April 2011 - The Jay Stop

VOL. 3 NO. 4
APRIL 2011
THE JOHN JAY SENTINEL
ON GUARD FOR THE CAMPUS COMMUNITY
Inside
Glenn Beck Sets Sights On CUNY
By Stephanie Trinidad
Senior Staff Writer
Frances Fox Piven, 78, is a professor
of political science and sociology at the
CUNY Graduate School and was declared
to be an “enemy of the constitution” by
radical radio and T.V. personality Glenn
Beck.
On March 2, faculty, staff and students
at John Jay rallied behind her during the
televised meeting, “Hands off Professor
Piven: Witch Hunts and the Academy,”
where professors and students shared insight on the topic. In a heated discussion,
professors sided with Piven and provided
overwhelming encouragement for the distinguished professor.
Frances Fox Piven began writing in the
60’s and 70’ on welfare reform and community organization. She would eventually write hundreds of articles on this topic.
As a civil rights activist , she took her passion and manifested it through the creation
of over a dozen books including Regulating the Poor: The Functions of Public
Welfare and Challenging Authority: How
Ordinary People Change America.
Piven has taught since 1982, and she
has a PH.D in her field of study from the
University of Chicago. She and her late
husband, Richard Cloward, developed
the Cloward- Piven Strategy in their article entitled The Weight of the Poor: A
Strategy to End Poverty, a strategy used
to pressure the national government into
developing policies addressing the end
of poverty. 46 years later, it has been the
center of controversy with Beck. He is
the host of his own show on FOX and for
two years he has made statements accusing Piven of attempting to “intentionally
collapse
our
economic
system.”
Piven has also advocated for other
concerns like American electoral politics
and social movements. She has also received numerous awards, like the American Sociological Association’s Career
Award for the Practice of Sociology and
their award for the Public Understanding
of Sociology. She is the former Vice-President of the American Political Science
Association and has also served as program co-chair of the annual political science meetings, and is former president of
the Society for the Study of Social Problems.
The 5’6, small in stature, Piven said
via a phone interview,
“Glenn
Beck can’t
achieve
what he
wants
to
Sex
JESSICA ENG
Planning on getting intimate this
spring break? Well then you better consult
our advice columinst on:
Page 7
Spring Break
DAISY VELEZ
Photo illustration by Hager Abdelkerim.
Story Continued on Page 11.
Seniors Forced To Fork Over Money
For The First Time At John Jay Students Have To Pay For Cruise
By Jayelle Dorsainville
Senior Staff Writer
Senior Cruise expenses increase while
students question the intentions of budget
spending and student activity fees.
For every graduating class, the semester before commencement is an even mix
of stress and excitement. After the last
papers are submitted and grades are determined, the graduating students are given
the opportunity to go on a Senior Cruise.
Attending the event is optional, but the
class of 2011 is given a bigger expense
than previous classes. The charge to attend
the senior cruise is $45 per person, but the
class of 2010 was not charged a fee to attend the cruise. The cost fo each ticket was
entirely covered by the student activity
fee.
“The decision to charge for the senior
cruise was made by the Student Council,”
said Student Activities Financial Manager
Vivian Febus-Cabrera.
Student council Secretary Elizabeth
Cyran, head of the 2011 Senior Cruise,
had this to say, “The charge is being applied to supplement the cost to allow a
larger number of students to attend due to
budget constraints. This strategy of charging a fee is also being implemented in other student activity fee funded services.”
According to Cabrera, “The total
amount of attendees last year was 296 students. The minimum amount of students
for this year’s cruise is 300 the maximum is 500.”As the size of the graduating
classes increase so do the fees that seniors
must pay for their commencement activities. Even though Student Council supports their decision, seniors feel otherwise.
Some students are now beginning to question the budget spending used for student
activities. Students that do not participate
in club events, never see the fruits of their
student activity fees.
Student organizations/clubs all follow
strict protocols to apply for their budgets.
The organization officials decide on what
is necessary to include in their budget, and
submit the forms to the Student Council
for approval. The amount for each club is
usually no less than $1000, but how are
students certain that these funds are being
spent to their benefit?
“The Clubs are given budgets for
spending,” said Graduating Senior Zahraa
Majeed, “How does that money help the
students if we don’t see how it’s spent?”
Student activity fees are automatically
applied to each semester bill. These fees
are meant to cover activities like “Welcome Week” and Club Row events. The
student activity fee for full-time students
per semester/session is $49.60 and $39.85
for part-time students. For full-time graduating seniors the student activity fee more
than covers the cost of the senior cruise.
Budgets that are decided for Student
Activities should be discussed with students. During “Welcome Week” participating students received small fish with
even smaller life spans. Although the cost
of these amphibians may not match the
senior cruise fee, this money could have
contributed to lessen the cost for the graduating class. Students are being flooded
with extra fees, and increased prices as
their time in John Jay continues. At least
this will be one of the last checks graduating seniors make out to John Jay College.
“We shouldn’t have to pay for the Senior
Cruise,” said Majeed. “It’s unfair.”
Thinking of going away for Spring
Break? Well, we have some tips for you
on how to go about it.
Page 7
Health
HAGER ABDELKERIM
Don’t have money for a gym membership? Neither do we. So we thought of
some great, cheap ways to help you look
good for this Spring Break.
Page 3
2
Corrections
The corrections below are from
the March 2011 issue of The John
Jay Sentinel. We correct all errors
of fact. Please contact us by email
ay jjaysentinel@jjay.cuny.edu if
you see a mistake that was not
corrected.
The article titled “Judicial Board
Crippled After Impeachment And
Resignation” contains an error of
misquoting. James De Lorenzi
was quoted in the article as writing “ ‘allegations against Fox…’
and ‘Rosario to be credible.’” But
what was missing in this quote is
the word “appear.” This one word
stresses the fact that Lorenzi is not
exactly certain in his judgement.
Winter Semster Cold And Costly
Makeba Lavan
Senior Staff Writer
Here at CUNY, taking winter classes
has been the bane of many students’
existence.
The main reason is because of the
complete lack of financial aid offered for
the session. Winter is not considered a
separate session.
“It used to be that we were allowed
to have winter as a separate term but
last year the federal government said
you must attach winter to spring or fall.”
These were the words that Alice Murphey, CUNY’s Director of Financial Aid
Management offered regarding CUNY’s
winter session.
Officially, the winter session is known
as fall two. Even loans are not dispersed
in their complete amounts for the winter.
If a student were to take out a loan for the
winter session after already taking one for
the fall, the loan would be split between
the winter and spring semesters.
However, summer is considered a
“non-standard” term. That basically means
that it can stand on its own as a semester.
The reason for this is because CUNY
launched a program based on the theory
that a summer session would allow
students to graduate faster. Also, most colleges offer summer sessions.
Very few offer winter sessions. As for
the “accelerated degree pilot, the program is grossly over budget. Last year the
summer session, as a stand-alone session,
cost $8 billion, many times its estimated
budget.
As a result, summer’s autonomy may
also be on the chopping block. Murphey
confirms this, “I don’t think it can survive
as a stand-alone.” Currently, students
who take summer classes receive two Pell
rewards in one year.
If the program is axed, that will no
longer be the case. Winter became attached to the fall semester for this very
reason.
Otherwise, if a person registered for
12 credits in the fall and dropped three,
they would have to pay back Pell money
before being able to register for the winter.
Murphey explains, “It didn’t seem fair to
give students money then bill them for
money they’ve already spent and then
when they register for winter say ‘you
owe us money and now we’re not going to
give you anymore.’”
Wankairys Decena, a student at
Hunter, has a different view of the winter
session’s lack of financial aid.
She used her savings to pay for her
winter study abroad session, including her
tuition. “It’s frustrating the fact that we
can’t get financial aid for winter since it’s
not considered a real semester.
But then again, they charge you the
same as a regular semester. Also, as a
SEEK student I would have been able to
receive some type of funding for my trip.
It was frustrating over all.” Murphey
has confirmed that CUNY is looking to
attach the winter session to spring. This
way, students would have a bit more ease
with financial aid, at least as far as loans
are concerned.
But the change will take some time. As
she puts it, “Our system is held together
by toothpaste. We’re afraid if we change
everything too soon, everything will
break.”
THE JOHN JAY SENTINEL
John Jay College of Criminal Justice
City University of New York
445 West 59th Street
Room 1535 NH
New York, NY 10019
(212) 237-8308
jjsentinel@jjay.cuny.edu
Editor in Chief:
Eric Jankiewicz
Managing Editor:
Desiree Mathurin
Visuals Editor:
Hager Abdelkerim
Copy Editorr:
Karla Mayenbeer Cruz
Senior Staff Writers:
Ruben Etienne
Jayelle Dorsainville
Sean Whetstone
Norhan Basuni
Stephanie Trinidad
Makeba Lavan
Slajanna Jean
Junior Staff Writers:
Netanella Rafael
John Werner
Christina Perez
Gina Borrello
Marisol Rueda
MarieLunie JeanBatard
Luis Talledo
Tanaya Mathis
Derek Pappas
Photographers:
Jade Jetjomlong
Jenny Martinez
Illustrators:
Daisy Velez
Diana Sun
Local Malcontent:
Joshua Belmonte
Contributors:
Sabrina B. Guillaume
Joshua Belmonte
Alexis Hiralall
Faculty Adviser:
Alexa Capeloto
We welcome letters to the editor
and stories relevant to
the John Jay community.
MARISOL RUEDA
John Jay Contirbutes To Relief Efforts For Japan
By Marisol Rueda
Junior Staff Writer
John Jay made relief efforts for Japan
with a fund-raiser that took place in both
the North Hall Lobby and T-Building that
began on March 23 and continued until
April 6.
The school hosted several events over
a two-week period. The Diverse Culture
United Club had a Bake Sale, and hosted a
Nerd Party in which they suggested donations to those who attended.
Artists United held a concert in the
North Hall lobby.
“I think it’s going to grow even
more… and I won’t be surprised,” said
Lisa-Marie Williams, a graduate student at
John Jay and soon to be treasurer of Student Council, when asked for her expectations of the ongoing fundraising activities.
Williams was the first one to take the
initiative to start a fundraiser at John Jay
when an earthquake struck Haiti back in
January of last year. Williams took the initiative again to encourage students to contribute to this new cause. “It really hurt my
heart…the fact they got heat double. ”
Unfortunately, not many students are
aware of the efforts that John Jay and its
students are making in order to contribute
to Japan. Students have been questioning
why the fundraiser did not take place any
sooner, or as fast as in other CUNY colleges .
“The only reason why we were not
able to push it until Wednesday was because of Student Government Elections,”
MARISOL RUEDA
Williams said. Lacking availability of
space, tables and volunteers, this relief
fundraiser was held from happening earlier in the week.
In an earlier student announcement
delivered via e-mail, John Jay’s President
Jeremy Travis announced that the Student
Government and the Office of Student
Life donated “Japan” wristbands to be
distributed to the first 1,000 people who
contribute five dollars or more to the relief
effort.
“The first two days we gave tickets
away to those who donated five dollars
or more so they could claim the bracelets
later on, since we didn’t have them available at the time.” Williams expected that
the bracelets will work as an incentive for
students to contribute with donations, and
as a constant reminder of their humanity.
“There has been a high response from all
students, and if it continues to be this way
we might as well prolong the fundraising
activities,” Williams said.
In addition to all the fundraising activities, the organizers of the event are
asking members of the John Jay college
community to sign pre-cut pieces of paper
with messages of hope at the fund-raising
tables located along the school buildings. These messages will then be taken by
volunteers and turned into origami paper
cranes, which will be later on displayed at
the North Hall Lobby.
Wristbands were sold for five dollars as part of the relief effort.
Want To StudyAbroad? Holocaust Remembered
By Makeba Lavan
Senior Staff Writer
Want to go to the Dominican Republic? Greece? How about Italy? Study
abroad may be your answer. Here at John
Jay, a commuter college, many people feel
that study abroad is not for them. I hear
you. But let me tell you, you’re wrong.
Study abroad is for anyone who wants to
combine the student-killer, studying, with
the always-thrilling pastime of travel.
Planning ahead is the key to making study
abroad a reality.
First off, programs are offered in
yearlong, semester-long, and summer or
winter sessions. Last summer, I studied
history in Barcelona. This winter, I took
Spanish courses in Argentina. It is summer
there now, by the way.
Secondly, there are some scholarships
and grants that will also help you make
this goal a reality. Then there’s the less
glamorous, but equally effective option:
saving. That’s right, saving. So, step one
would be choosing your program. Need
help with that? The first thing you need
to do is review your options. CUNY
students are welcome to study abroad at
any CUNY or SUNY programs. There
is also a great program called University
Studies Abroad Consortium. USAC is a
non-profit study abroad organization that
provides amazing, cost-efficient programs
for students. I am considering their marine
biology in Costa Rica program for my
next study abroad destination. Cool way
to get those requires science credits! Now,
let’s talk money. It is so important to plan
early. If you receive financial aid (TAP,
Pell), save some of your excess funds to
help pay for your trip. It is always better
to have more than enough instead of going
broke during your trip. Yes, I am speaking
3
from experience. Euros will do you in!
When budgeting for your trip, make sure
you know the exchange rates between the
U.S. and your destination, if any. Anyway, aside from savings, lets explore the
wonderful world of free money aka scholarships. At John Jay there is a schoolsponsored scholarship for study abroad. It
provides funds of up to $1,000. To qualify,
you must have at least 30 credits and a 3.0
GPA. In this case, it literally pays to have
good grades. This award is offered during
the spring and the fall. Fall awards can
count toward a winter program.
So there you have it. Plan ahead, save
money, apply for those scholarships, and
pack light for your amazing study abroad
experience!
For more information
regarding programs,
visit these sites:
-www.cuny.edu/studyabroad
-www.usac.unr.edu/
For more information
regarding scholarships, visit these links:
-www.jjay.cuny.edu/1202.
php#Study_Abroad_Scholarship
-www.cuny.edu/academics/programs/international/students/scholarships/stocs.html
-www.iie.org/en/Programs/GilmanScholarship-Program
By Netanella Rafael
Junior Staff Writer
Eighty university students were sponsored by New York area Hillels to take
part in a Holocaust and Genocide education trip to the United States Holocaust
Memorial Museum in Washington D.C.
early March.
Among them were thirteen undergraduate students from John Jay College.
Although Queens College Hillel organized
the trip, John Jay participants traveled
courtesy of the Hillel and Office of Student Life at John Jay.
Students left New York City on Saturday evening and stayed overnight at the
Marriott Inn And Conference Center at
the University of Maryland. On Sunday
morning, students took a short bus tour
of Washington D.C.’s historic sights such
as the White House, the Capitol and the
Washington Monument. The group was
then taken to the Holocaust Memorial Museum to self-tour for approximately four
hours.
The expectations were high and students had mixed feelings about going into
the museum. “Truth is, I’m scared. I’m
not quite sure what to expect. I’ve heard
a bit about the museum and I was told that
I will probably get very emotional once I
see the graphic pictures,” said freshman
Silky Gajwani.
The museums’ permanent exhibition,
The Holocaust, begins at the topmost floor
in 1933 with The Nazi Assault. The exhibition presents a narrative history using
more than 900 artifacts, 70 video monitors, and four theaters that include historic
film footage and eyewitness testimonies,
according to museum tour guide Nina Cohen. The exhibition is divided into three
parts: “Nazi Assault,” “Final Solution,”
and “Last Chapter.” Each student was given an “Identification Card” of a Holocaust
Victim who may or may not have survived
and were told to follow the person’s story
as they made their way through the mu-
seum.
Michelle Michel, a freshman, said, “I
am following the life of Zofia Yamaika,
a Jew from Poland. She was killed at the
age of 18 after she joined a group of partisans. It’s scary. I get chills when I see her
picture in the identification card and think
that she was my age when she was killed.”
One of the latest additions to the museum is the Genocide exhibit, “From Memory To Action: Meeting The Challenge of
Genocide.” The exhibit includes eyewitness stories of genocide in Rwanda, Srebrenica in Bosnia, and the Darfur region
in Sudan. Eyewitnesses include activists,
survivors, rescuers, journalists, humanitarian aid workers, and more.
“I felt like it opened my mind to what
happened and still is happening and made
me realize that I shouldn’t take what I
have for granted,” said freshman Kristen
Shank at the end of the tour.
After they left the museum, the students were taken to the University of
Maryland Hillel House for a ‘debriefing’
session with Holocaust expert Lynn Williams to discuss their thoughts and feelings about what they have seen.
“This trip was very important to me
because growing up, I didn’t have any
education about the Holocaust and as a
Jew who’s grandparents are survivors, it is
important for me to take it upon myself to
keep myself informed,” said Dina Steinherz, a junior at John Jay.
Williams asked the students if the experience contributed to their overall understanding of the history of the Holocaust
and Rachel Axelrod, a senior, answered,
“I have been learning about the Holocaust
since a very young age but visiting the
museum and seeing the video testimonials,
artifacts and pictures is like completing
a jigsaw puzzle. Everything I’ve learned
throughout the years has been put together
Continued on Page 10
4
Politics
Some Vote. Most Don’t.
By Eric Jankiewicz
Editor-In-Chief
This year student elections garnered
little participation from both voters and,
even more surprisingly, the number of students who chose to run for office.
1,455, students voted this year for student government. The number of candidates to choose from was markedly lower
this year. For President there were only
two candidates for students to choose
from. The selection of Vice presidents was
three. And there was only one candidate
that ran for secretary and one that ran for
treasurer.
The winners of the election were announced late at night on March 22. The
crowd was made up of the men and women who were running for a position along
with their entourage. The new student
council will assume power in June.
A week before the elections an event
commonly called Student Council debate
was held on March 16 and 17. On the first
day, a group of about 15 to 20 people gathered in the multipurpose room across from
the cafeteria to hear the candidates answer
questions. The questions were formulated
and asked by Judicial Board. Attending
both days, one knew there would be a
small number of students who would actually vote. Half of the students who came
to the debates were somehow directly
connected to student government or life—
members of the candidates’ campaign and
a few student representatives compiled the
bulk of the viewers. During the last half
of the debate the audience was invited to
stand before a microphone and ask questions to the candidates. Many of the questions were meant to test the candidates on
their knowledge of the inner workings of
student government. At times the audience
members who asked questions became aggressive if questions were not correctly
answered. For example, Clement James,
a graduate representative student, asked
Naithram Singh about one of his promises
he made. If he would have been elected,
Singh promised to keep the library open
overnight during finals week. James asked
how he would achieve his promise. Singh
responded that he would go to the department of treasury to accomplish this goal.
To this James responded with a mocking
laugh.
SEAN WHETSTONE
During The Student Council Deabate the few students that were there were invited to ask questions before a microphone.
“The reason there is less involvement
is because of the last student government’s actions,” James offered his opinion on why there were so few candidates
to choose from this year. The actions he
refers to are the impeachments and resignations within Judicial Board and the
resignations of Maxine Kerr, the old vice
president, and Anastasia Williams who
served as treasurer. He suggested that
students were afraid to get involved in an
establishment so bloated with drama and
conflict.
Isaac Katalaydiallo, an undergrad, was
nonchalant about the situation, “This is
not a new trend.” He then expressed some
worry because he believes that “we went
back to” only “club row voting.” What he
meant is that only club row is going out to
vote and to him “this is very dangerous.”
Since club row represents a small percentage of the school, student government is
not fully getting the opinions and desires
of the John Jay student body as a whole.
On March 21, the second day of the
elections, Luba Chasto, a sophomore, entered the North Hall building with a flood
of other students trying to get to class.
Waiting for them by the turn-styles was
another group of students urging them on
to vote. Chasto impatiently waved them
away. “It’s a waste of time, don’t bother
me,” she said. “I’m too old for that.” She
Continued, “I want to get an education
and then get out. I don’t care.” Chasto was
echoing the opinion of the majority.
That same day Marcus Thompson, his
brother Jordan Thompson, and their friend
Jordan Paul were sitting on top of a table
in the North Hall lobby. They had front
row seats of the campaigners urging students to vote for their candidates.
“Nobody is going to vote,” Jordan
Thompson said. Paul then referred to the
campaign people and said, “It’s mad annoying.”
Katalaydiallo, the undergrad who beContinued on Page 12
New Judicial Board Hastily Recruited
By Eric Jankiewicz
Editor-In-Chief
Soon after a flurry of impeachments
and resignations that left the Judicial
Board desolate, Student Council filled all
five seats on March 11.
The Board of Directors, a group comprised of six students and two faculty
members that oversees Student Council,
was forced to hold two meetings in the
span of one week. The first meeting’s
agenda was to nominate and confirm two
candidates personally chosen by Joseph
Onwu, Student Council president. The
second meeting was held to nominate
and confirm three students chosen by the
Board of Directors. These last three candidates were chosen out of an original nine
students that volunteered. During normal
times this process would have taken more
than a month to complete.
Nahirobi Peguero was one of the new
Judicial Board members that was personally chosen by Onwu. She is not one of
the original nine candidates that volun-
JADE JETJOMLONG
The new Judicial Board mediating the Student Elections debate.
teered. “I didn’t feel pressured,” she said
in regards to the fast paced revitalization of
Judicial Board. Peguero did an internship
with John Jay in the Dominican Republic.
Norhan Basuni is the other student
hand picked by Onwu. Student Council
and Board of Directors had decided to impeach Jose Rosario, the old chief justice of
Judicial Board, and Jan Fox from the last
Judicial Board based on the findings of
an investigation committee. Basuni was a
member of this committee.
Her performance as a member of the
investigation greatly impressed Onwu.
According to Onwu, the level of maturity
she displayed would help prevent another
situation like the last impeachments form
re-occurring.
The other three members that were chosen out of the nine candidates are Yuliya
Emiruseinova, Charles Perez, and Ravesa
Bajo.
Perez is the de facto Chief Justice of
Continued on Page 10
5
Politics
John Jay, Meet New Student Council
Vice-President
President
By Sean Whetstone
By Sean Whetstone
Senior Staff Writer
Mother hen will be shedding her old
debate feathers for presidential feathers. Whitney Brown, graduate student
majoring in Public Administration is that
“Mother Hen” and next academic semester she will serve as president for Student
Council.
Brown was the founder of the John
Jay College Debate Society and has been
debating for seven years but has stopped.
She has recently coached the debate team.
Brown received the moniker, “mother
hen,” from CUNY debate.
John Jay Debate with CUNY debate has recently won a national award.
Debate winners from John Jay are William
Cheung, Dilek Sen, and Chad Infante.
Infante won the award “All-American
debater.” Brown laughed on irony of him
winning. Infante is Jamaican here on F-1
Vista and the topic was immigration and
he won the “All-American debater.”
In John Jay College Brown is best
known for being founder of the debate
society, but she is affiliated with other activities within the school. Brown has been
Student Government executive for two
years, worked in the office of student life,
and has co-coordinated the AIDS walk.
She has also been in this for six years as
a undergraduate and graduate student.
According to Celina Johnson, secretary
of the debate society, Brown has been an
undergraduate and graduate student and
“knows issues of both undergraduate and
graduate.”
John Jay students comment on president Brown as a person and as a leader.
“Really friendly,” makes an “effort to be
interpersonal, effort to be informative, and
straightforward,” said Leette Eaton-White,
a senior majoring in Forensic Psychology
and a friend of Brown. White remarked on
her (Brown) leadership that she is “very
efficient” and a “woman who has everything in order.”
Akeel Uddin, a senior majoring in
Forensic Accounting, President of As-
Treasurer
By Alexis Hiralall
Contributor
From Martin Van Buren High School
to John Jay College, Lisa M. Williams always took interest in participating in student activities.
“What makes me passionate about student government and student life is reaching its highest potential,” Williams said.
This win may not be the first for Williams, but this is her first time serving as
student council treasurer. Prior to this,
Williams was vice president from 20102011 and secretary from 2009-2010.
As vice president, she helped raise social awareness about domestic violence
and the AIDS walk.
While she was secretary, she brought
about a lot of changes to John Jay. She
introduced the first multimedia yearbook;
she helped create Jay Stop, and revamped
the senior boat ride, making it tradition.
During a text message correspondence
Williams wrote, “I believe in believing and trusting something and standing
strong beside it, not letting anyone or anything falter your beliefs,”
JENNY MARTINEZ
Whitney Brown in her atmosphere: The Debate Society
sociation of Certified Student Chapter
(Fraud Squad), commented on Brown’s
personality and leadership. “Mind of a
independent women. Leader type personality. Something I admire.”
Christopher Sui, a senior majoring in
Humanities & Justice and former deputy
justice chief, has worked with Brown
on Student Council in the past and has
remarked on her leadership. “If it wasn’t
for Ms. Brown being executive assistant
for Student Council, it would not work,”
said Christopher. He said that she is the
“backbone of Student Council.”
White also said that Brown’s passion
is the students and that she goes to Town
Hall meetings where she asks “about financial aid. Primary concern, that students
won’t get ripped off.” White said what is
dear to Brown’s heart is “HIV activism.
Always takes charge of the AIDS walk.”
White also said that she participates in
keep a child alive and “helped led discussion to encourage awareness of HIV/
AIDS.”
As president, Brown plans to increase
student awareness, student involvement
and improve the overall John Jay College
experience.
To accomplish these goals she plans to
establish a new committee called the “Promotional team,” which will with compliance with faculty members go to classes
and inform students about events for
student clubs, scholarship, student government, and other opportunities for students. Her vice president will control this
committee and it will have five members.
Whitney got the idea from party clubs that
have promotional teams that advertise for
their parties. She also plans to update the
Jay Stop, and the John Jay website all in
an effort to improve student awareness
and involvement.
Students seem comfortable having
Brown represent them as Student Council
president. “Very qualified to serve,” said
Uddin. “Very capable, meticulous,” said
Sui. White believes that, “John Jay students will enjoy and flourish under her.”
Williams believes she is “standing
strong besides” her plans on for helping
students and clubs.
Currently, John Jay’s students who are
receiving receive food stamps and have
EBT cards cannot buy food in the John
Jay’s cafeteria.
Williams plans on pushing for these
students to have the privilege to buy food
with their food stamps at the café instead
of having them leave campus. At the same
time John Jay’s clubs needs extra funds.
Despite the fact that everyone pays
their student activity fee, according to
Williams, it’s not enough to distribute to
more than 40 clubs at and have extra activities on the side.
She is planning to have fund-raisers so
that money can be raised and then evenly
distributed amongst the clubs.
Williams is strong willed, focused and
determined, she is trying to enhance everyone’s experience at John Jay. When she takes her position this June
as student council treasurer she will attempt to make changes one thing at a time.
Secretary
By Desiree Mathurin
Managing Editor
Imagine Rhonda Nieves, 20, sitting
down on Feb. 6, watching the Green
Bay Packers beat the Pittsburgh Steelers
31 - 25, eating arroz con pollo, rice with
chicken, and drinking coquito (eggnog
and rum). Imagine Nieves thinking of
how, instead of Knicks fans being excited
about Carmelo Anthony, they should think
back to number 20, Allan Houston. Imagine Nieves lounging around listening to
Boyz II Men and a number of Salsa bands
or hanging out with her nieces who are 2
years old and 8 months.
Now travel to John Jay and there is
Rhonda Nieves, a junior, majoring in Public Administration and the new Secretary
of Student Council. Instead of football
and basketball, there is organizing event
spaces or responding to table requests. Instead of sleeping in, she is working at the
Office of Student Life from 9 a.m. to 11
a.m. and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. She is founder
of the Latino Mix Organization and was
former treasurer of the Dominican Student
Association. With her treasury experience,
Senior Staff Writer
Mehak Kapoor, a sophomore majoring
in Economics, dances to Bollywood, reads
the Notebook.
President-elect Whitney Brown has
confidence in Kapoor, “she is a wonderful person. She will get the job done. She
communicates with Marlon ( The Student
Activities Specialist) and communicates
with students.”
Alex Griffith, former rival vice president candidate and current freshman representative, said via email, “She seemed to
be very certain and confident about getting
these things done, so my confidence is in
her. I am sure we will all look forward to
these wonderful ideas coming to pass during the next academic year.”
Kapoor talked about previous John Jay
experiences that have prepared her for the
position. She said that being president of
the Desi Club “has taught me to give orders in the right manner,” and how to “be a
leader.” She went on to say, “Debate (The
club) has taught me to talk fast, yet to speak
wisely.” Being a peer ambassador gave her
experience dealing with event planning,
career fair, and transfer students. She said
her experience as a sophomore representative, “taught me the policies of John Jay.”
Both in her vice president platform and
elections debate, she expressed the need to
give back to John Jay. She wants to give
back because she feels the college gave her
so much, “my first job to my first internship. This is why I want to give my time
and dedication,” she wrote in her platform.
She has passions outside of politics, “I
love to debate.” She showed enthusiasm
when talking about debating and defending
people’s rights and has an interest in debating such topics as illegal immigration. She
plans to continue in future becoming either
an immigration or corporate lawyer. She
also showed great joy when talking about
dancing to Bollywood. She enjoys reading
novels such as The Notebook, My Sister’s
Keepers and Twilight, but said she does not
like the Twilight movies because it makes
Edward look bad.
she needs no assistance in overseeing
the budget for essential services, and the
yearbook. Essential services consists
of: the newspaper, the radio, Theatrical
Players, Senior Activities, and a portion
of Jay Stop.
Nieves was the only candidate running for secretary. When asked about
her lack of opposition she states, “I was
disappointed that there was no competition. On the other hand, I was very happy
because, it gave me confirmation that
I have to work, just as hard and prove
that I deserved the position regardless if
there was competition or not.” Instead of
being a typical candidate stating semiwhimsical platforms, Nieves knows that
she has to stay grounded in reality. “I
didn’t make ridiculous premises,” she
feels. Her platform was Obama-esque in
asking for a “great change.” Her intentions are to cut spending while retaining quality and efficiency. She believes
“early planning” will resolve all budget
issues. She is extremely excited to start
the new term with her fellow council
members. She believes they are a “strong
team.” The new student council members
get sworn in on June 1 and Nieves cannot
wait.
6
Arts & Entertainment
Horror-scopes
Warning: If you’re still reading these
after last months insidious Horoscopes,
then you are all masochists. So yet again,
be prepared to read predictions so forlorn
of hope that it will cause the sun to go
black and your eyes to bleed in agony.
And before you ask, yes I am aware of
Ophiuchus (the 13th sign) but I refuse to
acknowledge its existence since it owes
me money.
Life
In The
Clouds...
Sudoku
Aquarius Jan 20 – Feb 18: You’re
going to be famous! Unfortunately your
fame will come due to you crying on TV
from seeing Justin Bieber.
Pisces Feb 19 – Mar 20: Today you
will set your plans in motion to get promoted in your workplace, but you hear the
two words that every worker dreads “bathroom cleanup!”
Aries Mar 21 – Apr 19: You found
Waldo, yet you gained and won nothing.
Congratulations!
Taurus Apr 20 – May 20: There will
be good news and bad news on the horizon. The good news is your completion
of a 25-page thesis paper on World Peace;
however, the bad news is before you saved
it on your computer, there is a blackout.
Rendering your work utterly useless.
COURTESY DAILYSUDOKU.COM
Quartermass and the Pit
Pitied
By Ruben Etienne
Gemini May 21 – Jun 21: You will
claim to have found a grilled cheese sandwich shaped like Michael Jackson, five
minutes later you’ll be taken to Bellevue
Hospital.
Cancer Jun 22 – Jul 22: If you want to
hear your full horoscope please subscribe
to my psychic friend network. It’s only
one hundred dollars a month and we’ll
visit your house once a month for a psychic reading.
Leo Jul 23 – Aug 22: Someone will
declare his or her love for you. By the
way, April Fools!!
Virgo Aug 23 – Sep 22: After you find
a million dollars you’re horrified and flabbergasted that the money is fraudulent, but
you proceed to squander it anyway.
Libra Sep 23 – Oct 23: After getting into a fight at a bar, you’ll be forced
to coach a rag-tag peewee hockey team.
Good luck!
Scorpio Oct 24 – Nov 21: The key to
your happiness all lies within a choice you
will make today. What you choose will
either cause you happiness or a trip to the
hospital for Twinkie related injuries.
Sagittarius Nov 22 – Dec 21: You are
going to have a great day today! Now that
I said that, you owe me a phone call and
dinner for saying nice things about your
day.
Capricorn Dec 22 – Jan 19: Today
in the words of the great prophet Charlie
Sheen: will be winning!
Created By Joshua Belmonte
MARISOL RUEDA
Want to talk Sex?
Want to talk Love?
Want to talk Advice?
Want to talk Anything
Ask our Columnist!
Email her at
jjsentinel@jjay.
cuny.edu
Senior Staff Writer
Quartermass and the Pit is a British science-fiction film from 1958, direct by Rudolph Cartier. In London, following World
War II, construction workers discover prehuman skulls and an unidentified apparatus in the ground.
Quartermass and the Pit exploits the fear
of British society after World War II. The
findings of the bodies and the apparatus
that was heat resistant, harder than a diamond, and emitted strange energy waves
suggested to Dr. Quartermass, played by
Andre Morell, that extra-terrestrial creatures inhabited the earth millions of years
ago. The British, still apprehensive of a
possible German backlash in the years
following the war, were naïve enough to
believe that the apparatus was a German
bomb intended to instill panic among the
civilians. Colonel Breen, played by Anthony Bushell, frequently rebutted Quartermass’ theories about ailen life forms with
his idea that they are mere models meant
to scare the public. The film illustrates the
government as a system that skews the
truth despite their personal beliefs.
The mystery surrounding the apparatus
plays with the thought of life outside of
the earth, and the possibility of alien life
forms visiting the world. The movie speculates the characteristics of aliens from
Mars and illustrates them as anthropoids
with an ability to mate with other species
to preserve its race. Quartermass theorized
that the anthropoid aliens came down to
earth millions of years ago, captured millions of apes, took them back to Mars to
interbreed, and sent the ape/anthropoid hybrids back to earth to mutate overtime into
humankind, thus preserving the original
anthropoid species. Such an elaborate and
large-scale process in itself is brilliant, but
the lack of clarification concerning what
really happened when the aliens came to
earth leaves viewers with only speculation.
Hallucinations experienced by Barbara
Judd, played by Christine Finn, and oth-
er subsidiary characters concerning the
aliens’ ability to appear as apparitions
within humans’ subconscious vaguely portray the concept that humans have dormant
telekinetic abilities, which only a few people are able to manifest. The film correctly
belongs in the science-fiction genre because its imagination surpasses human capacity. The idea of dormant abilities within
humans is not a far-fetched concept, but
the source of these dormant abilities, the
aliens, is unrealistic.
Quartermass and the Pit allegorically
illustrates Darwinism. The ideas of evolution and natural selection are explored
by Quartermass through the possibility of
humankind being a mutated descendent of
Martians. Evolution leaves everything to
speculation, with or without archeological evidence, and Quartermass and the Pit
takes this abstract concept and ambiguously speculates this concept with the idea
of aliens implemented into it. Evolution
may be discredited in this movie, but it is
never apparent. The allegorically themes
and concepts within this movie transforms
a simple “horror” television series into a
series that explores an apprehensive society in England following World War II and
a Darwinist idea about the origin of human
kind.
To a common viewer, Quartermass and
the Pit is a dull movie about findings of
alien life form in a construction site. The
allegorical depictions, which allow viewers to see what life was like in England after World War II, can be easily overlooked.
If you see the film for more than it is on
the surface, Quartermass and the Pit can
become a movie worth watching to wet
anthropological imaginations. To viewers who merely want to be spoon-fed the
plot and the deeper meaning within a film,
Quartermass and the Pit is a movie not
worth viewing.
Have an Old Movie you
reviewed?
Email us at jjsentinel@jjay.
cuny.edu
want
7
Arts & Entertainment
Sex Talk
By Marie Lunie Jean Batard
Junior Staff Writer
Q1: What happens when a guy has sex
with a woman who has a yeast infection?
-Abigail Padilla
A: A man who has sex with a woman
who has a yeast infection risk the chance
of contracting a yeast infection as well.
Men can be carriers of a disease and not
be aware of it because symptoms may
not be displayed. If he is unaware of
contracting it he can spread the disease
back and forth between himself and his
partner. In the worse case scenario he
can spread it to other sexual partners as
well. It is very important to get tested
for diseases and to abstain from sexual
contact until your partner is completely
healthy.
Q2: Do you think porn will overtake
actual sex?
-Jake Rubinski
A: Honestly, pornography will not
overtake sex. Human beings, as much
as some of us would deny it, are social
creatures. The intimacy that someone
shares with their partner can not be
compared to pornography. Watching
pornography is a passive sport. You learn
a few tricks and call it a night. Sex is
much deeper, when you look into your
partner’s eyes there is a connection that
can never be duplicated or replaced.
Q3: How can you tell if a girl is faking
it?
-Lenny Collado
A: In some cases you can easily tell
if a woman is faking it during sex, but
there are some circumstances where you
can’t tell. Every woman is different and
the most effective way that you can avoid
her faking an orgasm is to simply ask her
what turns her on. See if she likes to do
certain things that you might find arousing
as well. Talk to her and see what she likes
in bed. If a woman is enjoying herself
she will let you know that she had a good
time. Just keep the lines of communication
open and you can avoid a fake orgasm.
Q4: What do you think is the
appropriate age for someone to lose their
virginity?
-Orlando Ortiz
A: I don’t believe that there is an
appropriate age. Everyone is different
and the maturity level of one person is
completely different from someone else.
When thinking about having sex for the
first time there are some factors that need
to be taken into consideration. One major
aspect is whether or not you trust your
partner. You want your first time to be
with someone you love and can support
you. The last thing you want is to have
someone sleep with you and be gone the
next day. You have to make sure that this
person has wonderful characteristics and
that the last thing that they would is hurt
you.
Q5: My boyfriend only has sex with
me in the dark. Should I be concerned that
he doesn’t want to see me?
-Sasha Jay
A: Some men like to have sex in the
dark, they find it arousing. If you feel that
he isn’t paying any attention to you then
you should talk to him about it. Before
you do that try to make the dark romantic.
Light some candles around the room
or keep a lamp on with a colorful scarf
on top to give the room a glow. If that
doesn’t work don’t be afraid to voice your
concerns. If you don’t a see a change then
it is ok to leave him and find someone
who is willing to have a relationship with
the lights on.
Spring Break Essentials
By Sabrina B. Guillaume
Contributor
Spring Break has finally arrived. For a whole week and a half, students can finally chill
and relax. So now it is time to put away the textbooks, calculators, lap tops and brains for a
couple of things that will help you have more fun, look stylish and be safe the entire time.
Whether you are hitting the road and going some place warm or if you are staying in NYC,
hopefully minusing the crazy weather. These top ten essentials for spring break should guide
you along the way.
COURTESY BROKEN SPHERE / WIKIMEDIA
Just because you are having fun,
doesn’t mean you can’t be safe.
Use sunscreen.
Wrinkles are not
attractive.
JADE JETJOMLONG
JADE JETJOMLONG
A designated driver, just in case
this happens.
COURTESY JEREMIAH WONG / WIKIMEDIA
A killer bathing suit.
Try Project Colorize by
Ray-Ban. Instead of the
usual black on black use
some color.
COURTESY RICHN / WIKIMEDIA
COURTESY COLUMBIA RECORDS
COURTESY ANGELA GEORGE / FLICKR
Tickets to Charlie Sheen Live: My
Violent Torpedo of Truth. Just
because
COURTESY LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
COURTESY TOMS
With every pair of TOMS you purchase a child in need recieves aid.
Get a new haircut.
Since the weather is
getting warmer, it’ll
be cool to come back
to school with a new
look. The pixie cut
on the left is chic,
quirky, and comfortable. For guys, try
Justin
Timberlake
haircut.
Adele’s new album “21” has wowed
the public yet again. Try the song
Sean “Jay-Z” Carter’s
new book Decoded
has got the attention
of Oprah. She enjoyed it so much that
she put it on her book
club list.
COURTESY RANDOM
HOUSE
8
Commentary
An Express Etiquette Lesson Is Now Arriving
JADE JETJOMLONG
By Desiree Mathurin
Managing Editor
My mind is slowly losing brain cells
during my train ride to work. I finished the
book in my bag, and my IPod is dead. I start
looking around at all the ads on train; there
is an ad for a church that is in downtown
Manhattan and on the opposite side there
are Jameson ads. I guess the message is go
to church, then have a drink. Suddenly I
am jarred from my random thoughts and
pushed roughly by this 30-something year
old woman. She is not the size of a guard
but she can play for the Giants considering
the force at which she knocked into me.
Before I reacted with a swift upper cut, I
took a step back to think about why she
attempted to sack me. I looked down and
noticed the half a seat that she was trying
to occupy and which I clearly did not want.
Is this why I was almost knocked unconscious because of half a seat? Flabbergasted, I stare at her waiting for an apology or
at least some type of recognition that she
nearly killed me, but there was nothing. I
couldn’t understand why she felt the need
to attack me for a seat. She wasn’t old, she
didn’t have heels on, and I really wasn’t
in the way. So what was the problem? The
problem is there are no rules of etiquette
for train rides. There are rules of course, no
riding between cars, no loitering, but there
are no rules of how to behave. So basically
the MTA is cool with random strangers
bulldozing me for a seat. No that is unacceptable, so I’ve created a list of rules that
will help everyone have a smoother ride.
They are not obnoxiously dramatic or in
any kind of way unrealistic but there are
necessary or else there might be a lot more
violence on the trains.
So first and foremost: don’t push. Understandably, if the train is full, all you can
really do is shove and push. But there is a
phrase that would suffice in all situations
and that is, “excuse me.” This simple word
will solve the multiple repercussions that
come with shoving strangers. It just displays courtesy and it shows that you have
acknowledged that you shoved me. Imagine if I was having a terrible day, I could
have given that woman a big piece of my
mind, and an altercation would have ensued, and I’d probably end up on YouTube.
Now the next thought is what if the person
that is in your way happens to be listening
to their IPod or MP3 player. Of course saying “excuse me” is not going to suffice because they can’t hear you. A light touch on
the arm implies that you are trying to get
by. Of course don’t try to judo chop their
arm off, just a touch and most likely the
person will move. If all else fails then you
have to shove.
That brings us to the next rule: being
conscious of other people on the train. If
you know that you are in the way, move. If
you see that people are squished into one
area because you are not moving in, then
move. Be aware that you are not the only
one on the train. I am not saying that you
have to make sure everyone on the train
is comfortable but it will make you comfortable as well. Think about the guy who
thinks he is the size of an elephant and he
believes he needs all this room, so he is
taking up all this space just to cut off your
space. Wouldn’t you want to tell him hey
move over but you don’t because you are
afraid he is a crazy psycho killer? Well,
if people follow this rule you won’t have
to fear for your life. Also, think about the
people who lean on the pole thus leaving
you with nothing to hold on to. If these
people were aware of their surrounding
they would notice that their actions leave
others with nothing to hold onto.
Last, but definitely most important: let
me off of the train. I cannot stress enough
how crazy it is that I have to miss my
stop, not because I was asleep or because
I wasn’t paying attention, but because the
people entering the train refuse to let me
off. I don’t know why people are so eager
to enter the train. I mean their probably
aren’t any seats and no matter what happens you are probably going to get on the
train anyways, so why not let me off first
to speed up the process. If people let the
passengers off first it creates space for the
new riders to enter. I am not saying that the
new riders have to wait for everyone to exit
because we know there are those people
who move really slow, but let the majority
of the people off. And if you do feel like
you have to rush onto the train because in
your make believe world it will bring you
to your destination faster, then use a different door. There are three doors to enter in,
utilize the doors.
So I don’t work for the MTA. I am not a
self-righteous individual who believes everything they say is gold. I am train rider.
I don’t have a car or a bike, so my main
method of transportation is the train and
why should I suffer daily because these
simple rules aren’t followed. Of course
there are other things I wish I could change
but things as simple as don’t touch me or
let me off the train are the few things that
would make a really big difference. In the
morning all I really want to think about is
when am I getting my first cup of coffee
not should I Spartan kick this women who
tried to knock me over. Violence is never
the answer early in the morning, so lets
work together and get to where we have to
go peacefully.
Health And Fitness Meet John Jay Students
By Slajanna Jean
Senior Staff Writer
Tuition? $2,579. Textbooks? $285.
Cheese fries and a cheeseburger from the
North Hall Cafeteria four days a week?
$20. Love handles, sloth behavior, and
those mysteriously gained 20 lbs? Priceless.
There has been recent national concern
regarding the health of American youth.
“That’s where it really starts,” says Luis
Benitez, a Master Trainer at the New
York Sports Club in the Midwood area
of Brooklyn. “It’s important to develop
a healthy and active lifestyle at a young
age.” The Obama Administration has
launched efforts in addressing the growing rate of obese children in the United
States. Advocates such as First Lady
Michelle Obama, and schools all across
America launched their Anti-Childhood
Obesity Action Plan to battle the national
epidemic. This program is important for
our youth, but it does not address college
students.
While the state of the economy
remains a mystery, student expenses are
guaranteed to increase. College education
has become one of the fastest lanes on the
highway to debt. Many students work
around the clock paying off student loans
and other personal expenses, leaving little
space for the rising expenses of maintaining healthy habits. This makes things such
as the infamous “freshmen 15” very likely
if not inevitable.
So are you a financially strapped college student looking to get healthy? Or
maybe motivation is the issue? If these
cases are what you are suffering from then
professional trainers at the NYSC have
some tips for you. Although they would
much rather you start with actually getting
a professional trainer. Kevin Burnette, a
professional trainer at the NYSC, says
that personal trainers start by helping you
change your mentality. “Just like going
to school, there is an educational aspect to
personal training,” said Burnette. “Getting a personal trainer is like paying for
tuition. It’s an investment in both physical
and mental education that remains with
you for the long term.” But we all know
it is an investment that some cannot pay
for, so here are some tips from Midwood
NYSC trainers on how to have a budgeted
fitness regimen.
First start with time management.
According to the book Cornerstone:
Building On Your Best, it is recommended
for college students to average two hours
of studying per one hour spent in class.
Therefore, if a student spends fifteen
hours in class a week, then they should
DIANA SUN
be studying for about thirty hours a week.
Add that to the amount of time students
spend at school, work, and socializing,
this leaves no time to focus on fitness.
“College students focus too much on
their mind and not enough on their body,”
says Benitez. The Midwood NYSC
team suggests college students need to
learn to manage their time. Two important
habits they suggest is keeping a time log
and planning ahead.
Keeping a time log from the time you
wake until you go to sleep allows you to
Continued on page 10
Lecture Series Shuts Students Down...
9
By Derek Pappas
Junior Staff Writer
On March 10, the ISP class, Mosques,
Veils, and Madrassas: Institutions of Justice in Pluralistic Societies, held its first
lecture event in North Hall, room 1311.
There were over 50 attendees who included: students, faculty, staff, and the general
public.
The lecture, titled Muslim Immigrant
Communities: The Canadian Experience,
featured guest speakers: Rizwan Mohammad, coordinator of the My Canada Project; Farah Aw-Osman, executive director
of Canadian Friends of Somalia; and Luciano Bentenuto, Deputy Director for Tactical Intelligence Unit in Canada.
“The presentations were good,” said Sarah Guillet. “They addressed topics we had
discussed in class, such as radicalization.”
Each panelist had twelve minute presentations, but most of that time was spent
discussing the organizations they work
for; and neither of the panelists addressed
the lecture topic of Muslim immigrants in
Canada.
Bentenuto’s presentation, which should
have addressed the treatment of Muslims
by Canadian law enforcement and correction facilities, focused on the Canadian
criminal justice system as a whole. “40%
of federal offenders in Canada are not in
prison,” said Bentenuto.
Bentenuto’s only mention of Muslims in
the Canadian justice system was when he
spoke on the Muslim population increase
in prison. He said, “Prisoners were converting for the food.”
During the question and answer segment,
it became apparent that the panelists were
unqualified to engage the issue at hand.
Stephen Handelman, Director of the Center on Media, Crime and Justice at John Jay
JADE JETJOMLONG
The Islamic Photo Wall in the North Hall.
College of Criminal Justice asked, “Since
your presentations did not address the topic
in which you have been invited to speak
on, perhaps you can answer that question
now?”
When a John Jay student asked the panelists to give their opinions on the recent
Peter King testimony, Bentenuto harassed
the student accusing him of asking an irrelevant question saying, “What, you write
12 lines in your note pad and then memorize them. You expect me to answer that
question?”
Mucahit Bilici, one of the professors of
the class, quickly stepped in and told Bentenuto the student asked a valid question
and that he should be able to answer it.
The other two panelists, Mohammad and
Aw-Osman, were as inept as Bentenuto in
addressing the subject matter, but were,
however, more cordial with the audience.
John Jay College Provost and Senior
Vice President Jane Bowers gave opening remarks and Professor Gregory “Fritz”
Umbach, moderated the lecture.
The Canadian panel discussion was the
first of eight lecture events for the spring
semester. Each event will take place on
Thursdays at 6:30 PM.
The Understanding Islam Task Force,
created by John Jay College President Jeremy Travis, organized the Mosques, Veils,
and Madrassas: Institutions of Justice in
Pluralistic Societies lecture series. The lecture series is sponsored by a private foundation and the Canadian Consulate.
But This Series Unleashes Women Holocaust
By Sean Whetstone
Senior Staff Writer
John Jay College has been hosting a series of lectures about the sixties entitled:
“The 1960s: The Struggle for Justice Intensifies.” On February in room 630T, the
lecture on Feminism was led by speaker
Robin Morgan.
Morgan is a best-selling author, poet,
editor, former editor-in chief of Ms. Magazine, and feminist activist. Morgan identifies herself as having, “the perspective of
an artist,” and that is how she treats her
activism. In the lecture, she spoke about
her experience as an activist during the
sixties. She worked with the Black Movement (Congress of Racial Equality) when
she participated in freedom rides, and other
protest that sometimes led to violence. She
also worked with the women’s movement
attempting to get women respect and rights
that men have.
Morgan spoke about the Civil Rights
movement, and how feminism was tied into
the black movement. Both parties were trying obtain the rights that the privilege few
of Americans have. That was why it came
as a shock and heartbreak when many male
activists within the movement were sexist,
and oppressive toward their female members. Most of the male activists saw women activist as just sex objects that could be
used to satisfy their male counterparts. An
example of this was Stockley Carmichael,
who said the only position for a female
SNCC member was “prone position.
Slowly female activist realized that
they would not gain the rights they wanted
by relying on men. They would have to be
proactive and assertive on their own.
“We made coffee but not policy,” Morgan said.
Morgan also spearheaded a protest rally
against the Ms. America Beauty Pageant in
1968. She described the doubt that many
people projected on her and the anxiety
she felt. The media called it “the birth of
woman reform.” The women’s movement
became such a force that when Morgan
walked into a room many said, “Oh shit!
She’s here.”
Morgan said her motivation for all these
years was the outrage of society, and the
anger she felt because women were, and
are still being oppressed. She informed
the audience about women in the Egyptian
revolution who were among the leaders in
the protest, who were along side the men,
and who faced the dangers just like the
men did. Despite all this, Morgan said they
are still not allowed help draft the constitution along side the men. The Egyptian
women do not get a say in the new government they helped come into realization.
Morgan also mentioned the lack of coverage of sexual harassment, and other abuses
against women in Egypt that were part of
the media. According to Morgan, 80 percent of Egyptian women said they were
sexual harassed during the revolution. This
is the outrage and the inspiration that fuels
Morgan’s activism.
When Morgan was asked by the audience, “Why the resistance? Why is there so
much resistance against woman’s rights?”
She said that the few privileged people
(men) do not want to give up any of the
privileges they have, and said that it is
equivalent to the reason there is resistance
against black people and gay people. She
said that for the privileged, they treat women and their rights like this because they
“don’t accept it as their reality,” they are
“behind the blinders.”
When she was done with lecture, audience members gave reactions and comments about Morgan’s speech.Michael
Meeropol, John Jay professor of Interdisciplinary Studies(ISP), said that politicians,
journalists, and historians are interested
in the 1960s because it is “unbelievable”,
there was “so much change.”
Meeropol was asked what rights are women still denied, and what feminist groups
still exist? He said women are still denied
reproductive rights, and the feminists still
active since the sixties are N.O.W. and
Miss Magazine.
“Known about her for years,” said Holly Clarke, John Jay College Professor of
Public Administration. Clarke said she
gained “enormous influence” from reading Sisterhood Is Powerful. She describes
the feminist/women’s movement as “two
steps forward and one step down,” but said
the feminist movement has made remarkable achievements. Achievements such
as opening a dialogue between men and
women, and giving opportunities for women of color. She said what was enlightening about Morgan’s speech was the topic
on Egypt. Calling what is going on with
Egypt’s drafting of their constitution as being “crazy, an outrage.”
The lecture series is sponsored by Westside Crime Prevention Program and JASAJewish Association for Services for the
Aged.
Continued from 3
and it is somewhat easier now to see the
picture as a whole.”
Rachel Axelrod, who found her grandmothers name at the museums’ database
said, “Finding information about my
grandmother definitely hit home. It is very
important for us to keep their memory
alive. What a great experience.”
The event was made possible by the generosity of David and Linda Taub, a couple
who established the Student Holocaust
Museum Endowment Fund. Their goal
was “to encourage both Jewish and nonJewish students to learn together about this
significant period in history,” said David
Taub.
The purpose of the trip was for students
to study history in order to appreciate its
impact on the present. Linda Taub said that
for college students, “understanding history must do more than chronicle the past.
By learning the lessons, history can help
young people shape the future.”
The Taub Family annually shares the experience of the Jewish people in the Holocaust with college students.
“We hope that the trip will help forge
a better understanding of this historical
event and students will work together on
campus to prevent any forms of prejudice,
hatred, and bigotry,” said David Taub, “as
well as work together to fight modern-day
‘genocidal’ behavior around the world.”
10
Tuscan Grills an “A”
By Luis Talledo
Junior Staff Writer
Employees of the Tuscan Sun Grill spoke
proudly about their establishment’s inspection and receiving an A from the Department of Inspection. The Tuscan Sun
Grill is a John Jay area restaurant located
at the corner of 56th Street and 10th Avenue.
The restaurant was inspected towards the
end of the month of January. The employees were not surprised after this evaluation
because they knew that coming to work
regularly and following the same careful
routine and procedures would lead them to
earn a high standard of perfection.
Martha Diaz, a three-year employee
from the Tuscan Sun Grill, felt excited
when her colleagues or “team”, as she refers to them, received the letter “A” based
on their consistent effort of group work
among all her employees. Martha recalls
how she was nervous at first, thinking that
her team might receive a “B”, due to the
long and detailed inspection the Department of Sanitation gave them.
She said, “It is due to our everyday hard
work as we regularly help out the John Jay
Community and its students when they are
coming in and out from class, work, or
home.” She feels that this grade confirms
how “we tend to give our best service everyday especially to the faculty and students at this campus.”
She comes everyday to work and meets
up with her five colleagues. They gather in
a meeting together every month and give
each other opinions and suggestions on
how to improve their service and contribute to the John Jay College’s atmosphere.
Martha wouldn’t change anything in her
daily routine. She states, “I knew that, in
my mind, coming to work every day, and
always working so hard with a team of six
workers, would successfully fill the atmosphere and service required of the John Jay
Community.” She and her co-workers are
confident that they will receive another
“A” on next year’s inspection.
Aside from the employees, students
were also happy for their school restaurant to receive an “A” for their wonderful
effort. Noel Cordero, a sophomore student said, “I have been coming here since
Recruited
Continued from page 4
this new group; although, he does not want
to have that title. “It’s not about that,” he
explained.
Perez’s past experience is limited. Before this semester Perez was unaware of
club row’s existence. But then an email
was sent out to the John Jay community to
notify students of the open seats on Judicial Board. For some time before that moment he had considered doing some kind
of extra-curricular activity. But he did not
know where to go.
“In this school it is hard to get involved,”
he said. Now that he has been chosen to
serve as Judicial Board, he plans on “jumping into it” with all of his enthusiasm, if not
experience.
Both he and Bajo believe the whole process
of nominating and electing them squeezed
into a week was “very quick,” in the words
of Perez.
“I was expected to move fast,” Bajo
said. The both felt that there was a certain
amount of stress in the process.
HAGER ABDELKERIM
freshman year of college and the Tuscan
Grill has been helping me to go into class
healthy.” Joshua Cordoba, a junior, said,
“The Tuscan Grill is probably one of the
most memorable attentions I have ever
had, from the food to the exquisite service.” Allen Morsem, a senior, said, “I love
the food they prepare especially the homemade soup which makes me feel right at
home.”
Faculty members, along with students
and employees, were also fascinated to be
informed that their second home restaurant
has demonstrated an excellent performance
of both maintenance and sanity.
Professor Isabelle Coleman, a sociology and anthropology professor, said, “All
of my classes are located in Westport between 56th street and 10th Avenue, and I’ve
been coming to the Tuscan Grill after class.
Their attention is wonderful. Way to go
Tuscan Grill.”
HAGER ABDELKERIM
Grade “A” food at the Tuscan Sun Grill.
Health
Continued from page 8
JADE JETJOMLONG
Drinking water is beneficial to a healthy
step back and look to see where you
have free time. Amidst their hectic schedule, students can find free time that they
can use to do small workouts, which can
have a positive affect on their health. Planning ahead such as packing nutritious
lunches and snacks, as well as making
time for physical activities allows students
to be in control of their fitness and the results of their diet.
Second a good workout is nothing
without an equally good diet. “Diet is
about 70 percent of fitness,” says Shani
Mojica, fitness manager at NYSC. “The
goal is to clean up your diet as much as
possible.” However, maintaining a good
diet in college is challenging. Everywhere
a student turns there is a temptation. 8th
Avenue is full with the likes of McDonald’s, Wendy’s or Luigi’s Pizzeria. Even in
school a student can stop by the cafeteria
for parmesan chicken with a side of fried
rice. But diet plays an important role in fitness so as always, it is recommended to
eat breakfast every morning to allow your
body the proper fuel to take you through
the day. There are also healthy alternatives like Subways on 9th Avenue and on
8th Avenue. They offer John Jay students a
10% discount off all footlong and six inch
subs. The North Hall Cafeteria has a salad
bar where students can compose their own
healthy salads.
To learn to control your diet, the Midwood Team suggests a method called doc-
Bajo was, and still is a peer advisor. When
she read the email for Judicial Board she
saw it as a way to be involved “in a different way.” She also used to be the treasurer
of the Democrat club, but had to step down
in order to run for Judicial Board.
This new Judicial Board has not had a
chance yet to fully test their strength out
as a group; although, they did mediate the
Student Council debate during elections
week, their true abilities and weaknesses
will be revealed in the upcoming fall semester. During this new school Judicial
Board will soon find themselves with more
than enough work to do between moving
into the new building and the new Student Council members getting comfortable in their new positions of leadership.
An increase in student participation that is
sure to come out of the new buildings concentration on student life will mean more
clubs are going to be created that Judicial
Board will have to certify as part of its duties. And the new Student Council, like any
gathering of people, will have disputes that
require Judicial Board to mediate.
Onwu hopes that the new Judicial Board
will work efficiently and professionally.
umenting. They suggest documenting everything you consume over a period of 5-7
days. This method allows you to reflect on
your eating habits, make changes to the areas that prove to be the most problematic,
and avoid falling into the same habits over
and over.
Lastly take advantage of what you
are already paying for. Many students are
unaware that part of their tuition includes
paying for the gym on the 6th Floor in the
T-Building. Why spend hundreds a year
on a gym membership when your tuition
already covers a gym fee at John Jay? “Using the school gym is convenient for me
because it’s free,” says Yunella Ortega, a
junior. “Since I’m always busy, it’s convenient to fit a workout between school and
work.”
If you do have a membership at a gym,
but are confused about anything ask questions. “People should never be afraid to
ask questions If there is something you’re
not sure of, don’t be afraid to ask us, we
promise we won’t charge you,” laughs
Shani. “We just want to help make your
workout as safe as possible.”
Most gym goers do not know the free
services their gym offers. For example, the
New York Sports Club offers all members
a free fitness evaluation, which consists of
a cardiovascular, upper body, core strength
and flexibility test. Using the results from
these tests, a trainer can help form a fitness
routine and diet plan. Call your local gym
to find out what free fitness services are included with your membership.
Whether you have the cash, don’t have
the cash or rather spend it on something
else, fitness is an important habit for everyone. It is a habit neglected by students. Fitness is often looked at as a short-term goal.
But wanting to look hot for one summer or
wanting to fit into a new pair of jeans is not
enough. Fitness is a lifestyle that leads to
higher self esteem, better grades, a positive
outlook on life, and so on. Instead of seeing it as another task to add to your plate,
try seeing it the way Shani sees it. “It helps
you become more aware of yourself and in
general, fitness is a fun feeling.”
Kaczynski Returns
Research Vs. Concise
By Tanaya Mathis
Junior Staff Writer
Students and faculty members had mixed
reactions to a New York Time’s opinion
article by Andy Selsberg, an English
professor at John Jay College, where
he argues for students to be taught clear,
concise writing, in lieu of putting all the
focus on long writing assignments.
On March 10, “Teaching to the Text
Message,” introduced the idea that perhaps
clear and concise writing is more important
for students to learn. Almost immediately
COURTSEY OF ANDREW SELSBERG
Selsberg’s article become an international
conversation piece, and one of the New
York Times most e-mailed articles.
“I’m not suggesting that colleges eliminate
long writing projects from English courses,
but maybe we should save them for the
second semester,” states Selsberg in the
article. “Rewarding concision first will
encourage students to be economical and
innovative with language.”
The motivation behind Selsberg, who
usually teaches English courses to
freshman, came from his blog. His blog
is based on concision, and venues such
as Twitter, dating profiles, comments, and
status updates, said Selsberg via e-mail.
“Writing skills should adapt to fit the way
we communicate.”
Selsberg’s article has created a lot of
buzz within the John Jay campus. There
are those who support Selsberg, while
others are not too sure about his ideas.
“It really depends on your major if
Beck
Continued from front page
achieve, he can’t keep me quiet.” She
continued to say, “he is taking advantage
of the confusion and anxiety in society.”
Since Beck’s attack on Piven, she has received numerous death threats via emails,
ranging from “Die you cunt” to “May cancer find you soon.” Beck, a conservative,
has also targeted Barack Obama, stating
Obama’s “fundamental transformation of
our country “ is actually the “destruction
of our monetary system.”
Recently, the Center for ConstitutionalRights wrote a letter to the FOX news
chairman, Roger Ailes, asking them to
force Beck to tone down the false accusations in an attempt to defuse the death
threats; however, the chairman denied.
its important, but at the same time we
need to know how to read the research
and evaluate what is being said for
ourselves,” said Christian Maile, Forensic
Psychology Graduate Student, and John
Jay Experimental Psychology teacher (a
course based on teaching the research
paper). “So we need research paper writing
for analytical skills.”
This is an analysis by Maile on why
we need research papers, but Selsberg
does not concentrate on completely
getting rid of this type of writing from the
classroom. “…these forms invite font-size
manipulation, plagiarism and clichés,”
says Selsberg in his article regarding long
writing assignments. “We need to set our
sights not lower, but shorter.”
“I agree (with Selsberg) 100%. I think
the focus should be more on the process of
writing, and communicating your ideas,”
said Interdisciplinary Studies Program
tutor and Adjunct Lecturer of English 101,
Elizabeth Balla. “You can have a paper
that is grammatically correct but has no
substance. That is just considered polished
garbage.”
There is obviously a gap between
those who teach in different fields, and
their agreements or disagreements with
Selsberg’s idea.
“His class sounds like fun,” said Delroy
Pinnock, a junior at John Jay. “Perhaps
professors are tired of reading ten pages of
grammatically incorrect, and dry research
papers just as much as we are tired of
writing them.”
Many students seem interested in
Selsberg concise writing idea, while others
are concerned with one thing, tuition.
“Okay, concise writing, short sentences,
great!” said Valentine Yele, a senior at John
Jay. “We’ll be paying $600.00 for an entire
semester of learning how to write short text
messages sentences. That’s a large price to
pay, especially when you pay out of pocket
like me.”
On the other hand, Selsberg said he has
received many congratulatory responses
for his opinion article from the John Jay
English department and the administration,
as well as other teachers around the country.
When it comes to the idea of a class being
taught to properly and precisely compose a
text message, Selsberg does not believe it
will happen anytime soon.
“I doubt it! Creating any new course,
let alone, a prerequisite, is a big deal,”
Selsberg said. “My hope is just that more
exercises and assignments that focus on
short writings are taught along with larger
assignments.”
Piven asserted, “My side of the fight is the
side that represents ordinary people.”
Piven calmly stated, “I have always been
concerned with equality and poverty” and
insists her goal is to “lead democrats into
Washington to seek ways to modernize the
system and guarantee people minimum income”.
Apparently, Beck
is not the only one
going against Piven. Stanley Kurtz, once
featured on Beck’s show, also condemns
Piven for inspiring a host of radical leftist
community organizers since the creation
of the Cloward- Piven strategy. In his article, Frances Fox Piven’s Violent Agenda
on the National Review, he accuses her of
advocating violence even though The Nation defended her by saying she called for
“civil disobedience” and “street protest,”
By Eric Jankiewicz
Editor-In-Chief
This article is the second installment of
a three part series concerning Theodore
Kaczynski, the Unabomber. In this
installment, Kaczynski answers questions
about crime and what would happen to
society if technology was destroyed. If you
have any responses, such as questions or
replys, write a letter to the editor.
Q: On page 104, paragraph 210, you
write, “there is no reason to believe that
anyone would be interested in rebuilding
society” if it were destroyed. Then why did
humans build technology to begin with?
A: In paragraph 210 of ISAIF, I said
that if the technoindustrial system were
thoroughly broken down and remained
broken down for a generation or so, “there
is no reason to believe that anyone
would be interested in rebuilding
industrial society.” You ask: “Then why
did humans build technology in the first
place?”
At least until the 17th century, humans
did not build technology as a result of any
interest in creating an industrial society;
technological progress was until then an
unconscious and unintentional process. For
example, it’s safe to say that the man who
invented the horse collar (an important
technical innovation of the Middle Ages)
didn’t do so because he wanted to build a
technologically advanced society. He did
so only in order to solve some problem
in his own personal life. Maybe he just
got tired of the slow speed at which his
ox pulled a wagon. He knew that a horse
could go much faster than an ox, but the
yoke used with oxen wasn’t suitable for
horses, so he devised a horse collar that
would enable his horse to pull a wagon.
Not until approximately the 17th century
did people begin to think of progress as a
goal, and even then probably only a small
11
minority consisting of intellectuals thought
in terms of progress. I doubt that there was
any widespread enthusiasm for progress
before the Industrial Revolution got going
during the latter part of the 18th century.
After that, a belief in progress probably did
contribute to technological development.
But even then the main driving force
behind progress was no an aspiration to
build a technologically advanced society
but competition for money and power, plus
the need for surrogate activities.
If the technoindustrial system were
overthrown today the world would be
brought down to a technological level
lower that that of the Middle Ages, because
many of the techniques if the medieval
times have been lost. No doubt the slow
and unintentional process of accumulating
technology bit by bit would occur again,
just as it did the first time around. When
I wrote that there was no reason to
believe that anyone would be interested
in rebuilding industrial society, my point
was that people wouldn’t be saying,
“Hey, let’s figure out how to make the
light bulbs and generators so we can have
electric light,” or “Let’s reinvent internal
combustion engines and oil refineries so
we can have cars.” Peasants or warriors
would be concerned only to cultivate their
land with simple implements or to fight
with lance and sword; they wouldn’t be
pursuing impractical dreams of tractors
and machineguns.
Any concerted effort to rebuild
an industrial economy would yield
significant practical returns only after
a vast expenditure of time, effort, and
resources—a far greater expenditure than
any submedieval society could afford. So,
if an industrial society could be rebuilt
at all, it could be rebuilt only through
the same slow process, spanning many
centuries, that was required the first time
around. See ISAIF, paragraphs 210-12, and
Technological Slavery, pages 333-34.
Look for our May Issue to see the third installment of an interview with Kaczynski. We will also
have an explanation in the next issue of how we got
an exclusive interview with him. He is currently in
the federal max prison of Colorado and so a correspondence through letters was the only possible form
of communication.
nonviolence as opposed to violence.
In her 2010 article in The Nation, Mobilizing the Jobless she wrote: “So where
are the angry crowds, the demonstrations,
sit-ins and unruly mobs? After all, the injustice is apparent. Working people are
losing
their
homes
a n d
their
pensions while robber-baron CEOs report
renewed profits and windfall bonuses…
There is no science that predicts eruption
of protest movements. Who expected the
angry street mobs in Athens or the protests by British students? Who indeed
predicted the strike movement that began
in the United States in 1934, or the civil
rights demonstrations that spread across
the South in the early 1960s? We should
“Die you cunt.”
-Anonymous email to Piven
hope for another American social movement from the bottom—and then join it.”
This attitude is what is fueling the rage
against Piven, accusing her of wanting to
encourage massive riots. Many claim she
could possibly be responsible for any impulsive rampage resulting in severe damage or even death. However, some argue
this is not the case. Ana Roman, alumni
of John Jay argued, “It’s more about empowering people,” she sarcastically stated.
“We don’t have to sit down and just deal
with all the abuse, that’s crazy.” She continued, “I wish people weren’t so afraid
to speak up because of people like Glenn
Beck.”
So, according to Piven why is she being targeted? With no sure answer, she explained, “I think all of us human animals
have a desire to change the institutions that
changes people’s lives, sometimes it just
12
Justice Awards Engage Students
By Norhan Basuni
Senior Staff Writer
John Jay College is known for the
pride it takes in the Justice Awards Ceremony that has been hosted every year in
the spring semester since 2008.
According to the President’s office,
the Justice Awards Ceremony is one of the
most anticipated events for the college.
The John Jay Medal for Justice was created in 2008 to honor individuals and organizations that exemplify dedication to the
cause of justice. The 2011 Justice Awards
was held far from home this year due to
construction in Gerald W. Lynch Theater
and was hosted in the Harold M. Proshansky Auditorium at the CUNY Graduate
Center on April 5.
This year John Jay College honors recipients were, Sunitha Krishnan, founder
and president of Prajwala; Marian Wright
Edelman, founder and president of Children’s Defense Fund; and Thomas J. Dart,
Sheriff of Cook County, IL. Krishnan received the global leader for justice award
for her work with sex-trafficking victims and other forms of sexual violence
through her organization Prajwala. Tina
Brown, renowned journalist and editor-inchief of The Daily Beast and Newsweek,
presented that award. The national leader
for justice award was given to Edelman
and the Children’s Defense Fund (CDF)
for their commitment to improving the
lives of all children. As founder and president of the CDF, Edelman has been an ad-
vocate for disadvantaged Americans for
over 35 years. Harry Belafonte, legendary
singer, actor, producer and humanitarian,
presented the award that evening. Dart,
Sheriff of Cook County, IL, received the
Community Leader Award for his humane
approach to enforcement of the law during difficult economic times. Len Cariou,
acclaimed stage, film and television actor
and current cast member of the CBS series
Blue Bloods, presented that award.
This year John Jay also hosted a Justice Award Panel Discussion that was
moderated by John Jay’s former International Criminal Justice Department Chair
Professor Mangai Natarajan on April 5,
in the T-building. On the panel were honorees, Krishnan and Dart, who engaged
with John Jay students answering their
questions. Contrary to the style of the Justice Awards for the past few years, John
Jay students felt they connected and networked with the distinguished honorees.
Marlin Soliman, a Criminal Justice senior
said, “I actually felt like we [students]
were engaging with these ‘Justice Superheroes’ on a real and personal level. I
was not only inspired to be in their presence but it was motivating to have Sunitha
Krishnan and Thomas J. Dart be so interested in our future aspirations in wanting
to one day follow in their ‘Call for Justice’
footsteps.”
After the panel was over many students made their way to their next classes
while others lined up in front of the room
NORHAN BASUNI
“The audience was not hesitant to give them one standing ovation after another.”
NORHAN BASUNI
to ask further questions to the honorable
panelists. The idea of having a separate
panel discussion featuring the Justice
Awards recipients was a huge success. Soliman was much appreciative about being
able to meet two out of the three Justice
Awards recipients during school hours
earlier in the day. “I was never able to attend the past Justice Awards Ceremonies
because they were late in the evening and
I work, but this year I am grateful I was
able to take part in celebrating such extraordinary individuals who clearly are
worth honoring.”
During the actual awards ceremony
later that evening, where the recipients
received their John Jay Medal for Justice, the audience was not hesitant to give
them one standing ovation after another.
The Harold Proshansky Auditorium at the
CUNY Graduate Center was filled with a
wide range of supporters and fans of John
Jay’s Justice Awards Ceremony including
John Jay’s Vera Fellows. Chad Infante, a
senior CUNY Baccalaureate student and
Vera Fellow at John Jay, was one of the
many students impressed with the Justice
Awards Ceremony and most of all he was
impressed with the program’s ability to
keep the audience captivated. “There were
no dull moments throughout the Awards
Ceremony. The formal reception was short
and sweet but very informative on the
various works of social justice by the 2011
recipients.”
“It is up to us pledge against any type
of social in justice, and they come in all
forms, and we are all responsible for our
silence. The biggest reward is breaking
the silence.,” Krishnan said during her acceptance speech after receiving the global
leader for justice award.
New Building Means Bigger Writing Center Elections
By Gina Borrello
Junior Staff Writer
The Writing Center has experienced a
steady increase in the number of students
it serves and will open two new locations
on the 4th floor of the new building, currently under construction, in September
2011 to accommodate this increase.
“The new Writing Center is much
needed because our population has grown
tremendously,” said Livia Katz, professor
and Writing Center director.
Alan Niss, the Writing Center data analyst, said that the Writing Center serves
thousands of students each year and the
number of students it serves has increased
steadily since 1995. He provided that the
writing center served 7,081 from 20082009 and served 7,301 students from
2009-2010.
The Writing Center was heavily attended when the CPE was a requirement,
offering 102 CPE workshops a year. “The
center was so busy that we lost students
because there were no available appointments,” said Katz.
“The cancellation of the CPE does not
mean that the center’s activity will decrease,” said Katz.
Katz said that the Writing Center would
experience a loss on the workshop front,
not the tutoring front. “This is not necessarily a bad thing, though,” she said, “because students lost in CPE workshops will
be replaced by those students who didn’t
get appointments because of it.”
Niss agrees that the new space is needed and is grateful for it. “The new Writing
Center is not a waste of space; it is a scholarly environment; it is a temple of learning, and it is a writer’s training ground,”
he said.
Annmarie Christine, a tutee who attends the writing center regularly, said that
the writing center has helped her to improve her writing skills, and she is excited
for the center’s new locations. “Wherever
the center goes, I will go,” she said.
Not many students are aware that a new
center will be opening, though: “Really?
They’re opening a new center? I didn’t
even know-- that’s cool, though” said
Robert Gomez, a student who attended the
writing center for CPE workshops and occasional one-on-one tutoring. Bennett Callaghan, a tutor at the center, wasn’t aware
of the new center either: “when will it be
opening,” he asked.
Professor Katz is unsure how many
tutors will be working in the new center.
The current center employs 22 tutors, some
who currently attend John Jay, some who
are alumni, and some who have MAs and
also teach. Katz hopes to hire new tutors,
but says that the number of tutors working
in the new center depends on the amount of
funding the center will receive.
A tutor who wishes to remain anonymous said:
“I think it’s great that a new center will
be opening. It’s a shame, though, that the
students are unaware about it. The writing
center is an important part of the college. A
majority of college assignments are written, and every type of writer can benefit
from the center—the best and the worst
of writers. Students need to be informed
about the new center’s opening.”
Continued from page 4
lieves student elections went back to just
club row voting, also believes student participation in club row needs to increase.
He said that John Jay needed a “legacy
system.” He went on to elaborate on what
he meant,
“We always have a new mechanism
that takes time to gain momentum each
turnover.” To Katalaydiallo, each Student
Council does not hand off a continuous
flow to the next set of student leaders. Between each transition there is no connecting bridge, making each Student Council
its own island.
“I blame Student Government and
club row leadership.” He believes the two
should work more closely one another to
create this “legacy” that can always be
passed onto the next Student Government.
“The elections is a place where students say ‘look we have a voice,’ so let’s
use it.”