Sustainable Designs in Progress
Transcription
Sustainable Designs in Progress
February 2009 Inside This Issue Sister Mariam Pfeifer, IHM, Receives Prestigious Award The American Music Therapy Association has Sister Mariam Pfeifer, IHM, with the 2008 Honorary Life Membership Award. News, 2 The Dangers of Excercising Too Much Sure, exercise is good for you, but is there such a thing as too much? Learn about exercise addition and its potential dangers. Lifestyles, 6 Baseball Coach Resigns from Marywood Baseball Coach Joe Ross is leaving a legacy at Marywood as he moves on to the Commonwealth Medical College. See the impact he has left on his colleagues. Sports, 8 A Midwinter’s Night Dream The Communication Arts Department will be presenting A Midsummer’s Night Dream with a wintery twist. Entertainment, 11 Helping Others in Guatemala Marywood students and their chaperones spent part of their Christmas break in Guatemala on a service trip. Peace and Justice, 13 Reactions to the Inaugurations Marywood students sound off on their thoughts of President Obama’s Inauguration. Outlook, 17 Marching for Life Marywood students traveled to Washington D.C. to protest Roe v. Wade in the annual March for Life. Peace and Justice, 14 (above) Construction in the former Shields Center and Health and Physical Education building has been progressing steadily throughout winter. Photo Credit: Ashley Proietto. Sustainable Designs in Progress By Ashley Proietto Staff Writer This semester many Marywood students noticed a change in the location for some of their courses due to the construction of the architecture building, slated to open in Fall 2009. The Shields Center and Health and Physical Education building is now under reconstruction as a “GREEN” building, also known as sustainable design. Sustainable design is a method that reduces the use of non-renewable resources and minimizes environmental impact. Leader- ship in Energy and Environmental Design (L.E.E.D.), developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), provides a suite of standards for environmentally sustainable construction and encourages many architects to take this development into their practices. Mr. Gregory K. Hunt, the Founding Dean of Marywood School of Architecture, is making this possible right here on campus. There are three dumpsters in front of the Shields Center for recycling, metal, rubble, and trash. While working on this project, construction workers are separating and saving the rubbish that they tear down from the old building and recycling it; the new building will have a vegetated roof for increasing thermal insulation; a system for capturing rainwater from the roof to supply water for toilets; a passive cooling system employing innovative “chilled beam” technology; bamboo desk tops; and the preservation of the maple floor of the current gymnasium area. These are just some of the ways the design of the building is taking the environment into consideration. The building will also showcase the work by students of ar- Nutrition Grant Given to MU By Alison Trautmann News Editor The United States Department of Agriculture gave the nutrition department of Marywood University a grant in order to promote nutrition education in Scranton area schools. The program is designed to educate students and raise awareness about the importance of nutrition and physical activity. Pennsylvania Nutrition Education TRACKS provides statewide nutrition education to schools in Pennsylvania. In order for a school to participate in the Supplementary Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-ed), they must have at least fifty percent free or reduced lunches. The program is currently reaching ten schools in the Scranton School District; three intermediate and seven elementary schools. The TRACKS program focuses on the 4th graders in the elementary schools and the 7th and 8th graders in the intermediate level schools. The program runs all year and is currently reaching 725 students at the intermediate level and 368 students at the elementary level. “Nutrition Educators” from Marywood go to the schools all through the school year in order to help teach the children about nutrition and physical activity. The intermediate schools receive seven lessons; MyPyramid, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, calcium rich foods, healthy snacking, healthy beverage options, and physical activity and energy balance. The lessons for the elementary schools are on most of the same topics as the intermediate lessons but are slightly different. After each lesson, the students receive a “reinforcer” such as a pencil or eraser with the words “Eat right and exercise” on it. The students and their teachers also receive a newsletter each month that gives extra information and ways to incorporate the learned skills into their everyday life. This is the second year for the TRACKS program. Last year the students took tests before and after the program. These tests showed an increase in the students’ knowledge of nutritional and physical activity information. The tests also showed significant increase in the amount of vegetables and healthy foods eaten by the students as well as an increase in the amount of time spent doing physical activity and participating in sports. There was also a significant decrease in the amount of time the students spent watching television. The TRACKS program aims to increase the number of schools it reaches each year. By increasing the number of schools reached by the program more students will be able to learn about the importance of nutrition and physical activity. The TRACKS program is likely to be assist in keeping Pennsylvania’s children healthy. < chitecture. “Anybody will be able to walk through the halls and it will hopefully educate them while looking at the pieces,” Mr. Hunt stated. The degrees that will be available for enrolled architecture students will be a pre-professional degree, Bachelor of Environmental Design in Architecture (B.E.D.A), a four-year undergraduate program, professional degree program, which includes the five-year Bachelor of Architecture (B. Arch) and a six-year Master of Architecture degree (M Arch). < Sr. Mary Accepts New Job Sister Mary Reap, IHM, Ph.D., Marywood University’s tenth president, has been named president of Elms College, Chicopee, Massachusetts. Elms College is the only comprehensive four-year coeducational Catholic College in Western Massachusetts. Sister Mary will begin serving as Elms College President on July 1, 2009.< February 2009 The Wood Word thewoodword@m.marywood.edu Amanda Toth Editor-in-Chief ‘10 Mandy Boyle Advertising Sales Manager/ Entertainment Editor ‘10 Courtney Baro Layout/Design ‘10 Lauren Tyrrell Layout/Design ‘09 Justine Carmine Lifestyles Editor ‘09 Katelin Haley Peace and Justice Editor ‘09 Marie Fitzsimmons Outlook Editor ‘09 Christian Wagner Sports Editor ‘12 Shane Ostroski Sports Editor ‘12 Alison Trautmann News Editor ‘12 Marie Leopardo Distribution Manager ‘09 Kaitlin Johnstone Copy Editor ‘09 Sr. Mariam Pfeifer, IHM Honored with Music Therapy Award that the children in the special education program did not have the same opportunities as their peers. She started a music program for them, which was her first experience with music therapy. The AMTA defines music therapy as, “an established healthcare profession that uses music to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals Sr. Mariam Pfeifer accepts the 2008 Honorary Life Membership Award. of all ages.” RePhoto submitted by: Victora Clarizio search in the field has revealed the incredible healSt. Louis, MO. The AMTA gives By Victoria Clarizio ing power of music. According to this award for “distinguished serStaff Writer vice in the field of music therapy” Sister Mariam, “the melodies” in Sister Mariam Pfeifer, IHM, and if anyone has done extraordi- music “can be soothing to even a director of the music therapy nary things in this field it is Sister premature baby.” While teaching at Marywood program at Marywood, has been Mariam. Sister Mariam designed and imAfter beginning her career honored with the 2008 Honorary plemented the music therapy proLife Membership Award from the in music education, she became gram here in 1979. She also set in interested in music therapy in American Music Therapy Association. She was presented with the its earliest stages, around 1950. place the program at St. Joseph’s award at the association’s 10th While teaching music classes for center. Out of all of her service annual National Conference in grades 1 through 8 she realized to the field of music therapy, Sis- Interested in writing for The Wood Word? Contact us at thewoodword@m.marywood.edu Lead On 101 with Dr. Donahue and regions such as colleges in Vermont and Indiana, and High School in Indiana and El Paso, Texas. Laura Quintiliani Copy Editor ‘12 Nathan Bradley Publicity ‘09 Ann Williams Faculty Advisor The Wood Word is the official student newspaper of Marywood University. It is published three times each semester. Membership is open to all students and faculty. Opinions expressed in The Wood Word do not necessarily reflect those of the editorial staff or Marywood University. Please send all correspondents to the editor at The Wood Word, 2300 Adams Avenue, Scranton, PA 18509. ter Mariam believes her greatest contribution was her participation in the Certification Board of Music Therapy as legal secretary. As part of the board, Sister Mariam was instrumental in creating a national certification exam and a recertification process. She believes that the exam “has really made our profession come alive.” By creating a national exam, the board paved the way for music therapy to be seen as an effective method of rehabilitation and health care and be nationally accepted as such. For Sister Mariam, her work in music therapy ties directly to the IHM mission. During her acceptance speech for the award she said, “Young people in the profession and especially students here present, I encourage you to get involved, give of yourself ...It is not only rewarding to give of yourself, but a truly educational experience where much learning transpires and many wonderful friends are made...you’ve assisted me in part to live more fully my IHM mission and charism of providing “joyful, loving, hospitable service” to others.” Sister Mariam certainly followed her own advice in giving of herself to the profession of music therapy, which is not just a profession but a passion. < Lead On 101 is a series of questions posed to administrators and faculty by the Office of Retention and Advising. This forum offers insight and practical advice about Marywood and managing your college career. This month features Martin A. Donahue, Ph.D., A.T.C., chairperson of the Kinesiology program. What would you like students to know about you? I have been an athletic trainer and P.E. teacher in different settings a b o u t your department or colleagues? Our faculty has both teaching and research interests in their fields but also have a number of years of practical experience in those fields. about Marywood? Marywood is much more than a place to earn a degree. There are a lot of opportunities for students to be involved and feel like a part of the Marywood Community. What was the best advice you ever received when you were in college? Don’t try to reinvent the wheel. There is always someone who has been through what you are trying to do. Use their advice, knowledge and experiences. Most people are more than willing to share. If you knew then what you know now, what would you have done differently as a college freshman? I would have gotten more involved in co-curricular activities. a grad student? I would have sought out more leadership opportunities in professional organizations. The graduate faculty were I went to school were very involved and I wish I had utilized their mentorship more. What steps should students take to make them successful in college? Get organized, set priorities and stick to them. Know what your goals are and use them to guide your decisions. What would you say to students who have not yet been able to choose a major? It is better to take time to make the right decision rather than finish a degree you will never use or enter a career you do not like. To help make your decision pick something you enjoy and have a passion for. What advice would you give students who are having problems with academics? Do not be afraid to ask for help from anyone, friends, classmates, professors, tutoring. As a faculty member I want students to succeed. Marywood has many resources for students to succeed. Take advantage of this. Is there anything else you would like to say to students? Get involved. You will graduate with other people who have the same degree, completed the same classes. What really sets people apart is what else they have done. What other experiences make them good at what they do?< February 2009 Mall at Steamtown Becomes a Classroom By Alison Trautmann News Editor The past fall semester gave Marywood marketing students in a retail management course the chance for hands-on experience. Students were given the opportunity to use the Mall at Steamtown as a classroom in order to learn about retail. Every other week the students would go to the mall in order to complete an assignment. They would hear a presentation about some specific element of mall operation or retail. After the presentation students would form teams and go out into the mall in order to complete an assignment. By observing how the mall operated and speaking to managers and sales associates about different topics, such as store image and marketing strategies, the students gained a deeper understanding about how a mall operates. After each mall visit, the teams of students would report back to the class on what they had learned during their assignments. Dr. Gale Jaeger believes that “being able to use the mall as a classroom was a wonderful opportunity and that there were major benefits to being in a mall setting rather than a classroom. It was more effective for students to learn about something first hand rather than looking at pictures in a book.” The students did not con- centrate solely on the Mall at Steamtown; they also compared and contrasted the different malls. By looking critically at the Steamtown, Viewmont, and Montage malls, the students gained an understanding about what worked and did not work with regards to marketing strategies and appearance. Lindsay Jacob, a student of Dr. Jaeger, remarked that the class “gave us lessons that were not only unobtainable in a classroom setting but fun and exciting. It was great to go off campus and hear from people in jobs that we are all looking get into. Personally I appreciated how well prepared and thoughtful everyone who spoke to our class was. They were genuinely interested in speaking to us and answering any types of questions we had whether it be about their every day job roles to salary questions.” John Siddons also said that the class was a “great experience. This was a rare opportunity to get involved with the people behind the scenes that keep the mall in operation.” The fall is usually a very busy time for malls but the mall workers were still willing to speak with the students. Dr. Jaeger hopes to continue the program in following years. “To have them at the mall where they can see things that are being discussed in class makes the whole course come alive.” < A Work in Progress: School of Architecture (Above) Construction crews take advantage of February’s brief warm spell to continue development of the School of Architecture, set to open in Fall ‘09. (Below) Inside the Health and Physical Education Center, many areas have been designated as “hard hat zones” in order to insure the safety of Marywood staff and students. Photo Credit: Lauren Tyrrell. Business Etiquette Dinner Have dinner with Career Services and Robert Shutt, of RA Solutions and featured on CBS television. This is more than just “eating with the right fork” - prepare for dinner with clients, colleagues, and THE BOSS! NPEC Annual Employment Fair Wednesday, March 24th 1-4:30 P.M. Wachovia Arena - Casey Plaza, Wilkes-Barre More than 100 employers hoping to hire the right candidate! Monday, March 16th 6-8 P.M. Full-time jobs and internships! Come prepared with your questions and resume! To sign up, e-mail Bussing from Marywood will be provided or call 348-6247 For more information, contact Career Services in LAC 224 or call 348-6247 careerservices@marywood.edu February 2009 Single on Valentine’s Day? Don’t Pout! Photo Credit: www.miabellabaskets.com By Angel Fuller Distribution Manager Valentine’s Day is a day to spend with your significant other. But what if you don’t have a significant other to spend it with? Instead of sitting home on Valentine’s Day feeling sorry for yourself and eating chocolate on your couch watching romantic movies and crying, get out there! There are plenty of things to do on Valentines Day when you’re single. Make a day with friends. Go to lunch with friends and talk or, better yet, go to dinner with all of your other single friends. Valentine’s Day isn’t just about couples, spend the day with the people you love most in your life and let them know it. You can even organize a Secret Admirer’s Single Girl’s Gift. Think of it like a Secret Santa. Send the person you got flowers, chocolates, or even her favorite movie. Have a party at your house. Get a bunch of friends together and have food, music, and movies. You can even break out the karaoke machine and just be silly with your closet single friends. If you’re not too keen on playing hostess, just invite a few friends over to watch movies. Get a bunch of eye candy movies and drool over the actors you find the dreamiest. If none of these things seem to work for you, then you can always pamper yourself. Go to a spa; get your hair and nails done. Do something for yourself. It’s okay to spend a little money on yourself once in awhile and why not on Valentine’s Day? Make it your day, who knows you might run into someone to sweep you off your feet and you won’t have to worry about having a date next year! < Groundhog’s Day: A Sight Worth Seeing Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, so there will be six more weeks of winter. Photo Credit: www.charlotteobserver.com By Angel Fuller Distribution Manager Each year on February 2, many wait to find out if we have six more weeks of winter or if we have six more until spring. This all depends on one little ground hog, Punxsutawney Phil. However, what exactly is Groundhog’s Day? For many, it’s just another day, but for the folks of Punxsutawney, it’s one of the biggest days of the year. Last Groundhog’s Day, I had the opportunity to travel down to Punxsutawney to see what Groundhog’s Day is all about. Groundhog’s Day is bigger than St. Patrick’s Day in Scranton. The local schools get the entire day off, work is cancelled, and its one big celebration that goes from midnight to midnight. The actual pulling the groundhog out of his home takes place at Gobbler’s Knob, a wooded knoll just outside Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. The parade and the celebration go from 4 am until about 7:30 am when Phil is pulled out of his home. The groundhog comes out of his electrically heated burrow, looks for his shadow, and utters his prediction to a Groundhog Club representative in “groundhogese.” The representative then translates the prediction for the general public. After that, one would think it’s all over. However, the celebration has just begun. All around town there is something to do and it all revolves around the groundhog. There’s people carving groundhogs out of ice and wood, children ice skating on a groundhog shaped pond, and much more. Even the lights in Punxsutawney are groundhog shaped. Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania is one of the tiniest towns I have ever seen. It is literally about six blocks long, but it holds the biggest celebration. However, Groundhog’s day is a tradition to this town and residents swear that Phil’s prediction has never been wrong. Groundhog’s Day is definitely something that every person should experience at Punxsutawney at least once in their lives. It’s an experience I will never forget and I look forward to traveling there again. < February’s Full of Health and Wellness Events “We are bombarded with negative messages about our bodies on a daily basis, so this is a chance to experience positive messages about our bodies and overall wellness. This fair is unique in that it provides information on a wide variety of ways to enhance health and well-being.” By Anne Marie Coar Staff Writer The new year is well under way, and Marywood is offering several programs to promote physical and psychological health and well-being in 2009. On Thursday, February 19, Marywood University will hold its seventh annual “Celebrate Your Body Wellness Fair.” It will begin at 11:00 a.m. and conclude at 2:00 p.m. in the Fireplace Lounge of Nazareth Student Center. The fair is an interactive program which focuses on promoting health, fitness, and positive body image. Different booths will provide information on nutrition, personal health care, physical fitness, core training, positive body image, massages, sleep, adult ADHD, and scans of the spine and nervous system. Marywood’s Counseling/ Student Development Center and Peers on Wellness are sponsoring the event. Several other university departments and clubs are also involved in the “Celebrate Your Body Wellness Fair.” They include S.O.U.L. (Students Organized to Uphold Life), the Physician’s Assistant Program, the Marywood Library, Chartwell’s Dining, the Human Performance Lab, Marywood’s Athletic and Recreation and Nutrition and Dietetics departments. National Eating Disorders Awareness Week also occurs in February. As part of the “Celebrate Your Body Wellness Fair,” some of Marywood’s nutrition students will discuss healthy eating practices. There will also be pamphlets and other educational materials promoting good nutrition and positive body image. Additionally, participants can undergo eating attitude screenings. Other community organizations are also participating in the program, such as Yesavage Chiropractic Services, UNO GYM, Inner Harmony, McCann Massage School, and the American Lung Association. Dietitian Janet Milner, RD will also be involved in the event. Coordinator of the “Celebrate Your Body Wellness Fair” Ms. Marlee Stefanelli encourages students to come to the event. “It is an opportunity for students to spend some time appreciating and celebrating all their bodies do and can do,” she said. “We are bombarded with negative messages about our bodies on a daily basis, so this is a chance to experience positive messages about our bodies and overall wellness. This fair is unique in that it provides information on a wide variety of ways to enhance health and well-being.” There will also be free food and giveaways. Everyone in the Marywood community is invited to attend. Earlier this month, on Thursday, February 5, Marywood held another wellness event, the second annual Anxiety Screening Day, which was open to both the Marywood community and the general public. Participants took free, confidential, and anonymous anxiety screening tests. In addition, people had the opportunity to learn about stress and anxiety. APA’s Stress in America Survey shows more than fifty percent of Americans have felt heightened amounts of stress in the past five years. And half of these people have recognized that stress has negatively affected their physical and psychological well-being. Many of those surveyed experienced anger, irritability, nervousness, and depressed interests, energy, and motivation. These, along with headaches, tense muscles, fatigue, and difficulty sleeping, are some of the common physical and psychological symptoms of stress. Other resources were available, which helped show participants the difference between normal anxiety and GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder). Marywood’s Psychological Services Center will offer a depression screening in the fall, and another anxiety screening is scheduled for the next school season. Ms. Courtney Tibbetts from the Psychological Services Center encourages everyone to participate in these programs: “It is an opportunity to learn a little about yourself and find out what resources are available if you need help.” < 6 February 2009 Celebrating Black History Month “A common misconception about this month is that people think it is to honor the African-American men and women who changed history, but it is so much more. It is about the historical moments that changed the country, the people, and history as we know it.” By Katie O’Neil Staff Writer Every February we celebrate Black History Month. Most people remember this because of papers they had to write about an African-American that influenced history. However, it is more than that! Black History Month itself has a history that many people do not know. Now that Black History Month is here, I think it is appropriate that we know why we celebrate it, and how it all started. Dr. Carter G. Woodson is the man that started the study of African-Americans. He felt it was unfair that AfricanAmericans were not in the history books for what they did or for what happened to them. The only times they were in the history books was when they were portrayed as an inferior race. Woodson wanted to fight this and, after earning his Ph. D. from Harvard, he created the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History in 1915. A year after he created this association, he established the Journal of Negro History. In 1926, he wanted to gain national attention for his history, and he introduced Negro History Week. He decided Negro History Week should be in February, the birth month of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln, two champions of African-American rights. His determination of teaching people the history of his race paid off. A common misconception about this month is that people think it is to honor the AfricanAmerican men and women who changed history, but it is so much more. It is about everything that happened to them. All the historical moments that changed the country, the people, and history as we know it. Some of these events are: 1619 - The first African slaves arrive in Virginia. 1787- Slavery is made illegal in the Northwest Territory. The U.S Constitution states that Congress may not ban the slave trade until 1808. 1849- Harriet Tubman escapes from slavery and becomes one of the most effective and celebrated leaders of the Underground Railroad. 1869- Howard University’s law school becomes the country’s first black law school. These events shape the way we live our lives because of the impact it caused and continues to cause to our culture and way of thinking. We are still living Black History, since Barack Obama recently became our first Black President It is important that we celebrate our history of all races, religions, and cultures because they change how we look at life and what matters to us. History affects us every single day of our lives! This certainly shows that we should not just celebrate Black History Month in February, but keep it in our minds and hearts always because it is truly a major part of our history. If you are more interested in dates and timelines, the previous information was from http:// www.infoplease.com/spot/bhmtimeline.html Check it out! < Important Semester Dates and Deadlines 02-28-09: Spring Break (through 3/08) begins at conclusion of classes 03-09-09: (left) Abraham Lincoln (right) Barack Obama Photo Credit: www.guardian.co.uk Classes Resume at 8:00 A.M. 03-20-09: Last Day to Withdraw From Classes Without Academic Penalty 04-08-09: Easter Holiday Begins at Conclusion of Classes 04-14-09: Classes Resume At 8:00 A.M. (left) Frederick Douglass Photo Credit: www.pbs.org (right) Dr. Carter Photo Credit: www.nasa.gov 04-28-09: Undergraduate Study Day 04-28-09: Final Exams Begin at 6:00 P.M. 05-06-09: Spring Semester Ends 05-09-09: Hooding Ceremonies/Baccalaureate Mass 05-10-09: Harriet Tubman Photo Credit: www.harriettubmanbiography.com Commencement No Pain, No Gain? Exercise Obsession By Justine Carmine Lifestyles Editor Ever since the reality of obesity hit Americans, everyone has stressed the terms: diet and exercise. While sticking to an exercise program has enormous benefits, how much is too much? There is a difference between being motivated and being addicted. An exercise addiction can lead to sports-related injuries and it is also linked to eating disorders. People tend to overlook overexercising because in our culture it is seen as a good thing. Marlee Stefanelli from the Student Development and Counseling Center states, “Exercise is idealized. Since it is seen as some- thing healthy and positive people normalize it. However, there are health consequences.” According to Men’s Health, the factors that cause eating disorders are generally the same with over-exercise. Many people who work out too much have a negative body image and work to the extreme to try to change that. Instead of starving or purging, overexercisers eat and then feel the need to work it off immediately. Exercise raises the endorphins in your body, so frequent exercisers feel a natural “high” whenever they work out. However, soon they need to work out for longer periods of time to maintain that high. Unfortunately, your body gets accustomed to the frequent work-outs and instead of your muscles growing, microtears are forming, which can lead to torn muscles and injury. However, when you rest your body, muscles heal and grow, which is the outcome many seek when they over-work their body. Exercise addiction can not only cause physical harm, but social harm as well. You may start putting working-out at the top of your priority list, neglecting work, school, friends, and family, and your social life. Stefanelli states, “People can definitely develop anti-social tendencies when it starts to interfere in other areas.” You may also experience symptoms of anxiety and guilt if you miss a day. When exercising is the only thing getting you through a day, you need to find a healthy balance where you can work out and also focus on other priorities such as friends and family. Another reason why so many people are over-exercising is because it makes you look good! In our society, having those six-pack abs are crucial and revered. How many times have we seen Bowflex and Hydroxycut commercials? Some people believe that the harder you work out, the better you’ll look. Although lifting weights and doing pilates tones and defines your body, you have to have a resting day in-between workouts so your muscles can grow and strengthen. It’s definitely gratifying when you see your abs or thighs looking more defined and toned, but you have to stop and take a breather or else your body will adapt and it will take longer to see results. How can you tone down your work-outs? Try workingout every other day instead of every day. It may be hard to do, but once you get into the routine you’ll enjoy the free time and you will look and feel better. Reconnect with family, go out with friends, or pick-up an extra shift at work; these are also things that will make you feel good. If you still can’t seem to get away from the gym, Stefanelli suggests talking to counseling. You can still work-out, but finding a healthy balance is the key. < February 2009 Need Something To Do? Support Your Pacers By Shane Ostroski Co-Sports Editor Are you ever looking for things to do on campus, or are looking for somewhere to go to release some built up frustration from school? If you answered yes to one or both of these questions, we have just the solution. Attend one of the many athletic contests on campus. Now before you say “I don’t like sports or I don’t understand them why should I go,” here are the reasons for why you should. All Marywood University games are free of charge for students with your school ID. Money is always on students’ minds but it does not apply when attending a game. Going to a Marywood sporting event is cheaper than going to the movies, going out to dinner, or going to a party. How many opportunities can you get a night of entertainment for absolutely nothing? Attending a Marywood sporting event is a great way to let off some steam from a tough stressful day at school. Scream and yell in support of the Pacers or voice your opinion at a bad call from the official. Don’t get too carried away but there is nothing wrong with letting out your frustration at a game from time to time. Even if you’re not one to scream and yell in public for fear of embarrassment, go to the games and clap or just make some noise. The athletes can hear the crowd and it makes them play harder and also intimidates the other team. Think of it this way, you have a test in one of your classes and while you’re taking the test someone is screaming at the top of their lungs. There is a good chance your score won’t be as high if you had a nice quiet classroom you are accustomed to. The same applies to athletes, the more noise you make the harder it becomes for a visiting team to focus, which can cause them to Tim Wagner’s make mistakes. Attendance at the basketball games has been poor and there is definitely room for improvement. Wouldn’t it be cool to see the whole entire gym filled to capacity with all of the fans supporting Marywood? Could you imagine how much fun it would be to be apart of so many people cheering for the Pacers at the same time at the same place? Imagine that type of atmosphere at all sporting events on campus. There are many opportunities for you to support your Marywood sports teams . Currently men’s and women’s basketball is nearing the end of conference play. The spring sports schedule is just around the corner, men’s and women’s lacrosse, baseball, softball, and men’s tennis will all be starting in early March. So before you waste your time in your dorm room, looking at face book or watching television, go out and socialize while cheering for your Pacers. You’ll be glad you did! < We Wanna Dance with Somebody: Why the Pacers Have a Chance to Dance By Brian Johnson Staff Writer “Oh! I wanna dance with somebody. I wanna feel the heat with somebody. Yeah! I wanna dance with somebody, with somebody who loves me.” That classic anthem is sung by Whitney Houston in the song “I Wanna Dance with Somebody.” You may be asking yourself, what does Whitney Houston’s 80’s pop song, “I Wanna Dance with Somebody,” have anything to do with this year’s success for the men’s basketball team? The answer is the song is an analogy of hope that the men’s basketball team may make a break for the Colonial State Athletic Conference (CSAC) playoffs and potentially “the big dance”, also known as the Division III NCAA Tournament. This hope is not only shared by the players themselves, but also the athletic administration, the Pacer Posse (The Marywood student section that is present at all of the home games), and any other casual MU pacer fan and sports fan that roots for the underdog. For the first time in the men’s 17 year long program, the men are legitimate contenders in conference play. As of press time the men are 11-6 with a 5-4 record with wins against powerhouse CSAC teams including Cabrini College and two wins against Baptist Bible College. With just nine games left to play, eight of which are conference games, there is a buzz going around campus, that come March, the Pacers will have their ticket punched for their first ever Division III NCAA Tourney. “The success if this year’s team can be attributed to the growth, development, and maturation of the returning players combined with the infusion of some new talented studentathletes who have all combined together and formed a cohesive winning team that places winning ahead of their own personal individual agendas,” said head coach Eric Grundman. The belief in the men’s potential success is all around campus; whether it be a “white out” of white t-shirts in the student section, fans painting their chests and jumping up down for an entire game, or a pat on a player’s back after a hard fought win, no one is counting the Pacers out. The Pacers’ success has relied on some old faces, as well as some new faces. It starts with the senior leadership from Prince Blacknall, who has been named CSAC’s player of the week three separate times thanks in part by averaging 20 points per game (ppg) while leading the team in assists. “Prince Blacknall and Josh Pena are our 2 seniors and they compete and play at a very high level both in games and in practice every day,” said Grundman. In addition, the Pacers welcome a few transfer students such as Sidney Tharpe and John Foreman. Tharpe leads the Pacers in scoring with 20 ppg, and rebounds, with over 7 per game. Foreman averages 10 ppg and 5 rebounds. Another fan favorite is Matt Medici, who controls the glass along with the low post scoring duties. But no team would be complete with its role players, such as the defensive stoppers in Karl Anderson and Jerome Gosney, or energetic performers such as Josh Pena and Chadli Charlot. Also, Marywood’s freshman class of Rich Bell, Pat Lambert, and Brent Keyes has already provided good potential in the years to follow. “The future of the program is bright. We only have 2 seniors in Prince Blacknall and Josh Pena. They will both be very hard to replace but we are working hard on the recruiting trail to replace our 2 seniors and further increase the talent and character base of our program. The players who will return will hopefully be the first Marywood team that has achieved substantial success and continue to be able to build on it,” said Grundman. While all of this may be true, success also starts with the excellent coaching staff in Coach Grundman and his assistants, Coach Moran, Johnson, and Tate, whom instill in their players the kind of work ethic it takes to be successful. Many believe the Pacers are in uncharted territory and face an up hill battle with lurking opponents such as Gwynedd-Mercy College, Keystone College, Cabrini College, as well as Neumann College, but Whitney Houston’s 80’s pop song echoes our beliefs, “We wanna’ dance with somebody,” and dance we will! < 9 February 2009 10 Questions By Jamee Horgan Staff Writer Who: Junior Shannon Gillena Major: Athletic Training Sport: Lacrosse 10 Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Mint Chocolate Chip 9 Favorite Hobbies: Playing lacrosse, working out, hanging with my friends and roomies, and working at the Lackawanna Ambulance 8 Favorite Color: Royal blue, of course! 7 Dream Vacation Destination: Disney World, no matter how many times I’ve been there 6 Favorite TV Show: House 5 Best Lacrosse Season: In my senior year of high school my lacrosse team were tri champs in the league and got a banner for our school’s gym. It was our school’s first ever banner for girls lacrosse. 4 Favorite Celebrity: Shelby Yeager 3 If you could eat lunch with anyone famous, dead or alive who would it be: Zach Parise, from the NJ Devils 2 Favorite Band: All American Rejects 1 Best Movie Ever: Patch Adams Joe Ross Leaves Behind Legacy At Marywood By Christian Wagner Co-Sports Editor “He is one of my best friends. He will do anything for you at anytime, no questions asked.” “He is one of my best friends. He will do anything for you at anytime, no questions asked,” said interim Coach Jerry Davis, who was chosen to replace Joe Ross this season after he resigned to accept the position as director of facilities and construction at Commonwealth Medical College, according to a press release issued by the Sports Information Staff. Coach Ross started the baseball program at Marywood, and was the head coach for all 14 years. He compiled a 174-295-1 record over his tenure. “If there was one term I would use to describe Joe, it would ‘role model’,” said Dr. Mary Jo Gunning, athletic director for Marywood. “That’s his legacy here, the example he set for the players,” continued Dr. Gunning. “Joe taught me everything I know. I thought I knew it pretty well until I began to coach beside him. He would break down plays and situations, and I wouldn’t see it until I revisited them later,” Davis said. Coach Ross established the baseball program at Marywood University 14 years ago. Photo Courtesy: Andrew Smith Dr. Gunning noted how Ross would always go above and beyond in pre-game, field maintenance, and also in his administrative duties as Head of Security. “Coach Ross will also be known for his organizational skills,” said Davis. “He would have such a decisive practice and game plan, and would follow it.” According to several players on the team, Ross took a crucial role in fundraising for the program and running the summer baseball coach. Coach Davis recalled one time where he truly realized how on top of things Ross was. “I was thinking of something and mentioned it Joe, and he responded ‘I am two steps ahead of you, already done.’” Dr. Gunning added that she felt honored to work with Ross and knows that his spirit will carry on. “He started the program from the ground up. He is Marywood University Baseball. He developed respect in the conference and around the campus. He bleeds green and gold,” said Davis. < February 2009 Two Weeks’ Worth of Romance: 14 Best Valentine’s Day Movies By Mandy Boyle Entertainment Editor & Advertising Sales Manager Photo Credit: www.impawards.com Sundance 2009: A Recap By Mandy Boyle Entertainment Editor & Advertising Sales Manager With Oscar season upon us, film lovers are buzzing with activity about the best and brightest films of 2008, however, the unsung heroes of the 2009 Sundance Film Festival are just starting to sparkle. The hype for the Sundance Festival came early this year, as critics hummed their anticipation for films like Mary & Max, an Aussie claymation film about pen pals, Irish drama Five Minutes in Heaven starring Liam Neeson, and The Office’s John Krasinski’s directorial debut in Brief Interviews with Hideous Men. However, it was the underdogs that came out on top during the awards ceremony. Push: Based on a novel by Sapphire, a drama about an overweight girl growing up Harlem, won the most prizes of the festival, yet left Park City without a distribution offer, despite the rave reviews from both critics and audiences alike. Other films that received awards included: Sin Nombre, Afghan Star, Five Minutes in Heaven, Paper Heart, An Education, and Humpday. One of the most major distribution disappointments was that of the overly anticipated I Love You Phillip Morris, which starred Jim Carey and Ewan McGregor as two gay prison inmates who fall in love. Two other well-liked films that left empty handed were Cold Souls, a meta-drama starring Paul Giamatti and family tragedy The Greatest, which starred Pierce Brosnan and Susan Sarandon. Several films that came to Sundance with distribution already locked up made a splash as well, despite the lack of award. Twilight star Kristen Stewart gave a strong performance in the premiere of Adventureland, a coming-of-age tale set in the 1980’s at a second-rate amusement park. Adventureland is due to hit theaters March 27. However, it was romantic comedy 500 Days of Summer that seemed to make the biggest impression on audiences, complete with a standing ovation during its debut screening. Look for it in theatres on July 24. “Sundance to me has always been a land of milk and honey,” said the film’s lead actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt in an on camera interview with EW.com. “To come here, and have something that I’ve done be so well received…it meant the world to me.” While you may not have been able to make it to Park City, Utah for the festivities, a joint venture with Apple made it possible for millions to view a handful of the featured films via iTunes downloads for free – possibly the largest innovation in the festival this year. “We are thrilled to be able Normally, I’m not the kind of girl who enjoys watching backto-back chick flicks; however, preparing for this article was not only fun, but it was a great experience to expose myself to several films which I have never had the chance to see before. My journey through the 14 best Valentines Day movies has taken me from days of old Hollywood glamour to love in its present day, showing me an entire spectrum of love and its adaptation to our unique and ever changing standards of love, life, relationships, and the human condition. Without further adieu, I give you, in no particular order, the 14 best Valentines Day movies – films that can be enjoyed either with or without a special someone: When Harry Met Sally: As one of my favorite films of all time, this flick is sure to delight couples and best friends alike. Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan shine in this 80’s film about how friendship can turn into something more. Love Actually: Even though Love Actually is set during the Christmas season, it’s incredibly appropriate as a feel-good movie no matter what the time of year. Outlining an interconnected web of love stories in the UK, Love Actually sparkles with wit, romance, and a touch of humor. French Kiss: Starring Kevin Kline and Meg Ryan, French Kiss is a tale of a jilted woman looking to steal her beau back from a Parisian beauty, but meets and falls in love with an odd yet charming French thief long the way. Amelie: An indie and foreign favorite, Amelie is the story of a French woman who just wants to make the world a better place. By performing random acts of kindness for strangers, Amelia comes to realize that in order to be really happy, she has to make her own world a better place by pursuing a mysterious man who collects photographs. Vicky Cristina Barcelona: This is one of my favorite films of 2008. This Woody Allen film is set on a whirlwind trip to Spain, where two visiting students become wrapped up in a passionately quirky relationship with a mysterious artist named Juan Antonio. Supporting actress Penelope Cruz is simply fabulous as Juan Antonio’s ex-wife. Down with Love: If you’re a cynic when it comes to love, I highly recommend this romantic comedy starring Rene Zellweger and Ewan McGregor. Designed to mirror and mock the romantic culture of the 1960’s, Down With Love is filled with innuendo and sarcasm. 10 Things I Hate About You: Remember what love was like in high school? This film, starring the late Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles, takes you through the ups and downs, bets and betterments of a group of students just before the senior prom. Pride & Prejudice: Based on the novel by Jane Austen, this classic romance stars Keira Knightley and Matthew MacFadyen as Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy in this wonderfully dramatic and strikingly beautiful portrayal of love and marriage during the early 19th century. Sabrina: Avoid the remake starring Harrison Ford at all costs. The original film, featuring old Hollywood greats Humphrey Bogart and Audrey Hepburn, details the story of a chauffeur’s daughter all-grown-up who finally catches the attention of two brothers her father serves. Continued on Page 18 Photo Credit: www.sundanceresort.com to highlight a selection of short films from this year’s program free online on the iTunes Store for those who can’t make it to the Festival,” said Trevor Groth, Sundance Film Festival Senior Programmer in a recent interview. “The 10/10 films offer a sample of the diversity and originality of the 2009 Sundance Film Festival shorts program.” From January 15 to January 25, iTunes offered ten hyped shorts from Sundance: Acting for the Camera, Countertransference, HUG, Field Notes From Dimension X: Oasis, From Burger It Came, I Live In The Woods, Instead of Abracadabra, James, Magnetic Movie, and This Way Up. This bold move by both Sundance and iTunes could become a new trend in the spread of independent film to the masses. The Sundance Film Festival is the premier showcase for U.S. and international independent film, held each January in and around Park City, Utah. Presenting approximately 120 dramatic and documentary feature-length films in seven distinct categories and between 60 and 80 short films each year, the Sundance Film Festival has introduced American audiences to some of the most groundbreaking films of the past two decades. The festival is sponsored by the Sundance Institute; a notfor-profit organization that fosters “the development of original storytelling in film and theatre” and was founded by actor Robert Redford in 1981. Internationally, the institute is recognized for its artistic development programs for directors, screenwriters, producers, film composers, playwrights and theatre artists. Nine thousand films were considered for the coveted 120 spots in 2009, which marked the 25th anniversary of the festival. Roughly 1585 volunteers were celebrated for their help in keeping the machine running for ten straight days without a hitch, despite the excitement of the mid-festival inauguration of President Obama. To those who make Sundance so successful– congratulations and see you next year. < February 2009 Five Ways to Improve Your Writing Skills By Mandy Boyle Entertainment Editor & Advertising Sales Manager It’s true – even the greatest of writers have their moments of weakness. Writing, like other art forms, can be challenging to do well, especially when you have a passion for it. Let’s face it. There are few things as intimidating as the blinding white of a blank page. To boost your confidence and hone your skills, here are five easy tips for you to try on your next adventure with the written word. If you’re looking for more ways to improve your skills, I’d suggest paying a visit to Copyblogger. com, a blog for frequent writers. Oftentimes, working writers like Sean Platt write guest posts on ways to combat writers block, the difficulty of finding inspiration, and creating a technique that’s all your own. Back to the tips – enjoy! Thou Shalt Not Be Wordy It doesn’t have to be the most magnificent expression your pen has ever writ, but it does have to be good writing. Wordiness is a trap that many writers fall into when feeling insure about the work. While using long words and stringing together adverbs may seem like a good idea, in the end it ruins the entire flow of what you’re working on. Sometimes it helps to be blunt and say exactly what’s on your mind, without having to be poetic (unless of course you’re writing poetry.) Listen to Feedback This is one of the most valuable skills you’ll ever learn. Listening to feedback allows for you to improve your writing skills. Though criticism can be hard to accept at first, it’s an invaluable tool. Start sharing your writing with others and see how they feel about it. Are you missing grammatical errors? Is your tone too stiff? How’s the length? Remember, a writer can’t ever reach his or her potential without being willing to share. Practice Makes Perfect Write often! This is quite possibly one of the easiest ways to gain confidence in your abilities as a writer. The more you write, the better you will become. It’s that simple. Part of it is because you’re putting your skills to work. Another part is that you are showing a commitment to your work, which can boost your confidence. Study Up If you’re writing anything from a news story to a blog post to a paper for a class, make sure your facts are well-researched. Having confidence in your information can lead to a higher comfort level in what you are writing. Not to mention, it raises your credibility and is good ethical practice. Research your topics before you unleash your pen. Reading is Key It’s true, good readers are often good writers. The more you read, the more likely your mind is to develop ideas using words – so get those pages turning. It helps to see an issue from all sides, so try to open up to new styles or avenues of writing. If you’re a poetry person, try some nonfiction. If you’re a newspaper reader, try a novel. You’ll also find that a new type of reading can help influence your own style of writing. < The Dark Tower Series Reviewed By Rob Suski Staff Writer bring you into the story. The story of The Dark Tower spans seven books and is about Roland of Gilead, the last Gunslinger on his quest for the Dark Tower. We find Roland in the midst of his quest, chasing the mysterious man in black in the One of my biggest rules about reading is, read books you want to read, but avoid books that you have to read simply because a book shouldn’t have to be read, but if a book catches your fancy, even if it’s about calculus, by all means pick it up and give it a shot. You never know what’s going to happen. I say this because that’s precisely what happened to me while reading The Dark Tower series. I picked up the first book by chance and six months later I closed the cover of the final book to an interesting and Photo Credit: www.stephenking.com imaginative fantasy series by Stephen King. There are things I like middle of a desert in the first book, about King and there are things I The Gunslinger, and through the don’t like. King can really set the first book we learn more about scene in a story to give the reader him and why he is on this quest a clear picture, but in doing so, for the tower. As a character, to quote a friend of mine, “With Roland first appears as a Clint King, it takes a horse two hours Eastwood meets John Wayne type to take a drink of water.” This of character, the lone ranger who gives a decent synopsis of The comes into town who everyone Dark Towers pacing as a series. stays away from. But as the story It’s slow paced at times but when progresses we learn more about it does catch you, it really does him. Some things that we may not want to learn, specifically that for him the tower is everything and that he doesn’t care if he has to sacrifice everyone he’s known to get there, and that his intentions for reaching the tower aren’t grand or noble, simply to climb its top and see what is in the final room. It would be a long article if I were to review each book so for the sake of brevity, that ever present soul of wit, the best books of the series in my opinion are the first book, The G u n s l i n g e r, and the last book itself, The Dark Tower. I view these as the best because the first book really sets the stage for the story, it brings readers into Roland’s world, and while the last book may not have the greatest of endings, it has an ending that makes the reader truly appreciate the story. As for the rest of the books and my opinion on them, the second book, The Drawing Of The Three, is certainly interesting in that we meet the rest of the main cast of the story, Eddie, a heroin Photo submitted by: Nathan Bradley Midsummer in Midwinter By Nathan Bradley Publicity On February 20 and 21, the Communication Arts Department will proudly present William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. However, since it is February, the actors will be trading their traditional summer attire for fur coats and scarves. A Midsummer Night’s Dream intertwines the stories of four lovers, six rough mechanicals, and a group of supernatural fairies in the woods. The lovers run into the woods where their love is put to the test by love potion that is applied to their eyes by the King of the Fairies and the mischievous Puck. As the lovers run about the woods in confusion over who loves whom, a group of rough mechanicals rehearse for a play that they will perform on the Duke’s wedding night. One member of this troupe, Nick Bottom, is given the head of an ass before becoming the object of the Fairy Queen’s affections. She is also under the influence of the love potion. The guest director, Ann Brady, jokingly suggested setting the play in winter since that is addict from New York in 1987 and Odetta Walker, a schizophrenic civil rights activist also from New York but from 1964. The third book, The Wastelands, is perhaps the most frustrating in the series as the book ends on a cliffhanger with Roland and his group having a contest for their very lives with a psychotic computer program named Blaine. The fourth book, Wizard And Glass, takes a step back in time and we learn more about Roland such as why he’s on the quest for the Dark Tower along with the people in his life when he was younger including his lost love, Susan Delgado. The fifth book, Wolves Of The Calla, makes for a great mystery novel where the group comes upon a town dominated by twins but in every generation one of the twins is kidnapped only to return “roont.” In the sixth book, Song of Susana, Roland and his group get separated as they travel to our world and meet a certain writer who is more than he knows. What I also enjoyed about The Dark Tower series is that when it will be performed, and it quickly became the concept. It is even justified by the script. In the Folger Shakespeare Library script, the Fairy Queen, Titania says, “The spring, the summer,/ The childing autumn, angry winter, change/ Their wonted liveries, and the mazèd world/ By their increase knows not which is which”(2.1). In other words, the seasons are all mixed up. Brady has studied directly under Kristen Linklater and is, therefore, a master in her style of acting. Focusing on their voices, the actors approach the text in a new way. Matt Clark, a freshman theatre major who will play Francis Flute in the play, says “it’s very different from anything we’ve ever done before.” The director uses many exercises to help the actors move on impulses and learn their lines by associating images with the text. A Midsummer Night’s Dream will be performed February 20 at 7:30pm and February 21 at 7:30pm in the Sette-LaVerghetta Center for the Performing Arts. For ticket information, please email marywoodplayers@ gmail.com. < King worked on it for a long time- nearly 30 years. King made the novels into an umbrella series where other books he wrote related to it in some way. References to the Dark Tower are made and characters from different novels appear in the main series, such as Ted Brautigan from Hearts in Atlantis to the priest Pete Callahan from Salem’s Lot. These other stories get referenced in The Dark Tower series but don’t go into much detail. This lets the reader decide if they want to find out about the other stories by reading the various King novels. What a good ploy by King to get readers. < Interested in writing for The Wood Word? Contact us at thewoodword@m.marywood.edu MARYWOOD UNIVERSITY CAREER SERVICES RECRUITING SCHEDULE SPRING 2009 COMPANY NAME DATE Northwestern Mutual Financial Network Feb 17 2009 New York Life Feb 18 2009 Baltimore County Schools—Special Education Recruitment Fair Feb 27 2009 Deluxe Digital Studios Feb 27 2009 Madison County Virginia Public Schools Feb 28 2009 Disney Theme Part and Resorts College Program Mar 18 2009 POSITIONS RECRUITING Full-time positions - Financial Rep Internships Sales Agent Special Education, Speech Pathology, Physical Therapists, Teachers of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Sign Language Interpreters Subtitle Quality Control/ Japanese Translator Teacher Recruitment Fair for Shenandoah Valley, Virginia Basic and Professional Internships Residential Program Workers, Spec. Support Staff, Comm. Support Spec. Step-By-Step Mar 18 2009 Prudential Retirement Mar 19 2009 Marc 19 2009 Theraplay Inc. Full-time, part-time, internships are located in the following locations: • Scranton, PA • Clarks Summit, PA • Archbald, PA • Wilkes Barre, PA Customer Service Representative (Professional) Speech Therapist/Clinical Fellowship 348-6247 or Visit www.marywood.edu/careerservices February 2009 Cross-Cultural Lessons: Service in Guatemala By Katelin Haley, Amy Kluck, Samantha Breiner, and Mary Moskwa Nine students and three chaperones traveled to Guatemala over Christmas break to serve side by side with the people of Guatemala and experience their culture. The students traveled to the San Lucas Mission on Lake Atitlan in the mountainous region of Guatemala. Four days of the trip were spent experiencing the culture and four days we spent participating in side-by side service with the people of San Lucas. The cultural experiences involved traveling to Chichicastenano, the site of a colorful marketplace that has made the list of “Top 100 places to see before you die”. Another site of interest was Santiago Atitlan, the site of the martyrdom of Father Stan Rother, a priest from the United States that was serving in Guatemala during the civil war and was killed for supporting the indigenous peoples. The participants in the trip learned about the difficult history of the people of Guatemala, but were also inspired by their resolution to improve their lives. the entire experience, all the fears and anxieties were wiped away with tears of happiness, for the experience and tears filled with hope for the people of Guatemala. It was so amazing that it is hard to explain in words.” “They didn’t rely on telephones or the Internet. They didn’t live each day looking at their planners. They didn’t use machines to do their work. The people of Guatemala depended on each other. That is a lesson that I have brought back to the States. We don’t acknowledge people. We acknowledge time and technology. Maybe it is time that we recognize the people walking beside us.” Participant Amy Kluck, a graduate student in the social work program shared her thoughts on the experience: “I started the trip crying and ended the trip crying. I began my journey to Guatemala scared of the unknown and with many anxieties of what it was going to be like, how the people were going to be and what we were going to do. Throughout Samantha Breiner, senior nutrition major and veteran service trip participant, experienced the trip in a different way than her past service experiences, “The international trip to Guatemala was similar to other national service trips I have been on because we completed several service projects, such as setting up a library, working at a clinic and painting a school. The trip was different, however, because we completed those service projects in an altogether new environment. Not only did people in Guatemala communicate differently than we did by speaking Spanish, they also went about their daily lives differently--working, eating, praying, etc. --according to their culture.” Mary Moskwa, senior elementary education major, brought home some very valuable lessons, “we saw the process of poverty where we were however I looked at those people and saw that they were truly rich. They didn’t rely on telephones or the Internet. They didn’t live each day looking at their planners. They didn’t use machines to do their work. The people of Guatemala depended on each other. That is a lesson that I have brought back to the States. We don’t acknowledge people. We acknowledge time and technology. Maybe it is time that we recognize the people walking beside us.” < ONE is a Lonely Number, So Join a Group! Self-Esteem Enhancement Program This 5-week program is designed to increase understanding and awareness of self-esteem. Participants will have the opportunity to assess their self-esteem, and learn how to work on those issues. Your Perfect Right To Assertiveness Participants will be able to identify their own patterns of communication and practice improving their skills of assertiveness to use in a variety of settings. Learn how to stand up for yourself, express yourself and be heard! Wellness Group Students try out their Spanish skills with children in Guatemala Photo Credit: Katelin Haley Students learn the origins of their daily cup of joe at San Lucas coffee fields. Photo Credit: Katelin Haley Are you managing your life or is your life managing you? This group will be focusing on improving the action plan you have for managing your life. Bereavement Group Are you suffering from a loss? Would you like to meet others who are experiencing the same feelings? We would like to meet you and provide a place where you can meet people to connect to for support and friendship. Marywood volunteers organize the library in the school at San Lucas and discover some of their own favorite books. Photo Credit: Katelin Haley If you are interested in finding out more about these Groups or others being offered by the Counseling/Student Development Center, Please call at 348-6245 or stop by the center located in McGowan 1017. February 2009 March for Life “It was inspiring to see hundreds of thousands of people celebrating life.” By Victoria Clarizio Staff Writer On Thursday, January 22, S.O.U.L. (Students Organized to Uphold Life), Marywood’s Pro-Life club, joined one million others for the 36th annual March for Life in Washington D.C., but their participation in the March actually began the night before. The Marywood Students joined high school students from the youth groups of St. Jude, Corpus Christi and Epiphany Parishes. They traveled to St. Pallotti high school in Laurel, Maryland to participate in their Locked in for Life program. The program included a prayer service and a performance by Catholic artist Matt Maher. Early Thursday morning the group traveled to the Verizon Center in Washington D.C. for a youth rally and mass prior to participating in the March. S.O.U.L. member Emily says, “It was inspiring to see so many young people gathered together.” In fact there were over 30,000 people at the youth rally, a truly inspiring and powerful sight. Fr. Brian Van Fossen, Chaplain of Marywood University, saw the youth rally as “a handing on” and was glad to see that “the youth are taking over the leadership” in this fight. The March for Life began in 1974 as a response to the supreme court case Roe v. Wade in which it was decided that a woman can abort her pregnancy up until the point that the child could live outside the womb, which was determined to be about 28 weeks, or 7 months. From the beginning the March has been focused on the reversal of this decision, but this year everyone was marching for an additional cause. In 2007, FOCA, the Freedom of Choice Act, was introduced. The core of this act states, “[i]t is the policy of the United States that every woman has the fundamental right to choose to bear a child, to terminate a pregnancy prior to fetal viability, or to terminate a pregnancy after fetal viability when necessary to protect the life or health of the woman.” If this act is implemented states and local governments will no longer have the authority to create abortion laws. Essentially the act would remove any previous limitations on when and if abortions can be performs. In fact. under FOCA a doctor can actually be sued if they refuse to perform an abortion. For members of the pro-life movement this is very disheartening and invalidates the progress of the last forty years. With the inauguration of a new president a mere two days before the March, it made a powerful and peaceful statement. S.O.U.L member Kelsey Knight thought, “It was extremely powerful to see that many people who were willing to show their support for the pro-life movement.” Colleen Dunn, president of the club also thought it was, “inspiring to see hundreds of thousands of people celebrating life.” All the attendants of the March for Life surely hoped that all the leaders of our country were as inspired by their courage to stand up for this cause. < Photo Credit: marchforlife.org. Students from Marywood’s S.O.U.L. joined one million others for this 36th annual event. Faculty Follies By Katelin Haley Peace and Justice Editor On February 15th from 4:307pm, Marywood will be hosting their own version of the popular TV show “American Idol” by showcasing the talents of faculty members. Attendees can be entertained by performances from Marywood’s own Dr. Ray Heath, Dr. Peter Cimbolic, Sr. Maria Rose Kelly, and Fr. Brian Van Fossen, to name a few. The performances will be judged based upon audience applause and judge commentary from three guest judges, including Sr. Anne Munley, President of Marywood University. The audience will be entertained and provided dinner as well as have the opportunity to support the service trips by purchasing fair trade chocolate, coffee, and t-shirts. Tickets were available for pre-sale or can be purchased at the door for $10 for adults, $5 for children under 12, $5 for students without a meal plan, and $2 for students with a meal plan. Come vote for the talented faculty of Marywood University and support the national and international service trip program! < The Autobots vs. Decepticons By Charles Fisher Staff Writer I like the Transformers. You know, the animated Japanese robots that can transform from 1968 Cameros to sixty foot tall, gun toting, mechanisms of destruction! Aside from the robotic coolness, the underlying story of the Transformers involves a seemingly endless struggle between the good guys, the Autobots, and the bad guys, the Decepticons. These two races of robots battle for control of their home world Cybertron and do some of the fighting on planet Earth. I like this war because I, like every fifth grader in America and Japan, always know who to root for: the Autobots! The Autobots always fight with honor and dignity and value human life while the Decepticons disregard human life and only fight for their own selfish interests. This clear cut distinction between good and evil is something that rarely exists in our modern world and is an obvious example of “art not imitating life.” The conflict in the recent weeks between Israel and Gaza exemplifies this point. I DON’T KNOW WHO TO ROOT FOR!!! I see the Decepticons on both sides! Like the Autobots and Decepticons, Israel and Hamas are locked in pitched mortal combat. In 2006, the terrorist group Hamas won elections in the Palestinian territories and took a majority of seats in the Palestinian Parliament. A brief civil war followed between Hamas and the moderate Fatah movement which saw Fatah’s defeat and excision from power in Gaza. In early 2008, Israel launched an air and ground campaign against Gaza to stop rocket attacks that were targeting southern Israeli towns and inflicting civilian casualties. Direct fighting ended in mid spring 2008 and a six month ceasefire was negotiated by the Egyptians which began on June 19. This ceasefire was to last for meant for kidnapping Israeli soldiers. Hamas rocket attacks began picking up in intensity. The ceasefire was not extended past December 19 and as the rocket attacks escalated the Israelis amassed troops along the Gazan border and began a bombing campaign against Hamas targets. Israeli troops invaded on January 3, 2009 and began fighting in the densely populated territory. Temporary ceasefires were permitted so that humanitarian aid could reach the warring combatants despite letters I have sent to their Headquarters asking for them to do so) have been committing acts that essentially amount to war crimes. Hamas launched its attacks from civilian areas hoping to use the civilians as human shields but Decepticons in Israel struck these areas anyway killing civilians. Israeli Decepticons also bombed police stations, mosques, government buildings, and residences of Hamas leaders. “This clear cut distinction between good and evil is something that rarely exists in our modern world and is an obvious example of ‘art not imitating life.’” until December 19 when it was hoped to be extended. Stipulations for the ceasefire included: Hamas stopping all rocket attacks on Israel and Israel fully opening the Gazan borders which it had sealed following Hamas’s rise to power in the territory. Neither side fulfilled these obligations. Although rocket launches sharply decreased they still continued and although Israel partially opened the Gazan borders they were still only opened part way. Israel and Hamas blamed each other for their own noncompliance and tensions started to rise. On November 4, 2008 Israel attacked several tunnels being dug out of Gaza killing six Palestinians. Hamas claimed the tunnels were for self defense while Israel said they were civilians but aside from this, the fighting continued until January 17th when Israel called a ceasefire and began removing its forces with the final troops exiting Gaza on January 21st. In the wake of this conflict, my sense of “rooting” for the good guys has fallen apart. Hamas and Israel pledge to protect and respect human life, a very Autobot-like thing to do. However launching rockets at Israeli civilians and air striking buildings in densely populated Gazan neighborhoods puts human life in danger and is something the evil Megatron would do. The Decepticons on the Israeli and Hamas side (the UN won’t officially use the word “Decepticon” when describing However, in an Autobot-like gesture, before many of the attacks Israel dropped leaflets or dummy bombs on the target in a tactic called “knocking on the roof” to warn the occupants to flee. Israel also used white phosphorus when attacking Gaza which burns with incredible intensity and is very difficult to extinguish. White phosphorus artillery shells are believed to have exploded over several civilian areas including a refugee camp and a school. These weapons cause severe burns and are outlawed by international law for use against civilians, but Israel countered by claiming white phosphorus was only used for creating smoke screens, which is legal under international law. The fighting in Gaza amounts to war crimes and terrorism. Where are the Autobots? Where are the heroes? Both sides cry out that they are the righteous space robots but how can you call yourself righteous when your laser blaster cannons are killing innocence? America has funded and armed Israel for decades and the Arab world has done the same for Hamas making us and many other nations culpable for these crimes. So what should be done? Well if I really knew I’d be rich enough to build my own fleet of space robots. What I do know is that the answer is not a simple one and it won’t be an easy one either. Asking for peace and respect in this region is like asking for tofu at McDonald’s. America has a responsibility to the Gazans as much as the Arab world has a responsibility to Israel. After all, Hamas rockets and Israeli white phosphorus isn’t being manufactured where it’s being used. Unless negotiations are initiated on the international level by cool and objective heads, the Megatrons of the world will get the last laugh. Clear cut good and evil only exists in the land of sixty foot tall mechanical warriors. However this is no excuse for not striving for that ideal. The Autobots and Decepticons will clash in the future, but may be if everyone strived to be on the side of the Autobots then we’d realize how pointless the fight for Cybertron really is. < February 2009 Stations of the Cross By Fr. Brian Van Fossen Chaplain When I was asked to write an article for The Wood Word on Lent and Social Justice I was very excited, and a touch nervous. Two major issues brought together in a succinct article that hopefully will be informative and not boring is not an easy task. I needed time to think and reflect and pray; but as we all know, the world does not provide a great deal of that time. So I prayed for a snow day. And here I am, sitting at my computer, snowing outside and school’s cancelled. Ah, the power of prayer! So when we think of the Season of Lent we may have a certain set of imagines: Mardi Gras, Ash Wednesday, Stations of the Cross, Lenten Meals, no meat Fridays, purple, resolutions (“What did you give up for Lent?”), and the acts of prayer, fasting and alms giving. But why are these things done? What purpose do they serve? Who made these up anyway? Well the story starts at about the second half of the first century ante Dominum (AD). The early Christians were challenged by St. Paul in his letter to Corinth. They were divided with one person following Paul, another Apollos, another Cephas, and others Christ. (1Cor 1:11-13) They were also divided, not only on political realms but also on finances as well. For when these early Christians gathered together for Eucharist some would flaunt their economic gain while others were left to wallow in poverty. (1Cor 11:17-22) St. Paul, St. Peter and the entire Church realized that this is not the way Christ has called us to be. Rather, Christ died so that we can know the love of God and the unity found within that love. This is all found in the Stations of the Cross. When Jesus embraced the cross he embraced all its suffering. He knew full well that this was an instrument of ridicule for the Jews and torture for the Romans. This instrument, however, was also that which unites Him to all of humanity’s suffering. The suffering of ridicule, abandonment, physical, emotional, psychological and yes even spiritual pain were all embraced on that cross. He fell three times on that road to Golgotha. This path of love was not without stops and starts. It was a process of unity not just a single event. Finally, coming to the end of the journey, Jesus demonstrated the fullness of that unity through His death. This was also a process of forgiveness. For the unity which Christ espoused was a unity for His enemies as well. In the context of social justice we do not fight – we embrace. We embrace the sufferings of others as our own. Through this loving embrace we share their suffering and help to carry their cross, just as Simon from Cyrene. Simon did not take over Jesus’ cross; rather, he helped to carry it. Through this loving embrace we comfort those who suffer. In a world that dismisses the poor, that divides love, that kills the vulnerable, we reach out as Veronica did and demonstrate love in the face of adversity. We travel this path, not alone, but as a family. Demonstrated by the presence of Mary, the Mother of God, and the women and children of Jerusalem, the suffering of one person is a suffering of a family of persons. Finally, through this loving embrace we share the pain of death for those who die from hunger, lack of shelter, lack of medical care, abortion, euthanasia, war and so many atrocities again human life. We do not die. We LIVE to share the story and to forgive. We do not eat meat on Fridays throughout the year, but especially during Lent, to share with those who cannot afford meat. We celebrate Mardi Gras, St. Patrick’s Day, St. Joseph’s Day and other celebrations to provide hope that we are not destined for death and suffering but for life, love and family. We come for ashes on Ash Wednesday, wear purple, and celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation realizing that we sometimes add to the sufferings of life through our actions or our lack of actions. We give alms, give up something that we really do not need for Lent, fast from foods, drinks and behaviors and share in Lenten Meals so that we realize that it is not the things of life that matter but the people. We pray, whether daily prayer, celebrating the Holy Mass, reading Scripture, praying the Rosary or Divine Mercy, because we realize that we cannot do any major change by our own power. Rather, it is through the cross of Christ that the world is united under an act of unselfish love. We follow the Stations of the Cross so that we may not forget the cost of the love and unity which brings the world together. When we were in grade school we learned to look for the lowest common denominator in a mathematical equation. In life we look for the lowest common denominator among humanity to see where we start. “The greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like one who serves.” (Lk 22:26) Why do we start there? For when we start at the least among us, we are then able to climb the hill of Calvary together in order for the entire world to approach that resurrection. A Happy, Blessed and Fruit-filled Lent! < Finegan, Asst. Chief of Security “I look forward to overseeing the Safety and Security Department, and I look forward to continuing to serve the Marywood community. I feel fortunate that I was able to serve under Chief Joe Ross for the past six-and-a-half years. I feel that that experience has given me the foundation to be successful.” -Mike Finegan February 2009 Spring Fashion Trends Photo Credit: glamour.com By Kim Del Valle Staff Writer Its that time of the year again when designers are releasing their latest trends on the runway. From prints to accents, these are what you’ll see hitting the stores. You’ll need a sophisticated trench coat during the upcoming rainy months. The style has been lengthened and is made out of silk and satin materials. Jean jackets and blazers are shoved to the back of the closet as the cropped military jacket returns for this spring’s fashion trends. The style has a sharply tailored fit and the classic embellishment on the front. Wide-leg and skinny jeans are retiring because of relax-fit pants. You can chill out in these bottoms that are roomy in the hips and tapers right above the ankles. Pastel suits are replacing bland black or gray pantsuits. Soft pastel shades were used for a sophisticated look for the office, as shown in Erin Fetherston’s and other’s collections. Cropped cuts and vivid colors with the ’80s flair were introduced in Alexander Wang’s designs. Create an updated look by pairing a hot pink jacket with jeans. A colorful, breezy dress, beaded necklace, and lace-up flat sandals create the look of the embellished boho. This laid-back neo-hippie style has been seen on the runways of Anna Sui and Diane von Furstenberg. Black-on-white print makes for a fresh, graphic statement. Designers like Oscar de la Renta featured many dresses with black stripes on a white background in his show. Michael Kors is making a statement by creating mix-andmatch patterns. But by using the same hues, you can pull off this style without looking crazy. Color-block prints are being used instead of floral prints this year. Shades that complement each other create a bold look. Sequins are making a statement on daywear in Diane von Furstenberg’s runway. These glittering accents on cardigans, shorts and dresses can play a double role as accessories. Zippers are being added to even the simplest pieces of clothing. Designers worked them into lacy or romantic tops or bottoms to have a city, edgy look. Say goodbye to 2008’s white cobalt blue. This year, magenta is making a scene in designers like Doo.Ri and Adam Lippes’ collections. Even if you’re not a fan of pink, this shade flatters every skin tone. This season on the runway, there has been touches of neon. Subtle flashes of neon were incorporated into Isaac Mizrahi’s show and gave off a style that is fresh and modern. Any outfit can be complete with an oversize necklace. Bold, glittering ones were the highlight on every model in Vera Wang’s runway. Marc Jacobs has introduced his exotic layered-on collection. But one of the simplest ways to get this look is to put on a couple of big bangles. Oversize pattern bags with lively, colorful prints are making a bold statement with matching sundresses. These appeared on models on the Miss Sixty show.< Are New Year’s Resolutions a Waste of Time? By Marie Fitzsimmons Outlook Editor A new year, a new beginning! Right before January 1st many of us think about what we want to accomplish or change during the next year. Some of us will want to change our bad habits and lose weight, exercise more or stop smoking. Basically we want to become healthier, happier and better individuals. Those are just some of the common yearly resolutions that are made. But resolutions can vary extremely depending on the person. Making resolutions each New Year has become a yearly tradition and ritual for most people. It’s a new start and it gives us hope which we should use as inspiration. Especially this year, our whole country is going through a time of change with the inauguration of a new president. Why not become a part of it? Although most people’s resolutions fade out by February, it doesn’t mean you should lose faith or not bother making a resolution at all. This year can be different as long as you stay committed to your resolution. Even if you already gave up on your resolution there is still time to get back on track. No matter what time of year it is we all have the ability to change. As long as we stay positive and we have confidence in ourselves we can do anything. It’s going to be hard and troublesome but once we break our bad habits it will all be worth it in the end. First we must set realistic goals and be specific about our resolution. A good way not to forget about your resolution is to write it down on a big piece of paper and tape it to the wall or mirror. This will help remind you everyday and it will also encourage you. We need to be ready for the challenge and reward ourselves when we reach our goal. Ask for support from friends and family they may have similar goals and you can work on them together. It’s hard doing it on your own. We can not make excuses or give into temptation. Willpower is not always enough. In order to achieve your goals you have to stay strong and believe in yourself. Don’t give up and never abandon your resolutions because one year you might just succeed! Although it takes a lot of sacrifices it will allow you to become the person you want to be. 2009 can be the year! It’s not too late! < What’s your view? Write to us at thewoodword@m.marywood.edu We welcome and encourage Letters to the Editor Still Easy Being Green By Amanda Toth Editor-in-Chief Back again from last semester, here are more tips on how to live a greener life. The Wood Word hopes that these tips will be helpful to you and that you are able to use them in everyday life. 1.) Buy CFL light bulbs. Compact fluorescent light bulbs are initially more expensive than regular light bulbs, but since they last longer, you won’t have to keep spending money on new bulbs. Light from CFL bulbs is softer and more environmentally friendly than normal overhead fluorescent lighting. 2.) Think green, buy green. Buy recycled products, including paper. Some manufacturers now make environmentally friendly cleaning products as well. They make cost more, but the longterm benefits are well worth it. 3.) Refill those water bottles! How many water bottles do you use each week? What do you do with them when they’re empty? Chances are, you throw them out. Refill a bottle and keep it for several weeks before replacing it with a new one. Many stores sell attractive refillable water bottles as alternatives to plastic recyclable ones. This also works well for coffee—Ritazza sells reusable coffee mugs. 4.) Use binders instead of notebooks. Instead of buying spiralbound notebooks, buy binders and fill them with the recycled paper you buy. If you want to keep your notes after the semester, take them out and staple them together. Or, keep your notes on your computer or on a flash drive. 5.) Use canvas, not plastic! Instead of taking plastic bags every time you go to Giant or Wal-Mart, try buying a canvass one that can be reused. Some retailers have begun to charge for plastic bags, so invest in a bag that will last a long time. Giant sells canvass bags for as low as 99 cents. Victoria’s Secret PINK line includes sturdy canvass bags that are also great for this purpose. Tips courtesy of: http://collegeuniversity.suite101.com Does Martin Luther King Mean Off for All? By Katie LaDue Staff Writer This question has been asked many times and this article answers the question on whether or not students at our University should have Martin Luther King Day off. This may also provide an explanation for others. When it comes to the ethics of this issue it is way too complicated and controversial to cover. Therefore it seems better to just provide the government’s stance on this issue. As many of you may have noticed January 19th was Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday and you may also have noticed that Marywood students did not receive this day off from classes. Most people believe that because this day is considered a national holiday that everyone in the country is entitled to have this day off but this is not the case. Federal law (5 U.S.C. 6103) states that this day and others like it including Christmas, New Years Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Independence Day, Washington’s Birthday, Thanksgiving Day, Veteran’s Day, and Columbus Day should be treated as paid vacation or leave days for any and all Federal employees. This does not apply to students because they are not federal employees and also because our University is a private establishment. This means they don’t have to give the students or any of the staff members these days off. Private establishments are not regulated by the government so they do not have to follow many of the restrictions most students are used to from attending public schools as young children. So this may have come as a shock to many but the school is completely within its rights to not give this day off. < February 2009 Following President Obama’s Inauguration, The Wood Word spoke with several Marywood students about their thoughts. “I watched some of it. I think that Aretha Franklin was pretty bad. I also don’t know why Fall Out Boy was there.” -Dan Miller “I watched some of it. I thought it was okay and not too over-the-top. They had a good turn out. I think people were receptive to him in general and the inauguration.” -Noreen McKernan “The whole thing in general was really built up and overblown. I feel if it were McCain that got elected, it would be just another inauguration, like George Bush’s. I feel like Obama is more a celebrity than our nation’s leader and I think that’s where a problem will lie. Only the future will tell what will happen. I did listen to part of his speech. He’s a charismatic guy, but it’s hard to go off what he said to see what he will do.” -Cassie Scannella INAUGURATION SUMMARIZATION By Amanda Toth Editor-in-Chief 17 “I was really impressed by the amount of student involvement. This was the first inauguration that I’ve ever watched and I have to say it was pretty i ncredible. I thought it was great to see fellow classmates hugging and smiling and clapping as history was being made.” -Mandy Boyle “I think that it was pretty historic and relieving considering that we did so much work for the campaign and internship. It was just a very emotional day for me, personally, because this country is in dire need of help and a strong leader. Overall, it was just very rewarding and I wish the best for our new President and Vice President and I have complete faith they will turn this country around.” -Dana Fortunato “I did watch it. I definitely enjoyed it. I really thought every aspect was wonderful except the poet. However, I am anxious to see what our new President has to offer and I have total faith that things will change because, “Yes, we did!” -Carolyn Ruggerio February 2009 Valentine’s Movies, Continued The Painted Veil: Although sad, The Painted Veil is a beautiful love story set in China during a cholera epidemic. Edward Norton and Naomi Watts both deliver moving performances of a troubled married couple who find love again, despite being surrounded by death at every turn. Not for the faint of heart. The Wedding Planner: I’m not much of a Jennifer Lopez fan, but I will give her credit for her performance alongside Matthew McConaughey in this fun and light hearted romantic comedy about a wedding that didn’t go quite exactly as planned. The Philadelphia Story: Katharine Hepburn, Jimmy Stewart, and Cary Grant delight in this romantic comedy about a bold, powerful woman and her relationship with a reporter and her ex husband at a time when she should be thinking about her recent engagement. A Life Less Ordinary: A little bit odd but wonderfully imaginative, A Life Less Ordinary shows you what happens when angels get involved with the intricacies of love. Ewan McGregor and Cameron Diaz star as polar opposites who end up being each other’s “perfect love” after some divine intervention. The Illusionist: Guys and girls can both appreciate the magic that goes into The Illusionist. This film, set in Europe before World War I, showcases the talents of Edward Norton, Jessica Biel, and Paul Giamatti in a tale of a magician and his love for a childhood sweetheart, who has recently become trapped in a dangerous royal engagement. < Celebrate Your Body Wellness Fair Marywood’s Counseling/ Student Development Center and Peers on Wellness will be holding this event on Thursday, February 19, from 11a.m.-2 p.m. in the Fireplace Lounge. The fair will focus on health, well being, positive body image, fitness and personal health. Some of the local businesses participating will be the American Lung Association, UNO Gym, and McCann Massage School. Marywood’s Human Physiology Lab, SOUL Club, Physician’s Assistant Program; Athletics and Recreation, Nutrition and Dietetics, Chartwell’s Dining and the library will also take part in the event. The fair is free and open to the public. Giveaways and refreshments will be provided. For more information, please call (570) 348-6245. Find the Way to Her Heart!