almost everyone has a
cell phone; however, not everyone is addicted to it. But no
matter what people say I still
believe cell phones are like
drugs.
churches that are still open to help
them lower their debt.
Several Catholic Churches have
been shut down already however, not
because of their debt or small number
of youth in its ministry, but because it
is unsafe in the parish itself. There
may be some construction that needs
to be done and has not been done
because of the debt or because no
one has been able to help these parishes. For instance, St. Michael the
Archangel, it is closed for now because of its undone construction.
The parish I attend, St. Agnes, we
are still open and hope to stay open
for many more years. We have a large
amount of adolescents in our Youth
Group and we do numerous activities and
fundraisers for our
ministry. We also do
community service
for those who are still
in high school and
wish to have this for
when they are filling
out college applications and even job
applications.
With what is going on in the city
of Paterson and Newark, we need to
keep these churches open and alive
so that no one has to leave their
home. Like those individuals who had
to find another parish to attend be-
and faculty from a
diverse range of academic backgrounds.
A night of refreshments and a
healthy debate ended
with a united campus
community at PCCC,
showing first-hand
that a unified voice
certainly is a powerful
one. From environmental science students to business
majors, the interactive debate held after
the commencement
of the screening provided an open forum to express their
concerns, opinions, and ideas about
the controversy that surrounds
Gasland.
The collaborative efforts demonstrated by students who discussed the
impact of hydrolytic fracturing on the
environment and communities is an
important step in finding the right solution to our energy crisis.
As gas prices rise to staggering
new heights, the need to find alternative energy sources is becoming increasingly more important. Though
the technology exists to harvest renewable energy sources such as solar,
wind, hydro, and geothermal energy,
the American energy companies continue to crave the profitability of nonrenewable resources.
Gasland is a documentary by
Indie Director Josh Fox who scours the
American landscape to reveal the
damaging effects of capturing natural
gas to the public. In the documentary,
Fox explores the process of hydraulic
fracturing and the resulting impacts
the controversial technique has on the
environment and the numerous health
and safety concernsof several communities across the United States.
Hydraulic fracturing is used to
cause theirs was closed down or
sold. No one likes to leave a place
that they call home.
fracture shale rock formations miles
under the Earth. These rock formations hold vast quantities of valuable
natural gas – possibly enough to decrease our dependency of foreign oil
and power the United States for centuries to come. However, the process of
harvesting natural gas has poisoned
the drinking water and polluted the
environment with hundreds of propriety chemicals that negatively impact
fragile ecosystems.
Unfortunately, companies that
use hydraulic fracturing are not regulated by the government and are exempt from several pieces of EPA legislation designed to protect the American public.
The debate of using hydraulic
fracturing to capture our reserves of
natural gas will continue well on to the
future. Students and faculty, ask yourself: “Does the energy crisis supersede the environment and health and
safety of the American public?”
April 2011
Clubs and Organizations
Page 13
: Facts About Sun Exposure
By: Jerry Gutierrez
According to
the NASA website
the sun radiates
light to the earth,
and part of that
light consists of
invisible ultraviolet
(UV) rays. According to an article published in Medical Digest, when these
rays reach the skin, they cause tanning, burning, and other skin damage.
Sunlight contains three types of ultraviolet rays: UVA, UVB, and UVC.
According to a recent study done
by the Center for Disease (CDC), dermatologists are changing their minds
about sun exposure.
Apparently recent research done
through the government has shown
that vitamin D may be a greater factor
in preventing cancer and in building
strong bones than previously thought.
And the best way to naturally get vitamin D is through exposure to the sun.
Of course too much exposure to
the sun can cause skin cancer and
that is why it is recommended that
individuals do not stay out in the sun
too long without protection. Here are
10 sun exposure facts that all should
be aware of:
get burned, but in getting their tan
they have already damaged their skin.
1. Good Sun – Vitamin D has been
found to prevent some internal cancers and promoting strong bones. For
a Caucasian this means about 10 minutes a day of casual sun exposure in
normal clothing.
6. Sunscreen – Be sure you use a sunscreen that blocks both UVA and UVB
rays and has an SPF of at least 30.
2. Bad Sun – Prolonged exposure as
well as sunburns increase your
chances for developing skin cancer.
3. Race – People who are light or fair
skinned have a higher risk of sun
caused skin cancer than those with
darker skin types.
5. Melanoma – This is the mostly
deadly, dangerous type of skin cancer
and usually does NOT occur on the
face. So protect your entire body!
7. Apply Liberally – You cannot just put
your sunscreen or sunblock on and
forget about it for hours and hours,
especially if you’re in the water! If you
are in water, make sure to use a sunscreen or sunblock that is water proof
or water resistant.
4. Tanning – Two-sided coin here:
those who have a tan are less likely to
8. Hats – Choose wide-brimmed over
a baseball cap. Ever burn the tops of
your ears or the back of your neck?
Oh, is it painful! So, if you burn easily
make sure you have a large enough
hat to cover your entire head.
disease, but that can only happen with
donations, research, and support. Although the cause of MS is still unknown, researchers are looking at a
combination of possible factors that
affect diagnoses. Immunology or the
science of the body’s immune system,
epidemiology that looks at patterns of
disease in the population, and genetics are the likely causes. There are no
symptoms, physical findings, or tests
that can determine if a person has
MS. Doctors conduct careful medical
history, a neurologic exam and various
tests, such as a MRI, to determine a
diagnosis.
People suffering from multiple
sclerosis share certain similar characteristics. There are approximately
400,000 people with multiple sclerosis in the U.S and 2.1 million people
worldwide. Multiple sclerosis has been
viewed as an adult-onset disease and
the majority of research and support
programs have targeted for adults.
Although most people with MS are
diagnosed between
the ages of 20 and
50, MS has been
found in young children and teens. MS
is more common in
women than men.
Genetics play an
important role in
who gets the disease with a 1/40
risk in anyone who
has a close relative
with the disease. Also, individuals in
the northern hemisphere are more
prone to MS than those living by the
equator (increased exposure of vitamin D is being researched into having
a protective effect from MS). Caucasians are more likely to be diagnosed
with MS than African
Americans. There are four
stages of multiple sclerosis: relapsing-remitting,
primary progressive, secondary progressive, and
progressive relapsing. With
no actual cure, researchers and doctors have come
up with treatments to modify the disease course,
treat attacks, relapses,
manage symptoms, and provide emotional support. These remedies and
medications may enhance the quality
of life for people living with MS. People
can be prescribed medications, such
as Avonex, or receive rehabilitation,
such as physical, cognitive, and vocational.
The National Multiple Sclerosis
Society’s new and most recent campaign on their website is “where individuals can post what MS means to
them.” On April 1st, the MS Society
donated $40 million in cutting-edge
research projects moving us closer to
a world free of MS. They rely on seventy world-class scientists who volunteer their time to evaluate proposals
for new medicines and treatments for
MS. In order to achieve the vision of a
9. Acne – If you use creams with Retin
-A you are much more susceptible to
getting sunburn because it gets rid of
dead skin cells you cannot see that
help block the sun.
10. Dermatologists – You should
make visiting a dermatologist a part of
your yearly health care especially if
you have any moles or growths, have
had any type of skin cancer or have an
immediate relative who has had skin
cancer.
The sun provides both benefits
as well as hazards to our bodies and
especially our skin. Be sun safe and
sun smart when you are out there enjoying it!
As always please do not just go
by what you read, but rather get involved as it is your health and your
life. And as always if you have any
questions or concerns contact your
private doctor or your health care provider.
By Melissa Petrina
On Sunday, April 10th, 2011
Passaic County Community College’s
Visions Newspaper, Nursing Student
Organization, Psychology club, and
Science club joined the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s annual MS
Walk in Ridgewood, NJ. It was a beautiful, inspiring day that connected
many people with different backgrounds to support the war against
multiple sclerosis. The walk began at
10 a.m. and did not end until about
1:30 p.m. Groups either chose to walk
a three or nine mile hike; there were
rest stops where volunteers cheered
on the walkers, who were congratulated with medals at the end. Donations were welcomed to help raise
funds that supported cutting edge
research, drive change through advocacy, and provide services to help people with MS move forward with their
lives.
Multiple sclerosis, or MS, is a
chronic, unpredictable neurological
disease that affects the central nervous system, which makes up the
brain, spinal cord, and optic nerve
endings. It causes an individual to
become immobilized; hence, the Society established a walk to raise money
for those who cannot walk. MS causes
blurred vision, loss of balance, poor
coordination, slurred speech, tremors,
numbness, extreme fatigue, problems
with memory, and more. These problems may be permanent or may come
and go. No matter what, people diagnosed with MS struggle to live and are
faced with limitations. New treatments
and advances in research are giving
new hope to people affected by the
world free of MS, the National MS Society is a driving force of research,
pursuing prevention, treatment and
cure. Their projects are based on the
guiding principles of speed, collaboration and possibilities. The Society is a
collection of passionate individuals
who want to do something about MS
now. MS stops people from moving;
the Society exists to make sure it does
not. To address the challenge of living
with MS, they have established fifty
state network chapters. Additionally,
they reach out to politicians and legislation to champion the needs of people living with MS.
If you would like to make a contribution to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, you can visit their website
at http://www.nationalmssociety.org
and sign up for their next walk at
http://walkpae.nationalmssociety.org.
Let us here at PCCC make a difference
in the world and support the war
against MS. Everyone deserves to be
mobile; for those who cannot be, let
us walk to create a world free of MS!
Page 14
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April 2011
By Tomas Feliciano
On March 2, 2011 the esteemed
Dr. Maria Gillan, director of the Poetry
Center at Passaic County Community
College, solidified her spot upon the
list of legendary poets when she was
called up to the stage in the crowded
Capitale building to receive the Barnes
& Nobel Writers for Writers Award.
While the walk to the stage might have
been several feet, the road to victory
has been a life-long endeavor.
One might think that after receiving an award of this magnitude that
Gillan would be content with herself as
a writer, but as she said, “A writer is
never satisfied.” There is always something to press on towards, whether it
be more published books and awards,
or another emotion to convey to the
page. Gillan stated that her job as a
poet would not be over until the day
she dies.
As well as completing the book
she is currently working on, she hopes
to get more of her works published in
journals. Her goal is to get her writing
to as many people as possible. Gillan
says, “I want to make a true connection to people through my work.” However, her connection is appearing
strong at the moment.
Gillan recalls the astounding applause that rang throughout the heavily packed Capitale, and feeling as if
she was 25 feet tall. The beautiful
room with handcrafted ceilings was
littered with the elite of the literary
Art
world, as well as the extremely wealthy
contributors to the publishing industry.
Gillan’s fears were squelched almost
immediately when she stood on stage,
and celebrated author John Grisham
proclaimed, “Way to go, kid!” as our
own Gillan took center stage.
Among the many famous faces in
attendance, Gillan was especially excited to meet Caroline Kennedy. Gillan
has long been a fan of the Kennedys,
so this introduction came at great
pleasure. Kennedy, who recently published a book of poetry from women
writers throughout the century, came
off as very reserved and selfcontained. Gillan also spoke with
many editors of poetry, including a
writer who was accepted into Columbia University for an MFA in Poetry, but
turned down the offer thinking her
writing was not up to par for such a
prestigious school.
After the car picked Gillan and
her daughter, who traveled from Boston for the event, up from her house,
most of the night is a giant blur. Because everything was moving so
quickly, the entire experience seems
like one long memory for Gillan. She
remembers not being able to talk or
eat for an entire hour because of the
nerves of being among such an elite
crowd to receive such a tremendous
honor.
One of the perks that resonated
with Gillan was having an assigned
bodyguard. Also, she greatly enjoyed
the after party, where she was allowed
Page 15
Christopher Smith.
April 2011
From left to right: Michael Morrison, benefit chair; John Grisham, honoree; Maria Mazziotti Gillan,
honoree; Elizabeth Nunez, honoree; Elliot Figman, Poets & Writers’ executive director; Jonathan Galassi, honoree; and Paul Rudnick, master of ceremonies.
to bring guests. One of her former students came to show Gillan support, as
well as her poet friends from Wales
and Russia.
Gillan may have solidified herself
among the elite writers in the world,
but she understands that the road
that she traveled was not easy. Because of this, Gillan does all that she
can to help out poets on their way to
recognition. She tells these writers to
never give up, to always continue writing. The only way to rise up the ladder
is to get your name out there, so she
recommends that these writers attend
as many workshops as they can and
join poetry circles, hoping to reach the
next plateau. One important thing for a
writer hoping to make a name for
themselves is to have a trusted writer
friend to lean on for support. It is important to hear critiques from somebody whose opinion you trust and
value.
The entirety of Passaic County
Community College should take pleasure in knowing that a legendary writer
bears their namesake. Next time you
pass the historic Hamilton Club Building on Ellison Street, realize that the
woman who runs the Poetry Center
located inside is making history all her
own.
PCCC’s English Professors Show Poetic Chops
By Tomas Feliciano
On Tuesday, April 19, 2011,
PCCC held its Third Annual FacultyStaff Poetry Reading, sponsored by
the PCCC Writing Initiative. The event
was coordinated by Elizabeth Nesius,
and involved readings from some of
the PCCC English professors. The
reading took place in celebration of
National Poetry Month, which is the
month of April.
The first to read was Professor
Dave Bolger, who is a poet and songwriter as a member of the vocal trio
“The Cicada Brothers,” besides teaching. He delivered his poems with an
incredibly strong voice. There was
much depth to the observations that
he put forth. Behind these observations was a powered melody all his
own. One such poem that the crowd
seemed to enjoy was a recollection of
a memory of the famous New Jersey
Meadowlands.
Professor Christine RedmanWaldeyer, the Coordinator of PCCC’s
Journalism department, was next to
read. Her words spoke to the childhood innocence that we all hope to
retain. As a
mother,
her
child r e n ’ s
words become
a
muse
to
her caref u l l y
crafted
poems.
Childhood
is a topic
that
Dr.
Waldeyer
has
experience
in,
and it came
across in her
stories with ease
and nobility.
P o e t ,
teacher, editor,
and
photographer, Professor
Mark
Hillringhouse was third
to the podium.
His words came
across with ease
and tranquility.
Hillringhouse delivered his poems with
a calm narration and a deep, soothing
voice. The poems that he recited were
full of vivid observations of his home
state, New Jersey. With the mind of a
photographer, Hillringhouse’s poems
were full of vibrant imagery, and it
almost felt as if you were standing
beside him on his memory bank.
Professor Ken Ronkowitz, the
Director of the Writing Initiative at
PCCC, took the stage next. His poems
ranged in topic, from hysterically funny
to heart wrenchingly touching. He also
threw some romance into the pot for
good measure, including a poem
about falling in love at a poetry workshop with a mysterious woman across
the room. To close his reading, we
were welcomed to a soliloquy about
the loss of his father, which was sad
and poignant.
Finally, Dr. Maria Mazziotti Gillan,
recent winner of the 2011 Barnes and
Nobel Writers for Writers Award and
Director of the Poetry Center at PCCC,
took to the microphone to show her
poetic chops. The Italian immigrant
spoke with a sweet, endearing tone.
Her poems were remembrances of her
past, including encounters with her
mother, the recollection of fancy
dresses, a call-out to a respected father, and a special poem about the
loss of her husband. Dr. Gillan’s husband passed away at the time of the
BP oil spill, and she carefully wove the
two stories together, demonstrating
her mastery of poetic art form.
To close the evening, there was
an open reading in which Thomas Feliciano, an English Major at PCCC, read
two poems ironically detailing the loss
of his poetic muse. A poet friend of Dr.
Gillan read two lovely, image-filled
poems to wrap everything up.
In the words of Dr. Gillan,
“Elizabeth Nesius did a wonderful job
arranging everything.” This April,
Passaic County Community College did
its part to ring in National Poetry
Month.
Page 16
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April 2011
Play
(Continued from page 1)
morous, the couple argues about the
future of their relationship. The 3rd Skit, a
bit on the more serious side, is about a
man and woman in bed. They seem to
have had a role reversal where the
woman plays a more traditional role of a
man; the man seems to express the
more traditional concerns of a woman.
The skit ends on a lighter note with the
man in bed going “woof”, which brought
many laughs from the audience.
After a short intermission the play
continues with a very energetic performance where a man tries to explain to his
fiancé all the reasons why they should
not get married. The woman just waited
patiently till he was done, as if ignoring
his complaints, and then engages him
with questions about the wedding preparations. The final skit was very well performed and frequently humorous and
serious at the same time. A son comes to
his parents saying how he wants to get a
divorce because he is not happy. His
wife shows up later in the skit and say
the same thing. The parents proceed to
explain how they are not happy and but
they are content. It was a serious view of
how the older generation and the
younger generation view marriages.
There where many funny lines to break
the tension. It was a well written end to a
very funny group of skits.