New Gen. Ed. Requirements on the Horizon
Transcription
New Gen. Ed. Requirements on the Horizon
A Semester Up and Away page 4 Harlene Caroline page 3 The Student Voice of Curry College February 2011 New Gen. Ed. Requirements on the Horizon By Erin Powers Facebook Fairy Tale Fake student profile a mystery on campus By Courtney Russo For at least a year, a fake Curry student profile has been lurking online. Actually, she has been hiding in plain sight. Cindy Edna, the mystery person’s alias, currently has close to 800 friends, most being past and present Curry students. None of the students interviewed for this story actually knows Edna; they said they either “friended” her or accepted an invitation to connect because they saw people in her network they knew. However, Edna does not exist in Curry’s e-mail system, either as a current student or alumnus. Rumors quickly began to spread around campus that someone in Public Safety created Edna’s faux profile to look at students’ photos and read their posts to track potential threats and inappropriate behavior. In December 2009, this was the case at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, where a local police officer admitted to using a fake Facebook profile to catch underage drinkers. According to a story in the LaCrosse Tribune, the officer called cyber observation a “necessity” and said “law enforcement has to evolve with technology.” Although most Curry students don’t know CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 A research study released in January showed that college students are not learning how to think critically. According to the study’s author, New York University sociology professor Richard Arum, a large percentage of students complete four years of college with little to no skills in complex reasoning and written communication, which are widely regarded as the foundations of collegiate education. Long before the release of Arum’s study, Curry College had been working on solidifying its foundation, by revamping the entire general education curriculum. John Hill, a professor of politics and history at Curry and the chairman of the general education/central liberal arts curriculum taskforce that has been charged with developing proposed changes, said the process began nearly a year ago and involves multiple stages with campus-wide faculty input through open meetings, surveys and informal discussions. The general education taskforce hopes to have a final model—rooted in three core educational values: intellectual development/active learning; meaningful communication; and personal, social, civic and global responsibility—to present for approval in April or May of this year. “Curry has long seen itself as a liberal arts college with a career focus,” Hill said. “I hope that the result of all this is that the career aspects and liberal arts aspects become one together.” Once a model wins approval from the full faculty, a new taskforce will be formed to plan the implementation of the new curriculum, according to Dorria DiManno, a professor in the communication department and one of the eight faculty members on the current general education taskforce. Students admitted into the college in 2008, 2009 and 2010 would graduate under the requirements of their entry year’s curriculum catalog. CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 Housing Deposit Deadlines Loom Large in March By Erika Kuzmicz The month of March marks the beginning of spring. Excitement is in the air with the prospect of warmer weather, Division 1 college basketball playoffs, and wild trips to the Caribbean. But the month of March can also bring a dose of dread and doom for students wishing to live on campus during the next academic year. The long and stressful wait to find out if you’re lucky enough to get into the residence hall of your choice is enough to send even the most steely-nerved student into the off-campus rental market. Erik Muurisepp, director of residence life and housing, says the most important part of Curry’s housing application process is the deposit deadline. Due by March 25, deposits can now be made online through a credit card—go to the finances tab on MyCurry and click on “housing deposit”—or through the housing office, which also accepts cash and checks. Money aside, many students find the housing process to be confusing. According to Muurisepp, students who pay their deposits are broken into three separate classes: freshmen, sophomores and juniors. Each class list is then randomized, and the resulting ranking is the order in which the lottery numbers are distributed, he says. Seniors get to choose first, then juniors, followed by sophomores. There are 800 on-campus housing slots for returning Curry students. Last year, Muurisepp’s office received 831 on-time housing deposits, he says, meaning some students were forced to rent off campus. “I feel like the housing process is well organized up until the actual night of selection, then it becomes chaos,” says senior nursing major Kimberly DeCosta. Some students say they elected to move off campus this year rather than deal with the hassle of the housing process. “You can really get screwed with a bad lottery number,” says Michael Hibbard, a junior communication major. Muurisepp says that residence staff are planning to control traffic flow better during the nights of housing selection this year by utilizing more of the Student Center for waiting areas and sign-ins. Last year, a large number of students waited around for hours to learn of their housing fates. Students should make sure that they arrive during their specific time slots to assure that they are present when their number is called, he adds. Muurisepp says a campus housing committee, which consists of Karl Green, area coordinator for the North Side, a few of the other residence directors and the residence life staff are exploring a future meritbased lottery system that would be based on academic standing, and transforming the entire process online for more convenience. For more information about on-campus housing, contact reslife@curry.edu or visit the Residence Life office on the second floor of the Student Center. 2 THE CURRIER TIMES FEBRUARY 2011 Campus Life In Search of the Missing Greeks College cites lack of student motivation for the absence of fraternities and sororities By Victor Ng There are no fraternities or sororities at Curry College. Most students know that. What they may not know, however, is that students could start one if they wanted to, according to college officials. Allison Coutts O’Connor, director of the Student Center and student involvement, said she believes that a “lack of student interest” is the reason behind the absence of Greek organizations on campus. If they wanted to, students could start an original fraternity or sorority on campus, or look to bring a chapter of an existing national organization to Curry. For those who regularly complain that the campus is dull and desolate during the weekends due to a lack of activities and nightlife, starting up a Greek organization could help improve the student culture at Curry. William Drake, a senior information technology major, said students likely haven’t tried to start Greek organizations at the college because of the negative connotations they sometimes invoke. “Most people think fraternities and sororities have to do with negative things like drinking and partying,” he said. Despite the stereotype, not all fraternities and sororities are purely social based. Fraternities such as Delta Psi at Brown University, for example, are dedicated to academics and demand that members maintain If Will Ferrell, Luke Wilson and Vince Vaughn could start a fraternity—in the movie “Old a high GPA. Other fraternities School”—why can’t Curry students? According to the college, there is no formal policy that are less focused on GPA but forbids fraternities or sororities on campus. place higher emphasis on University in Greencastle, Ind., for example, has humanitarian activities, such as providing food and community services around the 2,400 undergraduates and counts a total of 24 Greek organizations on its campus. According to O’Connor, university area. Patrick Williamson, a senior graphic design major, it would only take student interest and initiative to said Curry’s relatively small size would likely make it establish a Greek presence at Curry. Founding a new fraternity or sorority at Curry, she hard for Greek life to take root. “Most schools that have explained, requires submitting a proposal to Student fraternities are usually big,” he said. New York University, which has 21,638 Affairs that contains information on the name and undergraduates, boasts 14 fraternities and 11 purpose of the organization, the names of students sororities. Curry has approximately 2,000 traditional who would serve in executive leadership positions, and undergrads. But that doesn’t mean starting a support from alumni. For more information, contact fraternity or sorority at Curry is impossible. DePauw O’Connor at acoutts0106@post03.curry.edu. Alternative Education Students prepare to give back during spring break By Zachary Weiss When most people think about spring break they imagine partying or tanning on a beach. But that’s not the case for all Curry students. Next month, 13 undergrads will be divided into two groups and travel to Georgetown, Del., or Harrisburg, Pa. Cancun, those cities are not, but that’s kind of the point. The Curry students will spend their week off performing various jobs through Habit for Humanity, such as helping with the construction of homes, landscaping, or delivering and sorting food for local homeless shelters. “We could be doing anything and everything,” says Katie Bisson, a junior communication major. Organized through the student-run organization Alternative Spring Break, the service program aims to bring together students who want to spend their spring vacation helping people and communities in need. This is the fifth year Curry has partnered with Habitat for Humanity. Last spring, Curry students worked in either Westchester, N.Y.—and lived out of a church basement— or Harrisburg, Pa. In prior years, the program consisted of students performing community service locally and on campus, working at local parks or in retirement homes. Millard and Linda Fuller founded Habitat for Humanity in 1976. Based in Atlanta, it’s currently a worldwide leader in poverty reduction, helping thousands of low-income families live in and own affordable homes. To date, the organization has built 350,000 homes, which shelter more than 1.75 million people. “No matter where you go, it’s a big eye opener on what’s going on,” says Bisson, who did Alternative Spring Break last year. “With our country, every experience affects you in some way when you come back.” Greg Bresnahan, a senior management major who’s also returning for his second stint with Alternative Spring Break, says the program has broadened his horizons. It’s “being exposed to different environments in different places, definitely a cultural shock,” he says. Each student will contribute a donation of $150. The money will be used to buy supplies and rent student housing. Curry’s Student Activities office pays for the students’ meals. In addition to giving back to society, ASB is a great way to socialize and make new friends, students say. Curry currently doesn’t give students academic credit for participating in Alternative Spring Break. The students interviewed for this story say they prefer it that way. Caressa Kislus, a Curry alum and the coordinator of student activities at Curry, agrees, saying the cultural dynamics of the program would change if academic credits were awarded for giving back to society. Students would no longer participate because they actually believed in helping those less fortunate, she adds. “It comes from your heart,” Kislus says, “because you want to do it.” Ski & Snowboard Club Offers Shuttle Service Curry’s Ski & Snowboard Club recently launched a new shuttle service, bringing students to and from the Blue Hills Ski Area on Route 138 in Canton. The shuttle will run every Tuesday and Thursday, leaving the Student Center at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. It will return to Curry at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. The shuttle is large enough to transport students’ skiing and snowboard equipment. A season pass to the Ski Area costs $99 with a Curry student ID. However, for a much more Mr. Curry Contest Registration for the Mr. Curry Talent Show competition is Friday, March 4. The 10th annual contest includes a talent portion, swim and formal wear, and a questionnaire to be answered by each contestant. The contest will be held April 8 in the Student economical $18, students can purchase night passes to use the slopes from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. There is no cost to ride the shuttle, but you must be a member of the Ski & Snowboard Club, which, according to President Brian Gioia, means attending at least one meeting. The club meets every Monday night at 7 in the Large Meeting Room of the Student Center. For more information, contact Gioia at (603) 998-1999 or bgioia@ curry.edu. By Corey Theodore Center. In year’s past, audience reaction played a large role in judging. For more information, contact the Student Entertainment & Events group or the Student Activities Office, both located in the Student Center. New Plays Festival The 5th annual New Plays Festival is on campus Saturday, March 5 through Monday, March 7 in the Black Box theater in the Academic Performance Center. Each play is student written, performed and directed. Shows start at 7:30 p.m., with an additional 4 p.m. showing on Sunday, March 6. Tickets are $5 for students and faculty; $10 for general admission. For more information, call (617) 333-2259, or go to www.currytheater.com. FEBRUARY 2011 THE CURRIER TIMES 3 Knitting a Community By Nick Ironside Harlene Caroline always made time for her colleagues and students. All it ever took was a simple request. “I was teaching a course last fall that I had never taught before,” says nursing professor Eileen O’Connell. “I stopped Harlene in the hall and just said casually, ‘I’d love to talk with you about how you run this course.’ She spent three hours with me, going over the syllabus, going over the reading, going over the books she liked, going over the various student assignments, and why she felt they were important. She was very dedicated to her job as a professor of nursing.” A nursing professor at Curry since 1978, Caroline passed away in mid-January. She lived in Jamaica Plain, Mass. Caroline, who specialized in teaching about psychology-mental health, received her B.S.N. from Ohio State University and earned her M.S. in psychiatric-mental health nursing from Boston University. O’Connell says Caroline was very interested in holistic care, and was a member of The American Holistic Nurses Association. “She was trained in Reiki, which is part of holistic treatment,” O’Connell says. “It’s treatment through energy sources. “She was a real theorist. An incredibly smart woman,” O’Connell adds. “She loved the abstract process.” Caroline was part of a meditation group outside of Curry and believed deeply in self-reflection, according to colleagues. She encouraged her students to begin almost every class with a moment of silent meditation. “Reflection was always a part of her teaching process,” says O’Connell. Although Curry was a constant in her life for more than three decades, Caroline’s compassion for children and animals was a central part of her personal identity. “We had gone to every kennel and shelter looking for the perfect dog and it just showed her heart, how she was really looking for that dog that she could care for,” says Curry nursing professor Ellie Nugent, recalling Caroline’s search for a four-legged friend some 15 years ago. “Ginger was the dog she finally got. “That was a very important part of her life,” Nugent adds. “She traveled with it, she brought it down to the Cape. She always had it with her.” Caroline was also an avid knitter, who spent countless hours making hats and scarves. “Knitting was a very big part of her life,” Nugent says. A member of “Fiber Camp Boston,” Caroline would even bring her hobby to work. According to a Curry newsletter from April 2007, Caroline got students involved in knitting to benefit teens. She started a Curry Charity Knitting group for students, faculty and staff, who ended up knitting and donating 90 chemo caps to Boston Children’s Hospital. “If you watched her at any meeting, she had great sweaters knit, baby clothes. She was always knitting stuff,” says Nugent. It’s among the many ways President Ken Quigley says he’ll remember Caroline. “I’ll miss seeing her knitting in various meetings,” he says. “She was the first person I saw knitting in meetings, and I think she started a bit of a trend.” But it was at Curry, through her work with students and her interactions with colleagues over a span of three decades, where Caroline’s legacy—and loss— will likely be most acutely felt. O’Connell says that Why the Beef? By Andrew Blom On Jan. 29, an on-campus assault reportedly occurred at Green House. Milton police were called to Curry to investigate, but no arrests were made. It may not have been the most recent fight on campus— although the college is required by law to report more serious offenses, like assault with a weapon, it doesn’t release data on the number of fist fights—and, if history is any indication, it most likely won’t be the last this semester. The numbers of fights between students tend to “fluctuate” each year, according to Erica Humphrey, director of judicial affairs at Curry, with incidents typically increasing in the fall with the arrival of first-year students. Perhaps surprisingly, many fights on campus involve friends or roommates, people in some sort of relationship, rather than complete strangers, she added. “I do not think fighting is acceptable,” said Humphrey, who typically oversees student disciplinary hearings. “Hurting another person is unacceptable within a community.” According to Humphrey, punishments are handed out based on individual circumstances, with penalties ranging from warnings and probation to suspension from the college. The inability of students to deal with their emotions and communicate effectively, along with a lack of concrete oncampus programs to deal with the issue, are seemingly at the root of the problem. “It’s part of people growing up,” Humphrey said. Fighting is the result of “people not having the right ability to express what they are feeling.” Junior communication major Lauren Hawkins, a resident assistant who also works part time with Public Safety, said the punishments for fighting are not harsh enough. “You just get written up and go through the appeal process,” said Hawkins. “Curry should wean out the kids who fight. One fight and you are out.” Humphrey said Residence Life works with first-year students about communication and respect for their community. However, there are no actual programs that currently deal specifically with fighting prevention. Courtesy Photo Nursing professor Harlene Caroline leaves a legacy of care Harlene Caroline, who taught at Curry since 1978, helped the college’s department of nursing develop into one of the top programs in the nation. Caroline’s experience and knowledge of all things Curry was most evident during faculty meetings. At the time of her death, Caroline was chairwoman of Curry’s faculty. “She remembered everything that had happened since 1978,” says O’Connell. “When the discussion came up about the curriculum change, she could tell you what part of the contract that was in, what the wording was. She knew all of the policies in a way that very few people did because she was there as they were being developed. “She was a leader.” A memorial service for Caroline will be held in the Hafer Parent’s Lounge on Sunday, March 6, at 3 p.m. Money Never Sleeps Student financial aid deadline quickly approaches By Molly McCarthy April 15 is approaching, and it’s a date that should be marked on every Curry College student’s calendar. It’s the college’s priority deadline for applying for financial aid. Seventy percent of Curry’s full-time undergraduates receive some type of financial assistance, and students must reapply annually. Financial aid can come in the form of work-study, loans and scholarships. For many students, filling out the financial aid forms can be a confusing and daunting task, especially while carrying a full-time course load. But applying is free and the college offers a number of resources to help guide students and their families through the process. “Students are intimidated by filling out a FAFSA, kind of like when they are intimidated by doing their own taxes,” said Stephanny J. Elias, Curry’s director of student financial services, noting that her office largely exists to help students, and their parents, make better sense of the process. FAFSA, or the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, is managed by the Office of Federal Student Aid and is used to determine how much students and their families could be expected to contribute toward the cost of higher education. Any student interested in receiving financial aid must complete the application. Taryn Vigeant, a freshman nursing major, said she doesn’t get directly involved in the financial planning of her education, as her mother handles the applications and paperwork. Conversely, James Lynch, a senior communication major, said he takes more of a hands-on approach. “I fill it out with some help from my parents,” Lynch said. “I am, however, fully aware of the loan terms, conditions, and options for repayment, and consolidation if you have multiple creditors.” Elias said she encourages students to become more engaged in the financial planning process, as the debt load they incur is typically under their own names. “It is crucial for students to understand the terms of their financial aid, particularly if considering borrowing loans,” said Elias. “The student owns their financial aid.” Elias noted that the criteria for receiving needbased aid is not based solely on income, and that all students should apply for financial aid, a process that costs nothing but a little time. Curry 2010-2011 tuition is $29,300. Room and board cost $6,510 and $5,140, respectively. For continuing education students at the Milton campus, tuition is $380 per credit. It is $400 per credit for nursing majors. According to the US News and World Report’s 2011 Best Colleges report, 6.3 percent of students who applied for need-based aid at Curry had their requests fully met. The average need-based scholarship or grant awarded by the college last year was $12,332, according to the report. “I am happy with the financial aid I have been awarded,” said Lynch. “I would say, however, that they could be more generous with grants, with needbased aid, especially to those students who are on dean’s list.” When filling out a FASFA—which can be done online at www.fafsa.ed.gov—Curry students must include the college’s code: 002143. Once the form is completed, students need to submit additional documents to the college’s Student Financial Services Office. These include the Curry College Verification Form for 2011-2012, their parents’ 2010 federal 1040 tax returns, their parents’ 2010 W-2 forms, and their own 2010 federal 1040 tax returns and 2010 W-2 forms, if they worked last year. The Student Financial Services office is located at 79 Atherton St., the gray building across from the football field. Walk-ins are welcomed and encouraged. 4 THE CURRIER TIMES FEBRUARY 2011 A World-Class Education By Erin Powers The MV Explorer is not your typical cruise ship. On board, one is likely to find more books than beach chairs. But Dennis Moriconi, a senior management major at Curry, wasn’t looking for a relaxing holiday. He was soul searching, and believes he found himself halfway across the world. Moriconi returned to campus this spring after spending the fall on a 600foot passenger ship as part of Semester at Sea, a unique program that puts a nautical twist on studying abroad. For 109 days in 11 countries, Moriconi studied intercultural communication, macroeconomics, leadership and global studies. His trip began in the Bahamas and took him to countries such as South Africa, Ghana, India and Vietnam. The ship was in port for four to five days per stop, where students would take land excursions before returning to the ship for four to five days of course work. “I just wanted to see the world,” said Moriconi, 22, of Malden, Mass., “and Semester at Sea did just that.” According to Moriconi, the classes were fast paced and “intensive.” One class at sea might be the equivalent to four in a traditional Curry semester, he said, adding that his favorite course was leadership. That class required students to split into groups to raise $100 for a charity, as well as to perform 100 hours of community service. “My group chose an orphanage in the northern part of India,” he said. “I learned how the facility was run, and I was glad for the opportunity because I’ve always been curious about non-profit organizations,” he explained. The MV Explorer contains an 8,000-volume library, a computer lab, multiple study areas, wireless Internet, state-of-the art classrooms, and an outdoor pool and gym. “It’s really a floating campus,” explained Elizabeth Deren, assistant director of Career Services and Experiential Education at Curry. Deren’s office was in charge of helping Moriconi through the admission process, which involved two separate applications, one for Curry and one for the program. According to Deren, requirements for admission include being at least a sophomore, having a GPA of at least 2.75, and to be in good academic and disciplinary standing with the college. “It is a fantastic option for students who want to get out there and explore the world,” said Deren. “It gives them an opportunity to see multiple non-western countries, rather than committing to just one.” M o r i c o n i said his most memorable moments had nothing to do with the ship. In Hawaii, he overcame his fear of heights by skydiving, and in Over the course of his world travels, Dennis Moriconi got over his fear of heights and had the chance to meet Nobel Peace Prize winner Ghana, he found Desmond Tutu, a former archbishop in South Africa. himself moved get to the United States. by an act of Inspired by his humbling experiences, hospitality while taking a tour of former slave castles. Moriconi said his group was Moriconi said he hopes to one day running late for an activity and somewhat become part of the faculty for Semester stuck in an unfamiliar place. The group’s at Sea. Before that, though, he plans on local tour guide insisted on personally participating in a second voyage through taking the students to safety. Moriconi a program called “Life Long Learners.” Said Moriconi, “I would absolutely do still keeps in touch with the guide and said he would like to somehow help him it again.” Courtesy Photos Senior Dennis Moriconi returns to Curry after a semester at sea CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 College Looks to Revamp On-Campus Cable Offerings the University of Wisconsin story, there are a lot of suspicions pointed toward Public Safety here. Chris Costa, a senior at Curry who’s in Edna’s network, even wondered it out loud on Edna’s wall. “Is Cindy a new public safety officer?” he wrote in March 2010. “I feel like u guys keep hiring better looking people.” “If it is true, I feel violated,” said Sarah Naughton, a junior Communication major at Curry. “Where is the trust?” Said Alex Lundie, also a junior Com major, “It’s an intrusion of my privacy.” According to Public Safety Chief Brian Greeley, the rumors are “100 percent false.” He said he would never allow any of his staff to do such a thing. Public safety officers who have a personal Facebook account are not allowed to use their work e-mail addresses, Greeley added. So, for now the mystery of who created Edna—and why— continues. But that doesn’t answer the question of why so many College students have many pastimes, including relaxing and watching television. But a number of students are stressed over the quality of the experience. The lack of high-definition programming in residence halls is to blame for some students’ dissatisfaction. “It’s frustrating bringing my highdefinition TV here when the school doesn’t take advantage of it,” said Johnny Bizon, a freshman nursing major. “Everything looks terrible, and in this day and age, it should be included.” Curry currently works with Campus Televideo, which is based out of Greenwich, Conn. Campus Televideo is the cable provider of more than 220 colleges and universities across the country, and it offers many networks and programs in high definition. Curry is updating its television contract this spring, the first time in two years, and one of the top items on the agenda is upgrading some networks to high definition, said Erik Muurisepp, director of residence life and housing. “If we are to make these improvements, we would start with the basic lineup being in HD, and slowly roll out everything into HD as students bring bigger and better TVs,” he added. Muurisepp said Curry has taken this long to implement HD content because of the fees associated with adding such features. Currently, students pay a one-time fee for cable access. If Facebook Fairy Tale By Corey Theodore The mystery surrounding Cindy Edna remains unsolved, but it highlights the willingness of many Facebook users to connect with total strangers. people have added someone they don’t know to their network. Even Communication Professor Kirk Hazlett, who heads the public relations concentration at Curry, has Edna as a “friend.” “I saw her with the Curry network,” he explained. Greeley suggested that anyone connected to Edna should delete her from their network. On Edna’s profile, which is completely open to anyone, she lists the following as one of her favorite quotations: “Just because you determine your own fate, it doesn’t mean you’re not responsible for the effects (in general and effects on others) that ensue.” the college switched to a larger provider, such as Verizon or Comcast, he added, students would be required to sign individual cable contracts and make monthly payments. But it’s not just image quality that has some students seeing red. Others say they are also unhappy with the networks available to view. Curry has purchased the rights to view 65 channels from Campus Televideo, ranging from popular networks such as ABC, NBC and Fox, to some less popular networks, such as MTVU. In a recent survey of about 50 students, conducted by Class of 2012 student officials, almost 85 percent said that they would favor adding more channels to the current offering. “I look at this and say, ‘Is it more channels or is it the [program] lineup [on those channels] that is not meeting their expectations?” said Muurisepp. The last time Curry made changes to its cable package was in 2008, when a few channels were swapped out for different ones. The same thing will likely happen this year. The college is looking into which channels students don’t like or need, and which ones should be added. Muurisepp said he is confident that the college will deliver what the students want. “With the product that Campus Televideo has, we can work with that and tailor it to what we need and make it as close to what our students want as possible.” FEBRUARY 2011 Same Shuttle, Different Times Faneuil Hall off-campus shuttle returns, but at a much earlier hour By Ingmar Sterling Curry’s shuttle service is designed to transport students both on and off campus, as well as to serve some of the transportation needs of those without a car. However, many students feel that the service is in need of repair. Toward the end of last semester, the college eliminated the Saturday night off-campus shuttle to Faneuil Hall in Boston after multiple fights broke out among students on the last returning shuttle. The shuttle transported students from the Student Center to the downtown district starting at 6 p.m., with the last shuttle returning to Curry at 2:15 a.m. The Saturday Faneuil Hall shuttle is back this semester, but with a dramatically curbed schedule. The shuttle now starts at 5 p.m., with the last returning shuttle leaving Boston at 1 a.m. This means students who want a safe and affordable ride back to campus must leave Boston an hour-and-a-half before bars close. “After evaluating the history of incidents, specifically on the 2:15 shuttle, we decided the best option was to cancel it out of concern for the safety of the students riding,” said Allison Coutts O’Connor, director of student involvement, who oversees shuttle service. Beyond the scheduling changes, some students say they are increasingly unhappy with the way they are treated on the shuttles. On every Saturday shuttle, a Public Safety officer and a Residence Life student ride along to keep the environment safe. “They check your bags and pockets, and smell water bottles. It’s really annoying,” said Michaela Powers, a junior. “I took the shuttle once this semester, and I haven’t taken it again.” But not everyone is displeased with Public Safety’s performance. “I think it’s pretty tough to keep everyone from being rowdy on the late bus. Public Safety does a good job,” said another junior, Carlos Cornejo. The on-campus shuttle pickups have also been inconsistent, a point of particular frustration as winter temperatures drop. In addition, the shuttle service ends in the middle of dinnertime, leaving students to trek across campus on dark and sometimes icy walkways. O’Connor said the administration is working to address those issues. “We are always looking to improve the shuttles toward the needs of students,” she said. “We just don’t get much feedback from students, so it’s hard to know what they want.” THE CURRIER TIMES 5 Say it Ain’t Snow! As the snow piled up, some students got fed up By Danielle Roy When looking out the windows of a residence hall or a classroom, it’s easy to see that the Boston area has had a rough winter. And it’s not even over yet. To date, Milton has received 81.8 inches of snow this year, according to the Blue Hill Observatory. That’s 51 inches above the average amount of snowfall for this time of year, and 20 inches above the annual average. But it’s not just the snow that has piled up; missed school days have piled up, too. Curry’s Milton and Plymouth campuses were closed four times in a three-week period in late January and early February due to snow days, which naturally caused students to miss several classes. While the idea of an unexpected day off might be exciting to some students, it comes at a hefty cost. Based on Curry’s tuition figures for traditional undergraduates, the cost of one class session—for a course that meets three times a week—is about $54.25. Few students have just one class per day, making the cost of school closures relatively significant. Tiffany Renert, a junior communication major, said she quicly grew sick of the snow after she began missing classes that would only meet once a week. “It set us back a lot. My teachers had to keep changing the syllabus around,” Renert said, noting that she now feels overloaded with work because professors are trying to cram in material to make up for lost time. When asked if she thought Curry would reimburse students for their missed class costs, Renert replied, “That’ll be the day!” According to Sally Buckley, assistant dean of enrollment management and registrar, students will not be reimbursed for cancelled classes due to the weather. “Faculty are still responsible for providing instruction based on the expected learning outcomes in their courses and students are expected to learn the material regardless of the missed days,” she wrote via e-mail, in response to questions for this article. “So, there is no reduction in the actual course work. “Faculty are expected to make up missed course work,” she added. “How that is accomplished depends on the nature of the course and how the faculty member believes it is best to do so.” Caitlin Maxwell, a junior nursing student, said she wasn’t holding her breath for a partial tuition reimbursement. But she would have liked Curry to make a decision about campus closures sooner rather than later. As a commuter from Medway, Maxwell said she typically has to give herself at least two hours to get to Curry’s Milton campus if the weather is bad. Yet, Curry seemed to wait longer than many area school districts and neighborhood colleges to decide about cancellations, she said. “It’s hard because since Curry closes so late a lot of the time, I would be up and checking, and then I’m getting ready to leave and it cancels,” Maxwell said. “And also, as a nursing student, I have to be at my clinical placements at 7 or 8 in the morning, and some are an hour away, so that’s always difficult, too.” Clinicals aren’t usually canceled until the campus of the college is closed. As for her workload, Maxwell said she feels it’s a lot heavier now because professors need to get through “two topics” a class, and there isn’t as much time spent on any given subject. According to the Farmer’s Almanac, the first day of spring is March 20. New Gen. Ed. “This is both an exciting and challenging time, as we have the opportunity to help shape the future of the college,” DiManno said of the project. “Part of the challenge is keeping our absolute commitment to Curry’s liberal arts foundation, and at the same time creating a curriculum that is relevant for the 21st century college student.” According to Hill, the goal is to have a revamped general education curriculum in place by the fall of 2012. The college is applying for reaccreditation through the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, or NEASC, and hopes to show the group how the new curriculum will greatly improve the learning experience of Curry’s students. “You can have the best career understanding,” Hill said, “but without a solid liberal arts grounding you are not prepared for life.” Gregory Cayo CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Government for the Students, by the Students Curry’s Student Government Association meets every Wednesday at 2 p.m. in the Large Meeting Room on the first floor of the Student Center. The executive board, class officers and club representatives meet as a united body every other week to discuss and act on a variety of campus issues. The meetings are open to all students. The full group meets again March 2 and March 23. 6 THE CURRIER TIMES FEBRUARY 2011 Vantage Points Waking Up to the Weekends STEVEN HILL The Student Government Association and Residence Life at Curry need to work together to figure out some solutions to the “weekend problem.” Too often, too many students leave campus on Fridays, returning to their hometowns or to visit friends at other colleges with far better social scenes than ours. As a resident assistant at Curry, part of my job is to make sure that students are making good decisions. If they are making poor ones, I have a responsibility to address the situation. I believe this is a situation that needs addressing. It’s not that SGA is doing a poor job of providing activities, but they do need to provide additional information and keep in more regular contact with Residence Life so that students can have more opportunities to make weekends better, both on and around campus. A number of fun activities are already available to students, like going to Celtics games, attending on- and offcampus plays, and taking trips to New York City. However, relatively few students take advantage of these opportunities. Instead, they sit around drinking, smoking and getting into trouble. If students had more social options on weekends, like concerts, talent shows and dances, they would likely stick around and bring much needed life to the campus. By being active, students will learn to appreciate Curry and realize that they can have fun without having to turn to substances like cigarettes, alcohol and marijuana. If SGA and Residence Life worked together to fund and promote many more programs, we could help shape the future culture, a better culture, at the college we love. Steven Hill, a sophomore education major, is a first-year resident assistant at Curry. In Appreciation of On-Campus Art LAURIE ALPERT The Curry community is very fortunate to now have the new Student Center. In addition to all of the amenities the space offers, the Quiet Study Lounge on the second floor exhibits art on an ongoing basis. Art exhibitions play a very important role in the life of an active campus. It goes without saying that their primary function is to educate and enlighten, however, there are other reasons they exist. For example, they also become vital and integrated links with the community. In addition to exhibiting student and faculty work, exhibits that show professional art bring important ideas from the outside world to campus. Although we encourage students to explore the cultural resources available to them in the Boston area, and we take as many field trips as possible, this can only reach a small percentage of our population. Exhibits on campus give our students the opportunity to see artwork firsthand, as opposed to reproductions, and may even expose students to “real” art for the first time. Unlike a field trip, the on-campus exhibit space can be a quiet and reflective experience for the viewer, where the encounter with the work may be more meaningful and visits can be repeated. Art on campus can also be used as an extension of the classroom. Depending upon the exhibit at any given time, students in art history, design and studio classes can greatly benefit from ready access to on-campus exhibits. Colleges and universities with campuses in the city are often just blocks away from the MFA, the Fogg Museum or any number of other exhibition spaces. The ability to have artwork on campus allows us to not only experience the work aesthetically, but to perceive the physical and material properties of the work firsthand. Although the focus should always be on the aesthetic value of the work, the kind of work that was exhibited in the Student Center last semester—Science and Art—can tie into many areas of the curriculum. In addition to those of us who teach in the Fine and Applied Arts area, professors who teach politics, history and courses dealing with social issues, to mention a few, can find artwork a wonderful resource. It might even be used as a source of inspiration for the writer. One of the strong differences between exhibitions on a college campus and a commercial gallery is the obvious fact that campus exhibits are not dependant on the sale of work to survive, and that they have the freedom to take risks and show work where the primary focus is to educate and to provoke thought. Please visit the lobby outside the Keith Auditorium, the Quiet Study Lounge in the Student Center, and the Parents’ Lounge this spring to enjoy ongoing exhibits by students, faculty and professional artists from outside the college. College life can be busy, but it’s never too busy to savor these jewels in our midst. Laurie Alpert is a professor of fine and applied arts at Curry. DAVID LIT TLEFIELD After graduating from Curry in 1991 with a degree in management, David Littlefield went on to launch several professional endeavors. Among them is The Sausage Guy, a food concessions company that has become a Boston sports landmark. Well known by celebrities—such as David Ortiz, above, of the Red Sox—and foodies alike, the former Curry football player discusses his college days, the importance of a good work ethic, and the joys of grill-top scrapings. CT: How did attending Curry impact your life? Littlefield: It broadened my horizons…the interaction with everyone, with teachers and students from other countries. A lot of personal growth comes through that, just as much as the academic part of it. CT: Did you like your experience here? Littlefield: Had a ball. A lot of my buddies and I played football. We had a good time. I still have a core of five and we all keep in touch and hang out. CT: What’s your most memorable experience? Littlefield: I can’t tell you all of those stories. I can say this: I had a lot of fun. We did a have a party at the house one time where these guys—we met them at the liquor store—[later] stole a utility truck. It was there that night and the next morning it was gone. Strange deal. Massive, a huge truck. It was pretty funny. CT: How did you get into the sausage business? Littlefield: The economy was much, much worse back then. I did radio and sales and art, and [The Sausage Guy] came out of the sidelines. We did Buffalo wings at first. Complete bust. CT: And now you’re a part of the Boston sports industry. Littlefield: I started in Foxboro, and then in Boston. It took three years to get a foothold in [Fenway], of calls and putting together a deal. That was 15 years ago. It didn’t happen over night. I just kept at it. That and working hard and working smart. CT: Are there any perks? THE CURRIER TIMES Assistant Editors Sebastian Humbert, Danielle Roy and Nick Ironside Reporters Andrew Blom, Victor Ng, Erin Powers, Ingmar Sterling, Corey Theodore and Zack Weiss Photo Editor/Page Design Craig Dudley Contributing Writers Erika Kuzmicz, Molly McCarthy, Tim McCarthy and Courtney Russo Faculty Advisor Professor Jeff Lemberg The Currier Times is a student-written and produced print publication that publishes monthly throughout the academic year. Reporters are registered students of the News/Multimedia Journalism Practicum course. The Currier Times is printed by MassWeb Printing Co. in Auburn, Mass. To contact the Times, e-mail: curriertimes@post03.curry.edu. Littlefield: I work for myself. It’s a special, great place to be. There is a tremendous value and benefit to working for myself. But I never want my kids to do what I do. The industry is tough. It’s 24/7, and I love it. But it’s hard to do it…it’s not a 9-to-5 thing. CT: Do you have a best or craziest customer story? Littlefield: I had a guy on Landsdown Street (outside Fenway), but we had run out of sausages and he wanted the scrapings from the grill. I gave it to him, and he ate it in front of me. It was the grossest thing I had ever seen. There is nothing that would taste good with that! Written and condensed by Sebastian Humbert. FEBRUARY 2011 THE CURRIER TIMES 7 Triple Play California natives follow their former coach to Curry College y Athleti y of Curr Courtes It’s 6:25 a.m. on a snowy New England day and a booming voice echoes throughout Curry’s gymnasium. Twenty-six baseball players are running “suicides,” a conditioning drill that some coaches love and most players hate. “Get back on the line!” bellows Curry coach Jay Schnabel. Of the 26 players, three are from Southern California’s Mater Dei High School, the largest non-public high school west of Chicago. Half of Mater Dei’s 2,100 students play sports and many go on to play in college. The school consistently ranks among the top high school sports programs in America and has developed multiple future Heisman trophy winners, including NFL quarterback Matt Leinart. “When people say MD in Orange County, it isn’t the [NHL] Mighty Ducks. It’s Mater Dei,” says Schnabel, a former Mater Dei junior varsity baseball coach who’s in his first year as head coach at Curry. “Every kid wants to go to Mater Dei.” A graduate of Suffolk University in Boston, Schnabel joined Mater Dei as a substitute teacher and JV baseball coach in 2001. He dove headfirst into the high school’s year-round baseball culture and devoted himself to helping his players, often staying as late as 11 p.m. working under the lights. His passion for the game was magnetic. So much so, in fact, that three of his former players have traveled across the country to play for Schnabel at Curry. Brad Hawn, Carlos Cornejo and Joe Carrig, classmates at Mater Dei, didn’t start a single varsity game at Mater Dei. Each believes he wasn’t given a fair shot to earn playing time. “Brad still has a chip on his shoulder because of it,” says Schnabel, who has been an assistant coach at Curry since 2006. But the three wanted to play college baseball and, according to Cornejo, they trusted Schnabel. So, without even seeing Curry’s campus, Cornejo and Carrig followed their former coach to Milton in 2007. Cornejo says he’s the first male in his family to graduate from high school on time and the first to attend college. cs By Tim McCarthy Clockwise, from top left, Joe Carrig, Brad Hawn, Coach Jay Schnabel and Carlos Cornejo have rejoined forces at Curry after spending years working together on the diamond at Mater Dei High School in California. “Coming to Curry was the best thing I ever did in my life,” he adds. Hawn arrived at Curry in the spring of 2008 after spending the first semester of his freshman year at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, Calif. “I knew what I was getting myself into with Coach Jay,” he says. And Schnabel knew what he was getting, too. The coach calls Cornejo, who hit .338 with 23 RBIs in 43 games last season, “the best shortstop in Division 3 New England baseball.” Schnabel says Hawn is the best hitter in the conference, and perhaps the best Division 3 catcher in New England. Hawn hit .423 with 40 RBIs in 42 games last year, starring in the ECAC championship. Carrig, a pitcher who Schnabel says has great mechanics, will be vying for a rotation spot this year. This year’s Colonels team is the defending ECAC Northeast champions and features the Mater Dei trio and Schnabel’s “get better” motto. He credits his advancement to head coach partially on his ability to bring in players like Hawn, Cornejo and Carrig. Says Schnabel, “Curry is very lucky to have these guys here.” Waiting for the Smoke to Clear Curry hockey team poisoned, hospitalized prior to playoffs Capping off an undefeated 10-game span, the Curry hockey team had just secured the No. 1 seed in the conference playoffs. The Colonels were peaking and spirits should have been riding high. No one could have imagined what would happen next. Within hours after a Feb. 17 victory over Johnson & Wales University at the Rhode Island Sports Center in Smithfield, R.I., a handful of Curry players were admitted to Milton Hospital for what turned out be nitrogen dioxide poisoning. Within days, all 28 players were hospitalized, with some cases more severe than others. Players felt nauseas and lightheaded. Some were having trouble breathing, while others were coughing up blood. A hospital spokesman said tests showed exposure to nitrogen dioxide. Curry players said they noticed an unusual amount of smoke coming from the propane-powered Zamboni that cleaned the ice between periods. The Zamboni was parked near the Members of the Curry hockey team were in good spirits at Milton Hospital while getting treated for nitrogen visiting locker room. dioxide poisoning. The players had just learned that they earned the No. 1 seed in the conference playoffs. Johnson and Wales’s laws regulating the air quality of indoor Department of Health following the players and coaches ice skating arenas. Massachusetts and Curry game, Johnson & Wales officials were reportedly not affected. According to the Environmental Minnesota require air monitoring for have moved their hockey team’s Protection Agency, nitrogen dioxide carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide, upcoming home playoff game to the is a toxic gas that largely affects the while the Rhode Island Department Levy Rink in Marlborough, Mass. The respiratory tract. Low-level exposure of Health requires air testing only for executive director of athletics at JWU didn’t respond to a request for comments can decrease lung function and increase carbon monoxide. Although officials at the Rhode regarding the venue change. the risk of infection. In larger doses, the Island Sports Center reported that their Curry’s hockey team opens its playoff gas can be fatal. Only three states—Massachusetts, rink was tested and deemed safe by run on Wednesday, March 2, at the Ulin Minnesota and Rhode Island—have the local fire department and the state Rink in Milton. Courtesy Photo By Tim McCarthy 8 THE CURRIER TIMES FEBRUARY 2011 Sports Sickened but Still Skating page 7 Standing Tall Sophomore infielder Amanda Felzmann bounces back from near-fatal fall Courtesy of Curry Athletics/Brian Winchester By Nick Ironside Sophomore Amanda Felzmann’s softball career nearly came to an end three years ago after she fell off a cliff in Maine. Amanda Felzmann didn’t immediately return home after a family vacation in Maine nearly three years ago. Her next trip was to the hospital. She says she doesn’t remember much of what happened shortly after falling off a cliff overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. In August 2008, the summer before her senior year at Bellingham (Mass.) High School, she remembers hearing her friends’ countdown as she stood over “The Point.” Her family was leaving the next day and it was Felzmann’s turn to jump. As they neared “one,” she lost her balance and fell. “I remember waking up in wicked pain with water coming over me, and my dad’s friend was trying to get me into a kayak,” says Felzmann, now a sophomore at Curry. “I just kept screaming, ‘My leg’s broken!’ ” It was a lot worse than a leg injury, though. After an ambulance took her to the nearest hospital, she was transferred to Maine Medical Center in Portland. She stayed for seven days. “I had a collapsed right lung, six broken ribs, my feet got torn on the bottoms because the rocks were sharp,” Felzmann explains. “I gashed the back of my head open, and I had been complaining that something was wrong with my right leg.” Shortly after being discharged, she learned the reason behind her leg pain. Hospital personnel didn’t notice that her leg had become badly infected. Felzmann was soon transported to her third hospital of the summer—UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester— where she had surgery on her right leg. After a 10-day stay, Felzmann finally returned home, but only for two days because the leg was still hurting. After an ultrasound, doctors found a blood clot that required another surgery to fix. Despite losing 30 pounds in the hospital and having to use a walker during parts of her senior year of high school, Felzmann tried out for a local travel softball team, the Central Massachusetts Thunder. She had played on the team before, but all players were required to attend tryouts for fall ball. Felzmann says she was nowhere near her best because of muscle weakness, and she didn’t make the squad. “She figured she wasn’t going to play softball again,” says Amanda’s mother, Kelly Felzmann. “Her father convinced her to go try out for another team.” Felzmann made another travel team, the Bay State Cardinals, that same fall and managed to impress at shortstop and second base. Curry head softball coach Bruce Weckworth took note. “She was a kid that I liked from the day that I met her,” Weckworth says. “She’s a very desirable kid” as a middle infielder and speedy leadoff hitter. But Felzmann almost didn’t come to Curry. She verbally committed to attend Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven, which has a Division II softball program, but changed her mind after visiting Curry during an “Accepted Students Day.” As it turned out, Felzmann’s tour guide that afternoon had transferred to Curry from Southern Connecticut State and talked about the many ways Curry was a better school. Felzmann was convinced. “I had to call the other coach back and tell him I wasn’t going to come and play for him,” she says. “He was wicked pissed, because he had told other people that they couldn’t make the team because I was on it.” Felzmann, who started 38 of 40 games for Curry last season, hit .294 as the team went 19-21 (13-11 in The Commonwealth Coast Conference). Weckworth says he is hoping his Colonels finish atop the conference standings this spring, and believes this year’s pitching core of Janelle Mayo, Amanda Peters, Jennifer Lundstrom and Chelsey Munsey can lead the way. “Pitching is such a key factor,” he says. “If we give them a run or two to work with, they can do the rest.” As for Felzmann, she sees a bit of herself in many of her teammates: they refuse to give up. “You take one look at our team and predominantly see a lineup of young faces, eager to start and get on the field,” she says. “Every single player has an intricate role that will contribute to what I see as a hopeful upcoming season for Curry softball.” Winter Sports Season Comes to a Close By Zachery Weiss As the winter sports season winds down across the nation, some of Curry’s teams are packing up while others are hoping to play on. The women’s basketball team had a good regular season, particularly against non-conference teams. The Lady Colonels finished with a 17-8 overall record (132 at home), but just 6-7 in The Commonwealth Coast Conference. Curry would go on to lose in the conference tournament quarterfinals, falling to Salve Regina University, 66-44. Among the leading performers this season were sophomore Julia Scrubb, who averaged almost 11 points per game, senior Danyel Cousins with 10 points per game, and senior Cortney Robinson, who led the team in rebounds with 8.6 per game. The men’s basketball team’s season came to an end on Feb. 19 versus Endicott College, an 85-75 loss. The Colonels won just four games, going 4-21. The team played well at the start of its conference schedule, winning its first two games, but it would go on to lose its next and final 12 contests. Sophomore guard Sedale Jones led the team in scoring and rebounding, with 19.2 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. Junior Jarrell Jackson, who played only about half the season, finished averaging 16.3 points per game. Chris Bonadies, a senior, averaged nearly 4 rebounds per game, second highest on the team. The hockey team had a strong regular season, finishing with a record of 14-8-3, 10-2-2 in conference play. The Colonels earned the No. 1 seed in the Eastern College Athletic Conference tournament and will open play on Wednesday, March 2, at 7:30 p.m. Senior Ryan Warsofsky led the team with 26 points this season (9 goals, 17 assists), followed by junior Christopher Atkinson with 25 points (10 goals, 15 assists). Junior captain Peyden Benning led the team with 13 goals, to go with 10 assists. Time in goal was largely split between sophomore Robert Dawson (3.04 goalsagainst average) and freshman Travis Owens (2.89). Coach Rob Davies was named the ECAC Northeast Coach of the Year, while Warsofsky was selected as a semifinalist for the Joe Concannon Award, given to the nation’s best American-born Division 2 or 3 college hockey player.