http://hccperspective.blogspot.

com December 2012

SWC Grizzlies
The Metropolitan Trip
Technology in the Classroom
Cold vs. Virus Symptoms
2
Flashin Fashion in Action Transitioned With Weather Change .......9
By ElizaBEth FiguEroa
StaFF WritEr
What in the World is the Ultimate Christmas Present?......................9
By ShErly MontES
StaFF WritEr
Keep Your Friends Close, Keep Your Credit Cards Closer ...............10
By JESSica BrookS
StaFF WritEr
Four Year Master Plan ...........................................................................11
By kryStlE krySi Piccinino
SEnior StaFF WritEr
Jingle All the Way ..................................................................................12
By grEg BlackWEll
SEnior StaFF WritEr
Some Things Are Better Than Money ..................................................12
By aManda Friot
SEnior StaFF WritEr
Help Save A Life ......................................................................................13
By arayanSy garcia
SEnior StaFF WritEr
Structure in Success ................................................................................14
By Elliott griFFin
StaFF WritEr
Im Up and Coming! ...............................................................................15
By dannyy alaMo
StaFF WritEr
HCC Gets Cultured ................................................................................15
By SaM roSoFF
SEnior StaFF WritEr
Grafti in Bridgeport: ............................................................................16
By Santiago achinElli
StaFF WritEr
Horizons Staff
Editor-in-ChiEf
david WEidEnFEllEr
Advisor
ProFESSor StEvE Mark
MAnAging Editor
karEn FErnandEz
Editor EMEritA
dEB torrESo
Editors
SaMantha dElgado, laura guStaFSon
stAff WritErs
Santiago achinElli, dannyy alaMo, katElyn avEry, JESSica BrookS, cathryn cann, nicolE carPEntEr, ElizaBEth FiguEroa,
Elliot griFFin, tiFFany harvEy, aShilE hEndrickSon, anthony horan, Sinaya hoWard, rachEl kulikoWSki, rEBEcca lEgoutE,
JEFFrEy MillEr, ShErly MontES, JoSEPh PrESton, JuStin Quinn, danyEllE Silva, StEvEn SiMko,
dorEEn SPEarS, Morgan SPEncEr, Monica torrES, Jonathan WilliaMS-huntEr, lanEcE WoodSon
sEnior stAff WritErs
grEg BlackWEll, aManda Friot, arayanSy garcia, vanESSa hylton, SaBrina lEWiS, kryStEllE Piccinino,
SaM roSoFF, SEMhar SaMuElS, chadran SMith
Art And dEsign dirECtors
Joy torrEz, david, kiSly, FErnando vEga
Art And dEsign stAff
claudE BlakE, Frank cSanadi Jr., JoicE doMinguES-torrES, Brian koSarko, Flahn Manly, EMManuEl MatEo,
vonMariE navarro, kiM nguyEn, huBErt roBErtS, FErnando vEga, ElainE WhEElEr, JuStin WilliaMS
dEsign Advisor
ProFESSor andy Pinto
CT Community College Drop Out .......................................................3
By danyEllE Silva
StaFF WritEr
Technology in the Classroom: ...............................................................3
By chadran SMith
StaFF WritEr
What If It Was You: Part II ...................................................................4
By d.c. WEidEnFEllEr
Textbooks On A Whole New Scale ........................................................5
By danyEllE Silva
StaFF WritEr
End Of Days Resolution .......................................................................5
By karEn d. FErnandEz
Editor
ECE Transfers Stay Close to Home .......................................................6
By katElyn avEry
StaFF WritEr
The Art of Snow Shoveling .................................................................6
By JuStin Quinn
StaFF WritEr
Grizzlies Win Yankee Bowl, .................................................................6
By JEFF MillEr
StaFF WritEr
Trying it All .............................................................................................7
By SEMhar SaMuElS
SEnior StaFF WritEr
Math On a New Path ...............................................................................7
By rachEl kulikoWSki
StaFF WritEr
Are You Controlled by Your Controller? .............................................7
By nicolE carPEntEr
StaFF WritEr
Do I Have a Virus or Do I Have a Cold? ...............................................8
By kryStlE krySi Piccinino
SEnior StaFF WritEr
Is it Really Winter Break? .....................................................................8
By BEcky lEgoutE
StaFF WritEr
Cover Photos by David Wiedenfeller
3
HORIZONS News
arts & entertainment
news
e
By dAnyEllE silvA
stAff WritEr
R
emember this? It`s your frst day
oI class at HCC. You don`t know
anyone in your English 101 class.
You sit down next to a classmate and you
start talking about school and graduation
plans. Your classmate tells you he or she
plan on graduating in two years with their
Associate`s degree. A couple weeks to a
month goes by, and you get to know each
other a little more and more. And one day,
your classmate stops coming to class, and
doesn`t come back to class the rest oI the
semester. It turns out he or she dropped out,
Ior whatever reason it may be.
How about this time? A classmate who
you have become good Iriends with and
you continue on with your education to-
gether. Now you two are now at your year
and a halI mark with only one semester
leIt. The last semester oI your schooling
has begun and you`re three classes away
Irom graduatingboth oI you. AIter the
frst month or so into classes, your Iriend
stops coming to class. He or she dropped
out, with only three classes leIt until gradu-
ation.
I have been a student at HCC Ior about
two years now and I have seen many Iaces,
new and old, throughout the years. Since
this is a Iairly large college, there are quite
a lot oI students at the college. I have made
quite a Iew Iriends in the classes that I
have taken, whether they are getting ready
to graduate or are just starting out in their
classes, I have had many talks with them.
Next thing I know they have dropped out
oI the class, out oI the program, and out oI
the college. Some who I had become good
Iriends with.
More than halI oI the students in the
second year oI college drop out, 58.6 to
be exact.
Let`s consider some oI these statistics:
Out oI 100 students that enroll in col-
lege, 31 oI them enroll part time and 20
oI them enroll Iull time into two-year col-
leges. Out oI those numbers, 12 oI the Iull
time students return as sophomores while
only 14 oI the part time students return as
sophomores. According to The Connecti-
cut Mirror, only 1 out oI every 10 Iull time
students will earn their Associate`s Degree
in three years, this in turn ranks CT Com-
munity Colleges 47th in the nation in terms
oI graduation rates.
While some drop out Ior many reasons
such as it`s too hard or they don`t want to
go anymore, others drop out because there
is no other choice.
Dylan Perrino, a Iormer HCC student,
had attended the college Ior two semesters
beIore having no other option but to drop
out. 'I was living with my grandmother
and aunt at the time and aIter my grand-
mother passed. I had bills to pay. My part-
time job just wasn`t cutting it anymore and
I had an entire 3 bedroom house to keep
running, he said.
'I plan on going back to school even-
tually. Right now it just wasn`t going to
happen. I have responsibilities, added
Perrino.
Emilia Ventressca, a HCC graduate,
shared her story. 'I was in a rough spot
in my liIe and I just wasn`t sure iI I was
right Ior school. I just wanted to drop out
oI school, quit my job, and crawl into a
hole away Irom everyone. But my Iamily
drilled and drilled into me that school was
important and that I was a smart girl who
had a lot oI potential to do great things. My
advisor at HCC believed in me and told me
that giving up wasn`t the way to go and
that I could do and succeed at anything I
put my mind to.
While some people underestimate ad-
vice Iamily, Iriends, and teacher/advisors
give you, sometimes it can be just the thing
you need to help you out oI a rut. 'Without
the support oI my Iamily and the dedicated
staII at HCC, I was able to graduate and
better myselI and my liIe, added Ven-
tressca.
So here`s the big question, are Con-
necticut Community College drop out rates
actually rising higher than last year or even
two years ago? Better yet, is it as high as
previous years? The answer is no. While it
is not as high as in previous years, it is still
high enough. Students drop out Ior mul-
tiple reasons, whether it be outside respon-
sibilities or because they are just bored, Ior
lack oI a better term, and have no desire to.
With proper support, a student can succeed
and achieve their goals and Iulfll their
dreams oI a higher education to be able to
get ahead in liIe. Its a matter oI want versus
need Ior some people.
CT Community College Drop Out
Rates On The Rise?
By ChAdrAn sMith
stAff WritEr
W
e all have them.laptops, tab-
lets, mp3 players and smart
phones. Is electronic use benef-
cial or detrimental in the classroom? The
use oI technology can be a constructive
impact in the classroom by sparking the in-
terest oI students, but it can also turn into a
big time distraction, causing proIessors to
compete Ior their students` attention.
With college students always on the go
and electronics always on the increase, it`s
only natural that learning and campus liIe
becomes mobile. The rising apps geared
toward students` makes electronic use
seem to be encouraged on campuses all
around. Apps like iTunes U, Evernote and
Blackboard Learn provide instant access to
inIormation students need. Electronics can
even be used in the classroom by includ-
ing them into lesson plans. Smart phones
can be used to record notes and do quick
research during class discussions. Even
social media, such as FaceBook and Twit-
ter has Iound a place on campus, making
it possible to quickly connect to one`s pro-
Iessors and classmates creating real-time
class communication. For example, my
proIessor, Steve Mark, lets us use Twitter
to promote our newspaper to our campus.
'In my previous communication course
my proIessor would record our group pre-
sentations, upload them to our classes You-
Tube account which was only visible to us,
and have the class critique each other Ior
homework, said Anthony Reid, communi-
cation major.
'In my art class I can pull up inIorma-
tion Irom websites about the |art| pieces
that we are currently going over, said Reg-
inald S., a fne arts major, 'This class is in-
tense and my iPad helps me keep up.
Electronic use can be benefcial out-
side the classroom also. With technology
advancing every day, it is now possible
Ior students to access lectures Irom their
college`s online system, view educational
YouTube videos and access digital libraries
all without leaving their home.
'It is very useIul Ior academic purposes
only |but| it is also diIfcult to enIorce iI
students are roaming on the net. One has to
be always monitoring the students, said
Michael Mandel, proIessor oI business.
HCC`s student handbook states, '
Please turn oII all cellular telephones and
paging devices beIore class begins. Stu-
dents may be asked to leave the classroom
iI a cell phone, pager or other electronic
device becomes a distraction. EnIorcing
this rule has become a constant hassle Ior
HCC proIessors. Many have to pause their
lesson to instruct the student to put away
their cell phone
'All personal electronic devices are to
be turned oII and put away. Students using
them are asked to leave the class. Students
using computers Ior online textbooks and
PowerPoints are allowed so long as they do
not start surfng the web. It is easy to tell
when they are surfng by their body lan-
guage, said Mandel.
'I am against the use oI cellphones in
the classroom, said Marina Philips, asso-
ciate proIessor oI mathematics. 'It is more
than just detrimental to the learning pro-
cess, it is detrimental to our ability to relate
to each other Iace to Iace.
Technology in the Classroom:
Positive or Negative?
More than half of the students in the second year of
college drop out, 58.6% to be exact.
Am I connected or disconnected?
Photo by Joy Domingues-Torres
4
HORIZONS News
By d.C. WEidEnfEllEr
J
eIIery Dahmer, Albert DeSalvo (the
'Boston Strangler), and Dennis
Rader (the BTK killer) all have what
in common. besides the inIamy oI be-
ing three widely known serial killers? The
same thing that Kip Kinkel, Luke Wood-
ham, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold have
in common, time spent killing, mutilat-
ing and torturing both wild and domestic
animals. OI course these are extreme ex-
amples oI headline making names charged
with some oI the most gruesome acts oI
modern man, but the act oI mean and hurt-
Iul deeds to Iamily pets and wild Iriends
oI the Iorest alike are much more prevalent
than you think. yes in your backyard.
Just why people abuse animals is not
quite understood. An article Irom the ASP-
CA`s website directed towards children
seemed like the simplest place to start, giv-
ing simple answers to hard questions and in
an easily understood platIorm Irom which
to start. The article was broken down into
three groups or 'reasons people abuse
animals.
Reason one is best summed up as care-
lessness and ignorance. Because they don`t
have the proper knowledge on caring Ior
the particular animal oI their choice they
are unaware oI the pain and suIIering they
are causing. They don`t Ieed or care Ior
their animal consistently, some use vio-
lent or unusually aggressive discipline Ior
training, still others do not provide proper
shelter, which can include animal hoard-
ing, or keeping an over abundance oI pets,
with every good intention, but lacking the
ability to provide the healthy proper care
each and every animal needs.
This group oI people is the largest ac-
cording to the ASPCA article and the sec-
tion pertaining to this group is concluded
with the Iollowing: 'Nearly all oI these
people can learn to understand that they are
being cruel through education and increas-
ing their awareness oI the needs oI our
animal neighbors. Since most oI the people
who abuse animals make up this group,
this means that most oI the people who
abuse animals can be helped with basic
education.
The second group oI people is primar-
ily younger kids, those who cannot stand
up to peer pressure, and those who maybe
Iace other problems and have no outlet.
This can include a random act oI cruelty
to the Iamily dog because they cannot do
such to their parents. A group oI kids may
pressure an individual to hurt terriIy a stray
cat Iorcing it to scurry in Iear, or to hurt
it as some sort oI initiation: Ialling to peer
pressure. This group hardly ever continues
the behavior and realizes the seriousness
once considering the Ieeling oI the animal.
The third and fnal section oI the ASP-
CA article talks about the worst animal
abusers. the ones who do it Ior kicks. It is
here where things become unclear in why
people abuse animals and the more de-
tailed and Iocused questions rise to the top
and more defnitive sources oI inIormation
are called upon.
The education theme is evident in the
outer lobby area oI Fairfeld Connecticut`s
animal shelter as fyers and educational
pamphlets on pet care and anti-abuse ma-
terial are presented neatly on a Iunctional
card table
Animal Control OIfcer Joe Cataldo,
with fve years oI service with Fairfeld,
agrees that there is a diIIerence between
malicious cruelty and cruelty done out oI
ignorance or carelessness and gave the
example oI a person who lovingly runs
into PetCo to get doggie bedding, chews,
sweaters etc, and absent mindedly leaves
the Iamily dog in the car... while it`s 100
degrees outside... 115 inside the vehicle.
Cataldo explained that he or the oIfcer on
duty would be sent out on an animal cruelty
investigation in this situation even though
the 'perpetrator isn`t actually guilty oI in-
tentional harm upon the animal.
Catalo cites mental illness in some Iorm
or another as a reason Ior animal abuse.
The trauma people endure during abuse
can possible be a Iactor as to why people
abuse animals, saying these people 'are
venting their Irustration towards what has
happened to them. Ritual sacrifce can also
be listed as a reason. For example, Cataldo
explained, 'around May, you start to fnd
chickens in bags stuIIed with money and
other things, this practice is Iound in the
religious traditions oI Santeria, a religion
Irom West AIrican and Caribbean origins
and infuence Irom the Roman Catholic
Church.
But does animal sacrifce Ior religious
tradition constitute animal cruelty? Not
according to the United States Supreme
Court, whose 1993 decision made it clear in
the Church oI Lukumi Babalu Aye v. City
oI Hialeah, were the court determined that
it is unconstitutional to aim animal cruelty
laws at Lukumi or Santeria. This is both
up Ior debate as to the legality and inter-
pretation. A web search Ior laws regarding
animal cruelty and religious Ireedom turns
up an almost limitless list oI arguments
and interpretations. Because oI its correla-
tion to the First Amendment the debate oI
whether animal sacrifce Ior religious pur-
pose is or is not a crime against animals
will remain a volatile issue up there with
abortion, capital punishment, and stem cell
research.
However, there are undisputed laws and
defned punishments Ior those acts that are
without a doubt ...cruel. In Fairfeld Con-
necticut, GS 53 - 247 these actions are de-
fned and include punishments oI up to fve
years in prison and $5,000 in fnes. Cataldo
believes that the terms oI punishment Ior
crimes against animals is suIfcient, how-
ever that concern is whether punishment
is served, recalling a man in Ansonia who
was hanging kittens and was having trou-
ble remembering iI any jail time was actu-
ally served.
Veterinarian Dr. Louis Pieper oI the
Barnum Animal Hospital in StratIord
CT, who confrmed the horrors oI animal
abuse, believes the opposite. Pieper Ieels
that the laws and punishments are not se-
vere enough, and that abusers oI animals
should be made an example oI to help in
the deterrence oI animal abuse and cruelty.
Like humans who have suIIered abuse
and other traumatic situations, there is the
rehabilitation aIterwards, should the ani-
mal survive. The process oI a rescue, ac-
cording to Cataldo, goes like this. AIter a
cruelty call is dispatched and there is Iound
evidence oI abuse, a seizure warrant is ob-
tained and the animal is removed Irom the
home or care oI accused abuser. Like any
other criminal case, those who are investi-
gated and or arrested oI animal cruelty or
abuse are innocent until a judge determines
otherwise. Once this happens the punish-
ment is given according to the acts com-
mitted.
During this process, the animal is
brought to a veterinarian where the animal
is assessed physically Ior damage, injury,
and overall health. The animal is also
checked out mentally, making sure that iI
the animal is permanently removed, it can
be put up Ior adoption. This is to ensure
the animal will not harm other people or
animals. This inIormation is used to deter-
mine iI the animal is suitable Ior Iamilies
with children, or with other animals or iI
they require a home all their own. Sadly, iI
an animal is deemed unadoptable, meaning
not ft Ior adoption due to aggression or the
odds oI survival as a result oI the neglect or
abuse, the animal is then euthanized.
Finally, once the courts have made their
decision, the animal is then put up Ior adop-
tion with the hopes oI fnding a loving, saIe
and healthy environment in which to live
out their days. The dark Iact remains that
not all animals are rescued or receive the
treatment they need in time.
Some animals are so conditioned to vio-
lence, which is the case with many dogs
and roosters used in illegal sport fghting
Ior proft. According to the ASPCA web-
site, this Iorm oI intentional cruelty does
not discriminate locales. These poor ani-
mals are abused to 'get them mean, ac-
cording to 'Jimmy, whose name is being
withheld due to direct involvement with
people known Ior fghting dogs in the
Bridgeport area. 'They give them coke,
beat them just to get`em mean... its all part
oI the game
What happens to these animals once
they are seized? It depends on how Iar
gone they are. It is the proIessional recom-
mendation oI the ASPCA to have 'all dogs
seized Irom fghting raids be assessed by
proIessional behaviorists. They may not
behave well with other animals as they
have been conditioned to infict deadly
wounds to other animals, this conditioning
may not be reversible.
The unlucky animals that do not get res-
cued and iI need be humanely put down,
are usually leIt to very painIul agonizing
deaths. They are leIt to die Irom wounds
incurred during these illegal contests; they
are brutally killed or just put out on the
street to Iend Ior themselves.
Will the abusive treat oI animals ever
end? That is a question that may never be
answered or all to easily answered and
Iorgotten. It seems that the aggression
oI man is projected onto all he touches.
The connection can be made as Cataldo
draws the line between abusive behavior to
animals and that same behavior on humans.
'They can defnitely be warning signs oI
other things going on in the home, said
Cataldo.
'Animals are extensions oI your Iamily,
regardless they are a living breathing liIe
and deserve the same respect humans get
Angelique Conroy comments as she snug-
gles up with her two cats who are brother
and sister. 'Mia and Murky are the joys oI
both my daughter and myselI, no matter
the trouble they cause I could never hurt
them, people like that don`t deserve the
love and animal gives!
Next in the fnal installment oI What
If It Was You, a look behind the chain link
Iences oI animal shelters and the happiness
brought to both the rescued animals and
the Iamilies they complete.
Share your comments and stories with
D.C. Weidenfeller. dcweid.weidenIeller8
gmail.com
What If It Was You: Part II
Sad Dog
Fernando Vega
5
HORIZONS News
By dAnyEllE silvA
stAff WritEr
D
o you remember, not too long ago
actually, waiting in line Ior the
bookstore to get your textbooks?
You`re holding your class schedule and
thinking, gosh, I wonder how big these
textbooks are going to be. So you are wait-
ing and waiting because the line stretches
all the way down the hall, and you fnally
get up, hand them your schedule and they
give your books. Oh my! There are 4 text-
books. The Intermediate Algebra book is
double the size oI your Intro to Biology
textbook, not to mention that your Anato-
my and Physiology book is triple the size
oI your Psychology 101 book. How could
you not look Iorward to having to cart those
books back and Iorth to school each day?
In the past couple years, Apple has come
out with the ever-so-intriguing iPads. They
are portable, handy, include all sorts oI in-
teresting and Iunctional applications, and
the best part, it`s an Apple product. Now
what has been appearing on the scene, and
some colleges are taking advantage oI this,
is the ability Ior those giant 600-900 page
textbooks to be available not only online
but on one oI those Iancy iPads. How con-
venient! What a relieI! But what exactly
are the pros and cons to this new craze?
Some pros include:
Portable
Easier to read (with features such as
zooming in and out)
Note taking (and referencing out
to other online sources enabling you to
further understand something you may not
understand completely)
Lighter than regular textbooks
Some cons include:
Batterv life onlv lasts so long
Eve strain
Breakable without proper protection
(like a case or cover)
Availabilitv of books mav be limited
Richard Wright, an HCC graduate, said
he is not a Ian oI the whole E-book craze.
'First oII, I really hate staring at a comput-
er screen Ior long periods oI time, which is
one oI the reasons I could never take any
online classes in the frst place. Don`t get
me wrong, I understand why a lot oI people
are all Ior this new style oI textbooks, but
it`s just not Ior me. I`m a traditional per-
son, so while I know that e-books are the
new up and coming thing and I`m sure in
the Iuture at some point, regular textbooks
won`t be made anymore and I just hope by
that point I`m done with school.
Further chatting with Wright, he also
revealed to me his rather strong views in
regards to electronics such as iPads and
Kindles.
Hayley McDaniel, on the other hand, has
a diIIerent view on the subject. McDaniel
is a Iairly new student to HCC who came
Irom a high school out west, where most oI
their textbooks are E-books. 'Around the
time oI my junior year oI high school, most
oI the textbooks we used had gone digital.
I already had a Kindle that I had gotten Ior
Christmas that year, and |was| able to just
hook up to the WiFi and download the text-
books right to my Kindle.
McDaniel added that she liked the idea
Irom then on, not having to worry about
carrying around the big textbooks any-
more. 'I know that HCC doesn`t have too
many e-books available right now to be
purchased and downloaded, but in time
that will come. I recommend the e-books
to anyone who wants to be able to get more
out oI their reading Ior class instead oI just
turning a page. Devices like the Kindle and
even the iPads are super user Iriendly and
can really make liIe a lot easier, school
wise.
Housatonic has some E-books available
in the bookstore to purchase and download
in replacement oI the traditional textbooks
Ior certain classes.
Textbooks On A Whole New Scale
By KArEn d. fErnAndEz
MAnAging Editor
I
t`s that Iavorite time oI year again!
Chestnuts roasting on an open fre;
Christmas trees and wreaths; there`s
eggnog, hot chocolate, and candy canes
galore! Don`t Iorget that obese home-in-
truder, dressed in a red-velvet suit, crashing
through chimneys and beasting all the milk
and cookies. It`s a time Ior giving, a time
Ior sharing, and getting reunited with the
Iamily. Everyone eating together, laughing
together, sharing the fnal moments oI liIe
anticipating the apocalypse together...that
is, according to the Mayan prophecy, which
says doomsday will take place on Decem-
ber 21, 2012.
'Every Iew years they come up with
some ridiculous new idea that the world`s
going to end. In 2000 we were gonna die.
In 2005 it was something else, and on May
21, 2011 we were supposed to die again!
When the world ends, we will be long gone
and iI it`s sooner, well so be it! says my
co-worker Marisa Magner. I couldn`t agree
more, it`s as iI the media, ancient civiliza-
tion, and all 'the crazies made a deal with
churches worldwide to scare all the sinners
into attending and conIessing their sins be-
Iore 'certain death.
They sure picked a great date this time
around, so we can all Iorget Christmas, it`s
cancelled this year, sorry children. Instead,
people around the globe, both young and
old, will take to 'YOLO`ing Ior the re-
mainder oI their lives as they know it, artist
PSY already got a head start on all oI us,
by realizing his dream oI making a cheesy,
novelty hit song called 'Gangnam Style.
Others, like UNH student Elizabeth An-
tunez, preIer to keep a low profle, 'I would
take out the biggest loan, I would quit my
job, travel, eat a lot, and have
sex in the most random plac-
es! Not a bad idea iI I might
say so myselI. I really like the
idea oI quitting my job, except
I would do it with an epic exit,
much like in the movie 'HalI
Baked, when ScarIace quits
his job and fips everyone oII
beIore leaving.
Having Iun seems to be at
the top oI everyone`s list, and I
don`t blame them. When asked
how she would spend her fnal
days, Magner said, 'spending
time with all oI my Iriends and
lots oI partying! I`d probably
go sky-diving too because I`ve
always wanted to do it.....did I
mention lots oI partying?
HCC student Tracy Schiet-
inger agrees, 'I would throw
a huge party like in the movie
Profect X, or cry and spend it
with my boyIriend and my par-
ents. The frst part oI her plan sounds good
to me, although the crying part I think I`d
save Ior the last fve minutes oI liIe to re-
ally make it worthwhile. At the same time,
I would take the opportunity to make my
fnal conIessions to my Iamily; like inIorm-
ing my sister that she can`t sing, aIfrming
to my Iather that he`s the worst driver I
know, communicating to my brother that he
was an undoubtable mistake, and congratu-
lating my mother Ior being the second-best
hypocrite I`ve had the pleasure oI meeting,
next to my brother that is.
Some would rather skip the tears and
keep their regular routine, 'I would spend
my last days getting messed up like I do
almost every day! says my Iriend Julius
Mack Jones. The great thing about that is,
when the moment comes, he won`t even
know what hit him, literally, his whole
house could cave in and it`s a Reynold`s
wrap Ior Jones.
Personally, I would rob a Iew banks,
splurge on lavish commodities, travel to
places I`ve always yearned to visit and be-
have in ways my grandparents would Iero-
ciously disapprove oI. I would also make a
list oI ten situations I should fnd myselI in
prior to death; such as starting a bar fght,
running with bulls or wolves, streaking
during a sporting event, leading police on
an insane high-speed car chase and getting
away scott-Iree, oh and participating in
plenty oI one-night-stands, just to name a
Iew.
Former HCC student Aviana Repol-
let says, 'I`m pretty simple, I would just
like to be around the people I love Ior my
last month oI liIe. In my case, that per-
son would be my Iour-year-old daughter. I
would squeeze a liIetime oI memories into
that last month oI liIe, every second passed
being well-spent and worthwhile.
What about you, how would you spend
your fnal days?
End Of Days Resolution
2012 Edition
Photo by Ildar Sagdejey
6
HORIZONS News
By KAtElyn AvEry
stAff WritEr

W
heelock classes are being held
this month, but many students
still don`t know what they are.
Early Childhood Education majors, like
many HCC students, plan on transIerring
to receive a Bachelor`s degree. Should
these students take Wheelock college
classes they will not have to travel very Iar.
According to organizer Dr. Laurie Noe,
Coordinator oI the Early Childhood Educa-
tion program, 'Our articulation agreement
with Wheelock is Ior the Early Childhood
Education degree graduates Irom HCC
who want to complete a BA in Human De-
velopment at a prestigious private college
without leaving the HCC campus. This
agreement allows ECE students to avoid
having to go all the way to Boston, Mas-
sachusetts to fnish their degree.
In addition, Noe said, 'These classes
are held at HCC on Friday nights and all
day Saturday.
The program may give students a Iamil-
iar setting, but this is not an HCC program.
Noe stated that 'HCC does not provide or
present the classes. Wheelock does, but
they do it on the HCC campus. Students
may see some Iamiliar Iaces besides Iel-
low students, though, as Noe added 'They
|Wheelock| occasionally hire HCC proIes-
sors as adjuncts Ior the program.
The program is unknown to many, as it
is relatively new. According to Academic
Dean Elizabeth Roop, the program has
been going on Ior three years. The pro-
gram works in shiIts as Roop mentioned
that the students in the program 'study as
a cohort so they take the class at the same
time. These cohorts allow one cohort to
fnish beIore a new cohort starts.
Wheelock College classes are about to
produce a fnal product Irom its frst cohort
as Noe announced that 'The frst cohort
will graduate in December, and the second
cohort has already started. ECE students
don`t have to wait long to get into the pro-
gram, as Noe added that a third cohot was
being recruited starting in November.
Roop also mentioned that 'Students in
the business program may also take part in
a similar program with Albertus Magnus
College.
Students who wish to join Wheelock
classes in the Iuture should contact Noe at
LNoehcc.commnet.edu or go to her oI-
fce, BH-346.
ECE Transfers Stay Close to Home
By Justin Quinn
stAff WritEr
W
hen I was growing up during the
winter time I would go out and
make extra money on the side
shoveling snow. Now I notice that kids
do not have the same opportunity I once
had. It seems as though something that
once was a big help to me and many oI my
Iriends back in the day isn`t even an option
anymore because the way technology has
advanced. The snow blowing business has
taken over the snow shoveling business.
According to doityourselI.com, 'Hav-
ing a snow blower is a reasonable tool
when dealing with really large amounts oI
snow, but a snow shovel is a really great
tool when dealing with small to awkward
places. The article also mentions that
even people with a snow blower consider a
snow shovel a very necessary tool.
But I`ve noticed the reason that a lot
oI people aren`t snow shoveling is be-
cause oI all the spinal injuries that could
occur. This is a risk, but more accidents
could actually happen with a snow blower
than with a snow shovel. According to the
Centers Ior Diseases Control, snow blow-
ers cause around 5,300 emergency related
injuries and around 1,000 amputations a
year, whereas with snow shoveling, 'more
than 1,750 children and adolescents under
the age oI 19 years were injured each year
while shoveling snow.
Then there is also the Iact that many
people have actually created lucrative busi-
nesses out oI snow shoveling like Witchit-
wa Snow Shoveling in Derby, where they
have snow plows hooked up to ATV`s
and put down salt and everything, leaving
someone who might be around the ages oI
12-15 no chance oI getting any extra cash
this holiday season.
I`ve also noticed that many adults with-
out jobs are trying to get in on the action
oI snow shoveling or snow blowing. 'NYC
is paying $12 an hour to people hired Ior
snow removal. So some oI that money will
come back to the local government in the
Iorm oI taxes. Yes, most oI these people
probably Iall in a very low income brack-
et, according to a recent article in TIME
magazine.
I asked Michael Mandel, ProIessor oI
Business at HCC, which is actually better
in his opinon, snow blowers or snow shov-
els. 'It`s actually an issue oI aIIordability
because snow blowers are not cheap and
besides you haven`t even thought oI the
third Iactor. People like getting their drive-
ways plowed now-a-days. completely get
rid oI the middleman and just go straight
Ior a contractual yearly obligation. He
also added to the logistics by saying, 'Peo-
ple will buy snow shovels just because they
are environmentally Iriendly and might not
get a lot oI snow in the neighborhood that
they live in, whereas someone who gets
Iour or fve Ieet oI snow, it`s impossible to
even imagine doing their driveway without
a snow blower.
A Iriend oI mine, Matt Otocka, also
talked about the change oI adults going
door to door, 'I don`t like it. It just creeps
me out. Just something about it where
someone is old enough to get a good, hard
decent job, is taking away jobs Irom the
kids in the neighborhood.
As Iar as businesses that specialize in
snow plowing bumping kids out oI the op-
portunity, he added, 'I think that isn`t Iair
as well. It isn`t Iair that a kid who gets up
at 5 a.m. to go out and make some extra
money is being pushed out not just by guys
(adults) who are more capable, but also by
guys that have plow trucks and a entire lu-
crative business behind them.
The Art of Snow Shoveling
By JEff MillEr
stAff WritEr
T
he Grizzlies stormed through the
Yankee Football ConIerence, tak-
ing the ConIerence Crown, and now
they head to Canton, Ohio Ior the National
Championship Game.
On November 10, in Ireezing cold
weather, the Grizzlies battled it out with
the University oI Vermont in the Yankee
Bowl.
This was the third straight year these
two teams met in the Yankee Bowl. The
Grizzlies won the two previous Bowl
games against Vermont.
The Grizzly oIIense started the game
oII with a 65-yard touchdown run by Del-
roy Morris. 'We ran a jet sweep, I was able
to get to the outside so I cut it up and took
oII. It was a big play, It got us on the board
frst. Morris said aIter the game. Vermonts
oIIense led by Quarterback Jack Leclerc
drove down the feld and answered with a
score to receiver Jake Bielecki.
This brought the game to 7-7, but a 30-
yard strike Irom Tyler Bevan to receiver
Tyler Conklin put the Grizz up 13-7. The
Grizzly DeIense led by DeIensive End Ty
Harris and Linebackers Shane Skowronski
and Sean Williams held the Vermont oI-
Iense to only 7 points in the 1st halI. '
Grizzly oIIense added two more scores
in the second quarter, a touchdown run by
Thomas Elem and a 20 yard score by re-
ceiver Tremaine Barnes. The Grizz went
into the halI with a 25-7 lead.
Vermont came out opening the 3rd
Quarter with a quick score to bring them
within 11, but a another score by Thomas
Elem put the Grizz back up by 17. AIter
the score by the Vermont oIIense the Grizz
deIense didn`t allow any more scores in the
3rd quarter.
The Grizz oIIense clicked on all cylin-
ders, managing almost score on every pos-
session. whether it was running the ball or
passing, they managed to have their way
the whole game. The Grizzlies won the
game 44-27.
'I`m glad we won the game, but we
got one more game leIt, and it`s going to
be the biggest game oI the year. We got to
remain Iocused and have a good week oI
practice this week. Skowronski said aIter
the game.
This gave the Grizz the ConIerence
Crown, and oIfcial punched their ticket to
Canton, Ohio Ior the National Champion-
ship. The Yankee Bowl MVP went to Del-
roy Morris, who had two receiving touch-
downs and a rushing touchdown. Morris
was also the only player on the team to
play both oIIense and deIense Ior the Griz-
zlies. 'This was our goal Irom the begin-
ning, it Ieels great to accomplish it. I`m re-
ally proud oI these guys. Morris said aIter
the 44-27 victory.
The Grizzlies traveled to the National
Football Hall oI Fame in Canton, Ohio Ior
the National Championship Game on No-
vember 17. The Grizzlies played Macon
State Irom Georgia. Macon State came out
strong scoring 19 unanswered points and
took a 19-0 lead going into the third quar-
ter. The Grizzlies struck back with a 50
yard touchdown pass to Receiver Tremaine
Barnes. With the Grizzlies down 19-8, Ma-
con State scored on a 12 yard touchdown
run by running back Jamuel Jones.
With the Grizz not being able to put any
more points on the board, Macon State won
the game 27-8 and took home the National
Title. Even though the Grizzlies didn`t win
this game, they should still hold their heads
high because oI the great season they had,
fnishing the year oII with an 8-1 record.
'It was a tough loss, we worked so hard
to get to this game, but it was still a great
year and I`m proud oI these guys, Mark
Zurlis said aIter the National Champion-
ship game.
Grizzlies Win Yankee Bowl,
Battle Macon State in National Championship
7
HORIZONS News You Can Use
arts & entertainment
news you can use
o
By sEMhAr sAMuEls
sEnior stAff WritEr
E
ver tried to conquer so many
things at once and really sat and
thought to yourselI what the hell
was I thinking? Well, that was me this
semester, but I don`t regret taking on so
much because even though I didn`t do well
in all my classes, it`s the Iact I made the
attempt to try. II I didn`t try then I would
be a Iailure. I just looked at this situation as
a lesson learned and I wasn`t ready Ior all
those classes and work.
This semester I thought it was wise to
take fve classes and work two jobs. That
was very Ioolish oI me, everyone said. But,
I was so determined that I could do it. As
we got deeper into the school year, I real-
ized that this is one oI the hardest things
I ever tried to do in my liIe, and I Iailed
at it miserably. I was very sad because I
wanted to prove everyone wrong, but with
all the school work and never having time
to do my homework, it was overwhelm-
ing. I was disappointed in myselI because
even though I said I tried, I didn`t try hard
enough and I knew that I could have done
it. I looked at myselI as a loser because I
Iailed.
Aaliyah Cruz, a current student at HCC,
tried the same thing I did and it worked out
Ior her. She mastered in what I Iailed at.
However, 'I had a lot oI sleepless nights,
she says. She spent more time staying up
doing homework aIter work and had no so-
cial liIe. She really gave a 100 percent to
her school work. She knew that she would
give up so much, but it would all be worth
it by getting her degree sooner than later.
Next semester she`s going to try six classes
to see how she does, and iI she Iails she`ll
stay doing fve because it`s more manage-
able.
June Ambrose is a successIul stylist Ior
the stars who started her own business. She
didn`t have the opportunity to go to col-
lege. She read books on Iashion and real-
ized that was her passion. She started her
own company, Mood Square ,and Irom
then on she built herselI Irom the ground
up. Today she is a very successIul women
in the Iashion industry. She tried, but it
wasn`t all easy, yet she made it happen.
She made the impossible possible. I want
the students at HCC to see her story as mo-
tivation and that anything is possible.
My point that I`m trying to make is try,
no matter what the outcome is, because
you never know iI what you try and Iail at
will be something you can accomplish.
Trying it All
By niColE CArpEntEr
stAff WritEr
W
ith the weather getting cooler
and trees shedding their leaves,
winter is notorious Ior the re-
lease oI many popular video games-Halo
4, Call oI Duty: Black Ops II, Assassin`s
Creed III,- as well as fnals looming right
around the corner. Staying motivated and
staying on track with school work becomes
increasingly diIfcult with the temptation
oI reuniting with your Iavorite Iranchise`s
hero. Maintaining a balance is important:
Is it possible to maintain your GPA and
save the world with Master ChieI?
It goes without saying that school work
should always come frst, unless, well,
playing and creating games is your job.
However, video games can be part oI a
helpIul plan Ior staying motivated with
studying or long projects. First year student
at HCC, Kristen, uses video games on her
iPhone as a reward system while studying.
'When I`ve studied Ior an hour, she says,
'I like to play a couple levels in Mega-
Run. Kristen doesn`t consider herselI a
hardcore gamer, but she enjoys games on
her iPhone.
'I`m totally addicted, she says.
For Major League Gaming proIessional
Halo player, Victory X, a Iull-time college
student at Michigan State, unlike Kristen,
video games are considered a job. Millions
oI dollars are on the line Ior competitive
video gamers, but none oI that prize money
is guaranteed. Having a back-up plan with
a college degree is a good idea. According
to MLG staII writer Kyle McGee, Victory
X has said in interviews that Ior him, it`s
essential to have a game plan going into the
week. His secret is managing his time? 'I
try to allocate one night I can practice dur-
ing that week to be Iair to my teammates,
but the other days I stick to studying.
While most students can`t say they are
being paid to play video games, many stu-
dents can learn Irom Victory X`s example
Ior managing time. Here are a Iew tips on
managing your time:
Stay organized - Keep a schedule, in-
cluding not only class time, but study time
as well.
Take breaks- II you`re getting stressed
Irom work, use this time Ior your gaming.
You will be more Iocused on studying aIter
a break.
Prioritize- School always comes frst!
Staying Iocused on the primary goal,
excelling in college, will help you maintain
the balance and motivate you to work hard.
And remember! Winter break is quickly
approaching, and you will have plenty oI
time Ior video games then.
Are You Controlled by Your Controller?
By rAChEl KuliKoWsKi
stAff WritEr
A
s you all know Irom attending
college, you can`t avoid certain
math requirements. Math classes
can sometimes cause anxiety Ior a lot oI
people.
Southern Connecticut State University
graduate Sarah Smith said, 'I Iound that the
speed at which the Math class was taught
caused conIusion. Only having a class a
Iew days a week Ior a Iew hours was not
enough time Ior me to ask questions and
Iully understand what was being taught. I
believe that iI I had a Math class every day
(mon-Iri), I would have been able to better
understand the topic oI discussion.
Even when it seems hopeless you can`t
just completely avoid certain math classes.
However, there is a new math class that
started up last semester that can help you
complete your math requirements.
This class is called Statway. ProIessor
Eddie Rose is currently teaching this class
at HCC. Statway I begins in the Iall, and
upon passing the frst phase, you move
onto Statway II during the spring. II a stu-
dent completes these two classes, it com-
pletes your HCC math requirements such
as MAT095 and MAT137. Rose also talk-
ed about the possibility oI this class cover-
ing your math requirements Ior a Iour-year
college. Rose`s Statway classes meet Mon-
day through Thursday, this schedule can be
benefcial to some students who Ieel the-
Iorget certain inIormation in between time
periods.
HCC student (and Horizons editor)
Karen Fernandez, who is currently taking
Statway I, explained that she thought the
class was worthwhile.
'Yes, I believe it`s the best alternative
Ior students with math anxiety. Being in
a selI-paced class, Statway students basi-
cally learn the material at their own speed
at home, while working together in groups
with other students in the classroom, shar-
ing ideas and learning diIIerent problem-
solving methods, She said.
For students interested in taking this
class, Statway 1 will be oIIered again in
the Fall 2013 semester. II you are a stu-
dent struggling in the developmental math
classes, or you just want to try a new math
class, I would defnitely say register this
Iall.
Math On a New Path
What will vou choose this semester. school books
or video games?
Photo by Nicole Carpenter
Math classes can sometimes cause
anxiety for a lot of people
8
HORIZONS News You Can Use
By KrystlE Krysi piCCinino
sEnior stAff WritEr
A
round this time oI year many peo-
ple get sick, but some do not know
whether or not they have a cold or
a virus. II a person has a cold, then there is
no point in going to the doctors because an-
tibiotics cannot cure a cold and the patient
just has to ride it out. On the other hand, iI
a person has a virus, antibiotics needs to be
administered.
According to fuIacts.com, a website
that explains infuenza in complete detail
sponsored by Genentech, a leader in the
biotechnology industry, October through
out May is fu season. Infuenza is a highly
contagious respiratory inIection that en-
ters the body through mucus membranes
such as the mouth, nose or eyes. The vi-
rus becomes airborne when a person with
the fu coughs or sneezes because it can be
inhaled by anyone nearby. The fu is also
so contagious that a person can come in
contact with the virus by even touching a
telephone or door knob and then touching
one oI the mucus membranes. The great-
est risk oI inIection is in highly populated
areas such as schools, buses and crowded
urban settings.
Webmd.com, a health limited liability
company sponsored by many diIIerent-
companies that does not provide medical
advice, diag
nosis or treatment, says, there are 3
types oI fu: Type A, Type B and Type C.
Type A is mainly Iound in birds but can
come in contact with humans. Type B is
only Iound in humans. Type C is are only
Iound in people and is the less milder oI
the three.
FluIacts.com specifes, 'Older adults,
young children, and people with specifc
health conditions are at higher risk Ior seri-
ous fu complications. On average annual-
ly in the US: 5 to 20 oI the population
gets the fu, over 200,000 people are hos-
pitalized Irom fu complications, and about
23,600 people die Irom fu-related causes.
Having a cold and the fu are similar
in that they are both respiratory illnesses,
but they are caused by diIIerent types oI
viruses and have diIIerent symptoms. So
do you have the fu or just a cold? Find out
the signs and symptoms now!
FluIacts.com also explains, II you
have the fu, the symptom onset is abrupt,
whereas iI you have a cold is it gradual. II
you have the fu a Iever usually lasts 3-4
days, whereas it is rare to have one iI you
have a cold. II you have aches that are se-
vere you may have the fu, whereas with a
cold they are slight. Chills are Iairly com-
mon with the fu, whereas with a cold they
are uncommon. People with the fu usually
Ieel Iatigue and weakness, whereas with
a cold people can sometimes Ieel weak.
When it comes to sneezing, having a stuIIy
nose and a sore throat, with the fu it may
sometimes occur and with a cold it is com-
mon. Having chest discomIort and a cough
is common and can be severe with the fu,
whereas with a cold it is mild to moder-
ate and a person can experience a hacking
cough. With the fu a headache is common,
whereas a headache is rare with a common
cold.
Dr. Kathleen Cercone, HCC Biology
ProIessor, adds, 'The time Irom when a
person is exposed
to fu virus to when
symptoms begin is
about 1 to 4 days,
with an average oI
about 2 days. Most
people who get in-
fuenza will recover
in a Iew days to less
than two weeks, but
some
people will de-
velop complications
(such as pneumonia)
as a result oI the fu,
some oI which can
be liIe-threatening
and result in death.
How can a per-
son get rid oI the
fu? Cercone says,
'Rest, Tamifu is a
drug that they can
give iI diagnosed. The Food and Drug
Administration has approved two antivi-
ral drugs, oseltamivir and zanamivir, Ior
the prevention and treatment oI fu. When
taken beIore the onset oI symptoms, the
drugs usually prevent a person Irom be-
coming sick. When taken up to 48 hours
aIter symptoms appear, the drugs usually
reduce the duration oI symptoms by one
to two days.
Dr. Larry Novik M.D., Irom PriMed
Family Practice in Fairfeld, oIIers another
easy, helpIul tip Irom when it comes to
Ieeling sick: 'II you see green or colored
mucus, you probably have a virus, al-
though it is normal to see colored mucus
within an hour oI waking up and an hour
oI going to sleep. Don`t rush to the doctor
the second you see colored mucus. Wait a
Iew days and make sure it is continuous.
Novik encourages students to stay
home Irom school by saying, 'II you
have the fu, it is encouraged that you stay
home so that germs are not spread.
Finally, Cercone adds, 'ThankIully
there are many ways to prevent the fu al-
together!
1. Get vaccinated, 2. Avoid contact
to others, 3. cover your mouth and nose,
when sneezing and coughing, 4. Hand
washing, 5. Don`t touch eyes, nose and
mouth, 6. Overall healthy living with ex-
ercise and diet.
Do I Have a Virus or Do I Have a Cold?
By BECKy lEgoutE
stAff WritEr
T
he semester has nearly ended, and
we just want to be over with it and
so the countdown begins. For some,
this time oI the school year is the most
stressIul. Ironically, we tend to become
less 'careIree and just as stress during
our winter break, a time Ior relaxation.
Christmas giIts, work, text books, bursar
deadlines, registration, fnancial aid, and
so much more plagues our thoughts when
we should have dropped a Iew oI our loads
when we took our last fnal.
There must be an easier way to bring
in the New Year and celebrate the holidays
with less stress and to have a Iresh start
with the new semester.
Dr. Dennis Williams, a Iamily physi-
cian, explains that, Irom his experience,
students may even be more stressed out
during the winter break than when they are
in school, especially non traditional stu-
dents. 'Personally, when I was in school
all I worried about during the holiday was
making enough money to start the next se-
mester, and buy christmas giIts. I worked
all the overtime that they oIIered, he said.
Then he said something that probably
relates to most oI the students at Housaton-
ic, 'Today, I think, your age group tend to
use their vacation time to squeeze time Ior
their Iriends, Iamily, and everything else
on their list, which can make a vacation
much more stressIul.
So what can we do, and how does this
ultimately aIIect the way we start the se-
mester?
Well, Dr. Williams completely agrees
that our winter break can have an eIIect on
the start oI the spring semester. He recom-
mends, as expected, sleep, less alcohol,
and time just Ior your selI to do absolutely
nothing, will defnitely make a winter holi-
day relaxing and easier to start the spring
semester.
Amanda Torres, sophomore, explains
that her holiday are Iun but never relax-
ing, 'I work more and probably don`t think
about school until the week beIore, she
says. She buys giIts Ior only her immedi-
ate Iamily, her daughter, and close Iriends,
and she works more in order to make mon-
ey so she doesn`t have to Ieel confned to
her house. As Iar as sleep is concern, she
doesn`t sleep any less or any more than she
normally would during school, still late
nights and early mornings, pretty similar to
a typical school semester .
According to studies Irom Cigna, the
health insurance company, sleep and stress
go hand in hand, thus creating restless
weeks, months, and even a restless and
stressIul liIestyle all together. Less sleep
equals more stress, whether it is working,
buying christmas giIts, or even preparing
Ior the next semester.
A Iew tips to get a good night`s rest
that we all may beneft Irom: Avoid tea,
coIIee and soda beIore bedtime as they
contain caIIeine, which induces wakeIul-
ness, but try a glass oI warm milk instead.
Contrary to popular belieI alcohol may ap-
pear to help you Iall asleep, however this
sleep will not be restIul at all, but shallow.
Make your selI as comIortable, and relaxed
as possible beIore you sleep and use your
bed only Ior sleeping. Despite these help-
Iul tips we may fnd ourselves still awake
and staring at the clock. It is suggested that
in this situation we should go into another
room and do something relaxing until you
Ieel tired again.
Over and over again we hear sugges-
tions on how to alleviate stress and nothing
really works, or we have a hard time try-
ing out these suggestions because our liIe-
style doesn`t have room. However, Ior the
eIIect in the long run, the best suggestion
is to stay away or take a stressIul situation
in as many low dosages as possible, espe-
cially work. There is no school (at least
Ior some oI us) during the winter break
and we shouldn`t think about it until the
time comes. However Ior work, when you
leave, as many oI us have probably heard,
we should leave work at work as well. This
takes a lot oI practice, but something that
can help us to wake up on January 26th,
and return to school reIreshed.
Now, Amanda isn`t the frst and won`t
be the last student to work more during
her vacation and not catch up on sleep. It
is something that we all do, and then there
are some that party harder making it even
worse.
By the time the end oI January comes,
we are worn out and probably even more
tired. Some may be excited Ior the new se-
mester and some oI us, just want to catch
up on sleep and relax. Our bodies need
time to recuperate and prepare. We hear
it all the time, we need to fnd a balance,
and Ior young students it becomes harder
to fnd a balance between our bodies, social
liIe, work and school.
The Iact is, we want to take advantage
oI our Iree time during the holidays and
catch up with Iriends, and loved ones. We
want to catch up on our social lives, and
still make enough money, maybe even a
little extra. However, this can only make
the beginning oI the next school year even
more stressIul.
Williams explains that we are creatures
that need a routine. Thus, sleeping and
dealing with our stressIul jobs, and maybe
even Iamilies, can help us start the semes-
ter reIreshed and continue it so. Think
about it, our bodies are already getting
use to a fve week rest period, and it will
command you to continue do so during
the school semester.
Take a second and ponder on this Ior a bit.
II our bodies are well rested, and we fnd
ourselves with more energy to start our
winter days, most likely; by the time Janu-
ary 25 rolls around, as long as we listen to
it, we may be satisfed with the results.
At the end oI the day, it is all easier said
than done. But the sacrifce and eIIort may
just be worth it. So let`s take one day at a
time and in low dosages.
Is it Really Winter Break?
Older adults, young children, and people with
specihc health conditions are at higher risk for
serious u complications.`
Depiction of the Inuen:a virus
9
HORIZONS News You Can Use
By shErly MontEs
stAff WritEr
E
very holiday season we give and re-
ceive giIts. Some we love and oth-
ers we don`t. We struggle to fnd the
perIect giIts Ior the ones we love, spend
countless hours at jam-packed malls, go to
all the sales, and some oI us even go out on
Black Friday! All to fnd the best giIts. But
what is the best giIt?
HCC student Brandon Jimenez says,
'It`s hard to fnd the perIect giIt because
nothing is perIect. Someone will always
fnd something better. But Ior me, giIt
cards or anything monetary is a good giIt.
Yet Jimenez also shared, 'My aunt gave
me deodorant as a Christmas giIt and I
thought that was bad, so I gave it to my
sister instead.
It turns out that Jimenez isn`t the only
one who has received a bad giIt beIore.
Bad giIts can be pretty common around
this time oI year, simply because fnding
the 'perIect giIt varies depending on who
you are shopping Ior and how much they
mean to you.
Ashley Alicea, an HCC student says,
'I`m not really a giIt person so I think the
perIect Christmas giIt would be just be-
ing with my Iamily and having all the hot
chocolate I can drink although I wouldn`t
mind a diamond ring!
'It is so hard to fnd the perIect Christ-
mas giIt because people are so picky and
they always want the latest things in tech-
nology which are always expensive. This
is probably why I`m not a giIt person, the
cheapest thing in technology is usually
around two hundred dollars, she added.
It seems like there`s always someone
who receives some type oI disastrous giIt
Irom a distant relative or someone who is
completely unrelated that just didn`t want
to make you Ieel leIt out. The thing about
these giIts is that they can be extremely
disappointing, especially when they are
just given to you without any type oI per-
sonalization or real thought.
Alicea had one oI these experiences and
shared, 'One time, my brother`s ex-girl-
Iriend gave me body wash and a sponge.
She said it was her aunt`s, but her aunt
didn`t want it so she gave it to me instead.
It wasn`t even wrapped and it still had the
price tag on it!
HCC student Meghan Nealy said,'A
bad giIt that I got Irom my cousin was a
stupid, childish, hat, gloves and scarI. This
was last year when I was seventeen. I told
my cousin that I didn`t need this stupid hat.
Just give me fve bucks and we`ll call it a
day!
Finding the perIect giIt is obviously not
easy. We all know that. I mean, come on,
we`ve all walked around a store Ior the
longest time until our Ieet hurt just because
we were trying to fnd something that stood
out to us or something that would match
our loved one`s personality. Sometimes we
put so much thought into the giIt and we go
over the top to impress someone, or some-
times we don`t put enough eIIort in and it
can turn really ugly, really quick.
'One year, I got my sister these weird
earrings. I thought they were oval earrings
and I wasn`t paying attention so I ended
up getting these weird circle earrings. It
was so awkward. I told her I was so sorry,
and she never ended up wearing them any-
ways, said Nealy. Nealy shares that she
would love a brand new TV Ior Christmas,
but the best part about Christmas is just
spending time with her Iamily.
The holiday season is obviously a time
Ior shopping, spending, pleasing the ones
you love, and even rewarding them Ior
their good behavior during the year. Don`t
Iorget to put some special thought into the
giIts you buy. They can either make people
happy or they can scar them and next thing
you know, you`re reading about the hor-
rible giIt you gave that person in the paper!
So make sure to buy your loved ones nice
giIts, they don`t have to be over the top,
just keep it sweet and simple. Most impor-
tantly, be sure to spend lots oI time with
those you love because according to your
Iellow HCC students, Iamily is the best
part about Christmas and presents are just
a bonus.
What in the World is the Ultimate Christmas
Present?
By ElizABEth figuEroA
stAff WritEr
T
is the season to keep warm, and it`s
heating up in HCC. Now that the
weather is cold the scarves, boots
and sweaters have come out. As we take
a look around campus everyone seems to
be rocking the hottest trends. According
to CSI.com, the colors Ior Iall/winter are
grey, royal, winter white, ink, emerald, and
bright purple. Many young people tend to
get their ideas and inspiration Ior outfts
Irom celebrities, TV, and magazines. Fall/
Winter Iashion is always Iun because one
can show oII their unique style.
There are many 'go to places to pick
up some new clothes and accessories this
season that are very reasonable with pric-
es. Olivia Delprete shares her hot spots Ior
shopping.
'I go to Iorever 21, Charlotte Russe,
H&M, and DSW Ior shoes. I love bar-
gains and buying things that are on sale,
she said. The Iall and winter colors inspire
many ideas to work with. For ladies, For-
ever 21, Charlotte Russe, and H&M are all
very similar stores. One can go into each oI
these stores with $100 and walk out with at
least sx items on a single shopping trip.
Anthony Jobe gives us insight on what
is appropriate Ior guys to rock this season.
Jobe says 'Trench coats are last season but
you can bring it back with a pair oI nice
ftted jeans, a nice watch, and belt that
matches your sneakers. His style is time-
less Irom his black apple jacket all the way
down to his wrist locked with his Michael
Kors watch and his black beaded Aussie
and Davis bracelet. His burgundy pants
Irom H&M only cost him $12.50, accom-
panied by his black and white converse
that rang at $40.00.
'II I were to go to the mall I would go to
H&M because they have great prices. You
gotta pick your own sense oI style. What
works Ior you may not work Ior someone
else, said Jobe.
He talked about not being aIraid to go
to the fea market and picking up a sweat-
er, making it look pricey with an outft.
There are many places to fnd chic items
at low prices.
WilIred Ulerio shops at Marshalls,
Old Navy, and TJ Maxx. These stores are
known to keep up with the latest Iashion
and give their customers more bang Ior
their buck.
Marshalls and TJMaxx carry many
name brand designers such as Converse,
JenniIer Lopez, Marc Anthony, Jessica
Simpson, Steve Madden, Ralph Lauren
Polo, Nautica, American Eagle, and Hol-
lister.
Carlee Erickson proudly said, 'I love
bargain shopping. I like getting good deals.
It`s Iun! Erickson also likes to shop at
American Eagle and Marshalls. Marshalls
has a great mega shoe depot where one can
fnd name brand shoes on sale, Ior under
$30.00!
There are a Iew diIIerent kind oI comIy
sweaters to wear Ior the season. For ladies,
you can put a sweater dress on with some
tights and leather boots to keep your legs
warm. There are also chunky knits that
come in diIIerent styles such as button up
and oII-the-shoulder cardigans, that look
great! Sweaters come in diIIerent Iabrics
such as cotton, wool and cashmere which
are all very cozy. V-necks, cardigans, zip
neck or button sweaters come in many diI-
Ierent colors Ior guys to choose Irom. To
keep yourselI warm uderneath, throw on a
canvas long sleeve and even a knitted scarI
iI it`s a brisk day. The hats appropriate Ior
the division oI Iall/winter are beanies,
skull and trapper hats which have Iur on
the inside to keep you warm.
For ladies who wear skirts or dresses,
cover your legs with stockings or leggings.
You can pick up a pair oI cable knit leg-
gings that are thick and comIortable at For-
ever 21 Ior $15.80. You can get stockings
anywhere, even at your closest Walgreens
or CVS. To mix and match the colors with
your outft is up to you!
What you shouldn`t do is be too matchy
matchy, Ior example, a bright blue scarI
with a black shirt and blue leggings with
black fats; that`s a hell NO! Having just
the right amount oI colors in your outft
will make it more noticeable and stand out.
You will defnitely stand out with the blue
outft but not in a good way.
Try something diIIerent that will give
you your own signature style. For exam-
ple, this goes Ior both ladies and gentle-
men: II it`s Iairly chilly outside, a trench
coat with a long sleeve shirt and boot cut
jeans will be perIect. For ladies you can
hook it up with high-waisted pants and a
loose top that fatters you. Make your out-
ft pop with some cute cheetah print fats
or some combat boots that will make you
look edgy. You can defnitely make your
outft complete with just the right amount
oI accessories. A silver, black or gold
choker necklace will look so cute with stud
earings or hoop earring depending on the
style oI your hair. A thin bracelet or bold
ring will go perIectly with your Iab outft.
Pearl earrings are also cute and classy, and
they go with almost anything.
For the Iellas, wear the trench coat with
a cashmere sweater and dark jeans that will
go great with some Dr.Martens. This is just
an idea oI what you can do with a trench
coat and there are other ways to really own
it iI your put your creative mind to it!
Boot cut and skinny jeans seem to be
the new thing that everyone is wearing.
Lucky Brand, American Eagle, Hollister,
Lee, Levis, Wrangler and Calvin Klein all
make great, durable jeans.
Appropriate shoes Ior this season
would be boots, sneakers, and moccasins.
Ugg, Polo, Vans, Nike, Jordans, Madden
girl, Converse, Minnetonka, Dr. Martens,
Adidas, and Shii all carry awesome styles
Ior this season.
Wear something that will not only keep
you warm, but also Iashionable. When
shopping and one sees something on sale,
it`s smart to shop with the mindset oI what
one can pair with the item to make an out-
ft. Think oI what kind oI zesty or Iunky
style you are going to incorporate Ior this
season. Fashion and shopping are Iun, and
even more so when you make it your own.
Flashin Fashion in Action Transitioned With
Weather Change
'It is so hard to hnd the perfect Christmas gift
because people are so pickv`
Got some news you want covered?
Have an opinion you want to express about something you`ve read?
Let us know!
Write to housatonichorizonsgmail.com.
10
HORIZONS News You Can Use
Keep Your Friends Close, Keep Your Credit
Cards Closer
How to Keep your Information Safe Online
By JEssiCA BrooKs
stAff WritEr
D
o you know where your credit
cards are? Having your personal
inIormation stolen can be one oI
the worst Ieelings in the world, and it hap-
pens to more than 300,000 or more people
by the end oI the year, according to the FBI
web site. With the holidays coming up, it is
important that people beware the dangers
oI shopping online. Credit card inIorma-
tion should be treated like the sensitive in-
Iormation that it is because, as we all know,
the Internet is not as saIe as we would all
like to believe.
There are many misconceptions about
people who steal credit card inIormation,
specifcally how the inIormation is taken.
According to a Identity TheIt Hotline rep-
resentative, there are Iour major things you
can do to prevent yourselI Irom becoming
a victim to this particular crime:
1. Thieves do not need your actual
credit card or credit card number to receive
your private inIormation. 'Secure birth
certifcates, social security cards and credit
cards, when not in use, should be kept in a
saIe at home, said a TheIt Hotline repre-
sentative.
2. Keep personal inIormation oII the
Internet. Many people don`t understand
that a thieI doesn`t need much inIormation
to steal credit card numbers or even go as
Iar as identity theIt. Your birthday on Face-
book, Twitter or any other social network-
ing site, a home address or a telephone
number, can easily lead to other inIorma-
tion being Iound.
3. Watch your bank statements closely.
The Identity TheIt hotline representative
says that 'monthly statements Irom your
bank should be reviewed careIully, but now
it is recommended to track your spending
weekly, just to be on the saIe side.
4. Go paperless as much as possible.
'Accessing your inIormation at the issuer`s
website is much more saIe., the represen-
tative says. II it is not possible to get rid
oI traditional paper mail then 'shred ev-
erything you receive aIter you have viewed
it. Paper trails are usually the frst way
thieves get the inIormation that they need
in order to commit the crime.
Transactions on the Internet are not the
only ways credit card inIormation can be
liIted online. Lynn Grandison was a victim
oI credit card theIt by one oI the most typi-
cal ways to get your inIormation stolen,
leaving your credit cards out in the open. 'I
never thought I had to hide my credit cards
in my own home, she said.
Grandison had a Iew guests over her
house and when the company leIt, some-
thing didn`t Ieel right. 'I had an uneasy
Ieeling Ior the rest oI the night and the next
morning I decided to check my credit card
history, and with no surprise her intuition
was dead on. More than fve thousand dol-
lars in online orders were being processed
that aIternoon.
So how was her inIormation liIted? The
numbers, which would be the sixteen digit
number on the Iront and the three digit
security code on the back, were taken oII
oI her credit card and used to make online
purchases. 'I am one oI the lucky ones,
she says. II I didn`t catch the purchases
when I did then fve thousand dollars oI my
money would be gone.
Making sure that your personal inIor-
mation is locked away and secure at all
times is extremely important and now that
we are I the busiest season Ior holiday
shopping, it is crucial to keep your eyes on
your bank statement. No matter iI you`re
18 with a credit card or 50, inIormation can
be taken Irom anyone by anyone.
'Making sure that vour personal information is locked
away and secure at all times is extremely important
Image By Claude Blake
11
Visit HCC Online!
Curious about the services, courses, and programs at HCC? Go to http://www.hcc.commnet.edu, the colleges
home page. From there you can navigate the various departments, search for courses, or follow links to other
useful sites, such as MyCommnet and the HCC Foundation.
HORIZONS News You Can Use
By KrystlE Krysi piCCinino
sEnior stAff WritEr
A
ttending Housatonic, it is always
great to know tips about transIer-
ring to a 4-year university iI you
wish to go beyond your associate`s degree.
II not, here are some helpIul hints to main-
tain great grades!
An article entitled '10 Trips From
TransIerring From a Community College
by Jeremy S. Hyman and Lynn F Jacobs,
indicates, 'Community colleges are com-
mon, even when it comes to those students
who expect to go on to get a bachelor`s at
a Iour-year college aIter their associates.
Due to the price diIIerence oI commu-
nity colleges to 4-year universities, it may
make sense to start oII at a 2-year school.
II such guarantees don`t exist where we
live, here are 10 steps Irom the article so
you can take to ease your transIer Irom a
community college to a university and in-
crease the odds that your credits will count
when you get there:
1. Complete your associates degree.
National research shows that community
college students who fnish their degree
program complete the baccalaureate at a
much higher rate than those students who
transIer with simply a grab bag oI credits.
2. Shop around. Examine all oI the op-
tions available to you as a transIer student.
Examine both public and private Iour-year
institutions to decide what will be the best
ft Ior you. The Iour-year institution that
you had your heart set on in high school
might not ultimately be the best choice Ior
the subject you want to pursue.
3. Plan ahead. The earlier you begin to
prepare Ior transIer, the better. Visit your
top choices, collect transIer materials, and
fnd out iI there are any transIer agree-
ments between where you are and where
you want to go. The more inIormation that
you have, the easier it will be to make a
decision.
4. Know what actually transfers.
Make sure you are picking courses that are
transIerable to colleges and universities.
4-Star Tip: Many states have 'articula-
tion agreementsnegotiated documents
that make clear what`s needed to transIer
Irom one higher education institution to
another. The beneft to you as a student is
that the agreement takes the guesswork out
oI the process by telling you, in black and
white, what classes you need to take and
what grades you need to make to avoid los-
ing hard-earned credits when you transIer.
Housatonic has a number oI these agree-
ments. You can learn more on the Col-
lege`s web site.
5. Dont be shy. Meet regularly with ad-
visers. Keep your adviser inIormed oI your
transIer plans, and as transIer approaches,
set a time to meet with an adviser at your
target institution. II you try to navigate this
process without the help oI advisers, you
might not be able to maximize your com-
munity college courses.
6. Choose a major. Pick your major
early, and seek advice about the best cours-
es to take to meet requirements. By choos-
ing your major early, you can take the pre-
requisites that you need Ior that program at
the university. Well-planned course taking
will help you fnish your transIer program
more eIfciently, saving you time and mon-
ey in the long run.
7. Get admitted. Make sure that you
apply to both the institution as well as the
program that you want to attend at that
institution. II you get admitted to the uni-
versity, it oIten does not mean that you are
admitted to the specifc program that you
want to study, like engineering or nursing.
Make sure you complete those application
materials, too. The deadlines Ior the uni-
versity admissions materials and the pro-
gram admissions materials might be diIIer-
ent. Do your research!
8. Make them show you the money.
Fill out the Free Application Ior Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA) iI you have not done
so already. Call the university admissions
oIfce to see iI it has scholarships set aside
Ior transIer studentsmany institutions
do. Make sure that you meet all oI the
deadlines Ior fnancial aid. Otherwise, you
might miss out on assistance that is avail-
able to you.
9. Attend orientation. You might think
that you do not need this because you al-
ready are a college student. But navigating
the university is diIIerent. Take advantage
oI the opportunities that the universities
have created Ior transIer students. These
orientations will help ease the transIer pro-
cess.
10. Stay focused. This one is easy to
Iorget. Whether it`s your associate`s or
bachelor`s degree we`re talking about,
fnishing on time is not easy. But it can
be done iI you are Iocused and work hard.
Keep your goal in mind even when you`re
working in your hardest class, which you
don`t much like. It will all pay oII.
Megan Fitzgerald, writer oI the article
TransIer Irom wildcat.arizona.edu, tries to
enlighten the transition by saying 'Trans-
Ierring should be easier Ior the newbies.
There are Iar too many hoops to jump
through Ior it to be leIt up to the student
to fnd their own way. I, Ior one, was too
busy working to attend any seminars or
convocations. For those oI you in a similar
situation, heed my advice: Avoid schedul-
ing classes only 10 minutes apart. Study
your schedule. Invest in a bike or go broke
trying to park. And, last but not least, order
your textbooks online and avoid the lower
level oI the bookstore altogether. Needless
to say, so Iar university is everything I`d
hoped it wouldn`t be. I`d be lying iI I said
I didn`t miss the simplicity oI my commu-
nity college.
Transitions101.com, a transitions guide
Ior community college students, encourag-
es students to not be aIraid.They suggest::
II you don`t understand what is
being said or asked oI you seek
clarifcation - don`t assume!
Read all oI your handouts AND
any mail you receive Irom
school.
II it isn`t clear fnd out how your
fnal grade will be determined.
How much is dependent upon
quizzes, classroom participation,
fnal exams, etc?
You won`t be competing with
other students in the classroom,
you`ll be competing with the
learning expectations oI your
instructor - fnd out what they are
- iI you make an assumption on
what is expected oI you it could
be refected adversely on your
grades!
Personal support systems are es-
sential, especially during crisis -
like poor perIormance on a quiz,
encounters with overbearing
instructors, students, or Iaculty
- they can help diIIuse misunder-
standings, provide advice, and
otherwise console you when you
need it most.
Communication is the corner-
stone - especially with instruc-
tors, Iamily, and employers - let
them know about schedules,
problems, and emergencies.
Classroom attendance may be
important - fnd out up Iront what
your instructor expects oI you
and what your school`s policies
are - don`t assume that memoriz-
ing the textbook will get you by.
Timeliness is important - due
dates Ior assignments, start times
Ior classes, and meetings with
instructors or Iaculty involve
others who place importance on
the established or agreed to dates
and times - respect these, it could
refect on your grade or Iormu-
late an opinion about you that
isn`t accurate!
Your lack oI planning may not be
a crisis Ior someone else - don`t
expect the copy center to move
your report to the Iront oI the line
because you waited till the last
minute to bring it in.
Used textbooks are cheaper, but
usually aren`t available at the last
minute. Shop early iI you want a
used textbook.
Don`t take advice Irom other
students about campus policies,
classroom norms, or instructors`
preIerences - determine these
things by checking with your in-
structor, advisor, or school policy
manual when in doubt.

Another great tool Irom transitions101.
com says about transitions is time manage-
ment. You have to identiIy the essentials.
Work commitment. II you have a job make
sure your boss knows you are going to
school, when the classes are, and what you
are trying to accomplish. Classroom atten-
dance. Find out Irom each oI your instruc-
tors what is expected Irom you - will class-
room participation impact your grade? Is
interacting with other students and the in-
structor essential to learning? Family obli-
gations. II you have a spouse, children, or
others who depend upon you Ior emotion-
al, as well as tangible support, make sure
they know how much time is required Ior
schoolwork. II you have one, Dont com-
pletely abandon your family commitments
- this will have consequences as well. You
can generate a lot oI unnecessary stress by
alienating a spouse, your children, or oth-
ers who are personally important to you
because it appears that you don`t have time
Ior them any more.
According to transitions101.com, pre-
paring beIore and aIter class is important.
To prepare Ior and aIter class, the website
says, 'Review your syllabus so that you
are aware oI assignments Ior the upcom-
ing class. Look over your notes Irom the
previous lecture and make note oI any
questions you need to ask. Reading the
appropriate chapters and doing assigned
homework beIore class will help make
your note-taking go smoothly. II the ma-
terial is hard to understand and you have
the time, reread it. Note any concepts
that you don`t understand in order to ask
questions iI it is not cleared up in class.
AIter class. Review your notes as soon aI-
ter class as possible and beIore your next
class meets.
Rewrite them iI it helps you to remem-
ber. Write down any questions or elaborate
in the margins to fnish ideas/concepts. II
you are a visual learner, you may want to
draw diagrams or charts to help with recall.
II the material Iacilitates using note
cards, then make them soon aIter your
class and begin reviewing them in your
spare time. Recitation oI main terms and
defnitions is very helpIul and is very easy
to do with note cards.
Sara Nagy, HCC student oI two years,
says, 'I`m 30 years old and never thought
I`d have to come back to college. The
amount oI money classes and textbooks
cost is outrageous. I never knew I`d ever
be in school supporting a Iamily. Times
are tough and it`s takes eIIort to take col-
lege seriously and iI you`re going to put
the time in then you might as well make it
worth it!
Four Year Master Plan
Helpful Tips on Your Transfer to a Four Year College
Image by Vonmarie Navarro
12
HORIZONS Opinions
arts & entertainment
opinions opinions opinions
By grEg BlACKWEll
sEnior stAff WritEr
S
craps oI wrapping paper litter your
foor. Receipts Ior stores ranging
Irom JCPenney to Dick`s Sporting
goods are tucked snugly in your wallet. As
you relax in your bed, you turn on a vin-
tage Christmas movie. Noticing the blithe
smiles oI a Iamily surrounding their din-
ing table you think 'Wow that looks like an
old school Christmas all right, not too bad!
Nowadays shopping and giIt giving seem
to be the key element oI Christmas... And
that, is the maniIestation oI what Christ-
mas is being turned into.
Student Marisol Blake says, 'I give
giIts to every one oI my Iamily members.
Some Christmases I like the extravagance
and giIts, but other times I would just as
soon spend time with my Iamily the en-
tire day, not placing as much emphasis
on material things. I suppose it`s a 50/50
percent to me. Part oI me wants a simple,
comIortable Christmas with just Iamily
and nothing else, the other halI wants the
Iull blown deal with tons oI giIts and Iancy
knicknacks. I must say, though, I do get
very stressed around the holidays, there`s
so much to do!
One oI the major questions that has
plagued people is how Christmas has
transpired Irom a day oI celebrating the
birth oI Christ and seeing your loved ones,
to a mass giIt giving Irenzy. To many, pur-
chasing giIts and spending hundreds oI
dollars on Iriends and Iamily is paramount
to a successIul, happy Christmas. We all
know that giIt giving began in roughly the
Iourth century, with the Christian bishop
St. Nick giving out giIts to less Iortunate
children. This resulted in a massive world-
wide acceptance oI the spirit oI giving dur-
ing holidays. For all intents and purposes,
giving giIts away and receiving them is a
pleasurable experience and is not to be dis-
couraged. However the Iact that, to some,
Christmas begins as soon as Iall is in swing.
This can prove to be a hair raising time Ior
them due to having to decide how much to
spend on their husband/wiIe/kids/brothers
and so on. The result oI all this shopping,
spending, and detective work to make sure
they like their giIt can be very stressIul.
The expenditures do not end with solely
presents either. There are several celebra-
tions, expensive dinners and gatherings
that occur during the holidays where peo-
ple are encouraged to spend loads oI mon-
ey to Iully participate. With the economy
still suIIering signifcantly, times are tough
and many Iamilies may be hesitant to put
a chain lock on their bank account and not
pay up. Several will splurge, resulting in
potentially heavy fnancial losses.
So Iar it has been evident that, in gener-
al, people do like giIt giving and receiving
during the holidays, however the spending
and sense oI urgency Irom getting the right
giIt on time is a heavy burden to people.
According to the American Psychological
Association,(the world`s largest organiza-
tion representing psychology in the USA),
lack oI money and the pressure oI giIt giv-
ing are the most signifcant contributors
to holiday stress(shooting up to 42 Ior
contributions oI holiday stress). These are
closely Iollowed by lack oI time (34) and
good ol` credit card debt (23).
HCC student Sergio Escobar says, 'The
Christmas season is just like a repeating
cycle oI Black Friday. Everybody is try-
ing to beat rush hour, every single person
is hell bent on getting that new top-oI-the-
line Ipad or some other sort oI advanced
technology. People almost seem to look
at Iamily members as being something oI
a distraction to their determination to get
giIts. I preIer to have a fxed amount to
spend on people, and then stick with it.
People nowadays are really being stripped
oI the core symbolism oI Christmas- their
own Iamilies. My ideal Christmas is just
listening to holiday music, keeping it mel-
low, while watching some nice Christmas
movies. That`s all I need.
According to 'The Economist, the
USA surpassed all countries in terms oI
overall expenditures Ior Christmas, sec-
ondary only to Luxembourg. In 2011, the
average shopper spent $704.18 on giIts
and seasonal items. This year will likely be
even higher.
GiIt giving has gone Irom being a bor-
derline Irivolous attribution to a happy
Christmas to it being a necessary require-
ment Ior holiday lovers. My point here
is not to scold people who splurge their
money on giIts Ior their loved ones. How-
ever, you might reap more benefts while
enjoying the fner parts oI christmas by just
sitting around a fre, watching a Iew mov-
ies, and enjoying each other`s company.
But don`t Iorget the eggnog; that stuII is
amazing!
By AMAndA friot
sEnior stAff WritEr
W
hat comes to mind when you
hear the word 'rich? Most oI
us think wow, money, extrava-
gance, spacious homes and trendy cars.
OI course when the word poor comes into
play, we believe what that means is lack
oI money or borderline broke. What these
thoughts have in common is that things are
majorly related to money or materialism
and that these terms only cover how well
oII in the cash or credit card department
someone is.
In all reality iI someone is raking in
$500,000 per year, has already paid oII
their mortgage and this is their tenth time
booking a fight to Aruba, chances are peo-
ple would admire the Iact that this person
has stacks oI money or is 'rich. I`m sure
in time this rich person would receive vari-
ous compliments pertaining to their luxu-
ries and Iancy appearance. Not only that,
but there are plenty oI people who would
then be envious and wish to be them. On
the surIace this appears to be a Iantastic
living style, but in my opinion, in all reality
iI you do not posses love, happiness and do
not genuinely love yourselI or are generous
and caring toward others, then no doubt
you are truly classifed as poor in some as-
pect. An aspect not having anything to do
with money.
'I live a mediocre liIestyle, sometimes
in a struggle. I think oI myselI as rich be-
cause I have a great Iamily, a great sense
oI humor and enjoy what liIe has provided
me with. I am rich because I am breath-
ing, says relative Lila Tanguay. Just be-
cause someone is less Iortunate and does
not have an incredible supply oI money
,does not mean they are not blessed in a
great deal oI ways. People tend to overlook
their Iortune because their purse or wallet
is empty.
'I have Iriends and I never Ieel alone,
that right there makes me Ieel like a
wealthy and lucky person, because mental-
ly I always Ieel stable, says Eddie Hana-
nia, Iormer Jonathan Law student. Having
a loving rooI over your head, an education
to pursue, a number oI support mechanisms
such as Iriends, Iamily and Iun things to
do in your spare time, makes a wealthy or
poor individual all the more complete. That
being said, the adrenaline and excitement
oI just liIe itselI and all the beautiIul things
about it can easily replace the agony or dis-
comIort oI not having money.
According to personal stories oI liIe`s
experiences Iound on www.experiencepro-
ject.com, 'The rich and Iamous have made
name, Iame, and gold more important
than Iundamental relationships. In other
words, by overlooking the relationships
that are present in one`s liIe only to go
elsewhere to be occupied with money, can
be very unhealthy. It`s always important to
maintain your sanity by knowing you have
supportive Iamily around you; even pets,
Iriends to lean on, shelter around you and
a good direction in liIe. These are some oI
the best luxuries you can ever encounter.
Love is also the best thing you can ever ex-
perience, with no charge. As the old saying
goes, 'Money can`t buy you love.
So next time you`re Ieeling down be-
cause taxes are draining you dry, you don`t
get paid enough or your credit card bills
are too high, think oI all the brilliant things
you do have that didn`t cost a thing. Money
can soIten the blow but not always ease the
mind iI all you have going Ior you is mate-
rialist goods.
Remember, when you are in your Iuzzy
bathrobe popping toast in the toaster early
in the morning with your Iavorite coIIee
brewing in the coIIee maker, don`t say to
yourselI 'I have nothing, tell yourselI you
have everything, even iI you paid it with
change.
People, it`s really not that diIfcult to
be polite, in Iact, it takes more eIIort to
be grossly uncivilized considering how
one gets agitated, angry, one`s heart rate
elevates, which in turn makes one sweat/
change colors, etc.., basically, it`s just not
worth it. In the end, one only ends up mak-
ing a jackass out oI oneselI.
Last Thanksgiving, another co-worker
oI mine, Megan Duhancik, had the plea-
sure oI dealing with a V.I.P (a very igno-
rant person) in the bakery. 'I approached
the woman and asked politely, hi, is there
anything I can help you with?` And with an
attitude she said, no, you can`t help me!
(Pointing to my supervisor...) He is already
helping me, so why don`t you mind your
own business and go futter away! re-
counts Duhancik. 'I got very upset. I was
only doing my job trying to assist her, all
she had to say was, no thank you, I`m al-
ready being helped,` and I would`ve moved
on to the next person in line.
It seems that during the holiday sea-
son, people become raging ego maniacs,
especially in retail. We Iorget that the per-
son providing us the service is just that, a
regular person. They aren`t the CEO oI the
company, they`re not the ones who manu-
Iacture the product being sold, and they`re
most defnitely not Superman. That person
is just an employee oI perhaps a major cor-
poration whom`s best interests are sales
and proft, not the happiness and satisIac-
tion oI its miserable employees.
I`ve been working in retail since I was
sixteen, and one thing I can say is that it`s a
never-ending cycle oI rude customers and
rude employees. In cases where the em-
ployee has a nasty attitude Irom the mo-
ment one walks up and says 'hi, it may
be that they are just Ied up with the verbal
abuse day in and day out. I know there are
times when I too have reached my break-
ing point.
In a perIect world, customer service
would be a dream job, because one would
get to help other jolly people, such as one-
selI, who aim to make the retail experience
as pleasant and peachy Ior others as well as
themselves.
Since our human race is not such, the
best thing one can do is, not be that d.b.
customer who cusses everyone out over a
shortage oI boston-creme donuts, or that
employee with a nasty, attitude problem
whom everyone hates dealing with. Think
about it, liIe is short. It`s unwise to waste
it having meaningless disputes with people
one barely knows over material things that
really don`t matter.
Jingle All the Way
Till Youre Broke!
Some Things Are Better Than Money
Photo by Charles Chen.
13
HORIZONS Opinions
Help Save A Life
Get Free Juice and Cookies!
By ArAyAnsy gArCiA
sEnior stAff WritEr
T
he American Red Cross states that
just one pint oI blood can help save up
to three lives.
When whole blood is donated, the
blood is separated into three compo-
nents that consist oI red cells, platelets
and plasma which is why just one pint
can save up to three lives.
With more and more natural disas-
ters, accidents, illnesses, and surgeries
happening every day, the next person
that may end up needing blood is you.
According to the American Red
Cross, every two seconds someone
needs a blood transIusion.
The Ieeling oI knowing you helped
save a liIe by donating blood can be
immense. But the Ieeling oI knowing
that maybe you will help save your
own or a loved one`s liIe one day, can
be beyond what you have ever imag-
ined.
The American Red Cross is dedi-
cated to not only helping people re-
cover Irom natural disasters, but sav-
ing lives as well by being the largest
blood collection agency in the United
States.
With blood drives being held all
over the U.S. and even at HCC,
the donation process gets easier Ior
Americans.
On November 13, 2012, a blood
drive was held at HCC. 'This is the
second time we do a blood drive,
Black Student Union President Jamar
T. Brown said. 'Last semester in April
we did one as well. It`s very important
Ior the community to come out and
donate blood.
'People oI all ages come, an
American Red Cross employee at
HCC`s Blood Drive*said. 'More
young people come, but we`ve had
people that have been donating Ior 20
to 30 years.
HCC student Kasey Kellerman is
a routine donor. Although she said
the last time she donated blood was
three years ago, she was helping make
a diIIerence at HCC`s American Red
Cross Blood Drive.'I like donating
blood, Kellerman, 20, said. 'It`s cool,
like helping people knowing you did
something Ior a good cause.
'I like doing it, HCC student Tyler
Housey, 18, said. 'My frst time I was
in high school.
According to The American Red
Cross, a person has to be age 17 and
older in most states to donate blood.
Individuals also have to be healthy,
and weigh at least 110 lbs in order to
become a blood donor.
The average adult has about 10
pints oI blood in their body.
'You can donate even iI you have
tattoos and got them a day ago as long
as you got it done at a licensed Iacility
and not somone`s house, an Ameri-
can Red Cross employee at HCC`s
Blood Drive, said. 'II have tattoos that
you got done at non licenced Iacilities,
then you have to wait a year beIore
you can donate.
II you`re a woman and are worried
iI menstruation can stop you Irom do-
nating blood, don`t worry. 'Women
can donate while they have their pe-
riod as long as their blood comes back
fne when we check it, an American
Red Cross employee at HCC`s Blood
Drive, said.
Ineligibility Ior blood donations ac-
cording to the American Red Cross
include having a low hemoglobin. The
acceptable value that allows an indi-
vidual to donate blood must be greater
than 12.5g/dL in which women Iall
under 12.1 15.1 g/dL, and men 13.8
17.2 g/dL. This can can be tested by
a physician.
'I wasn`t able to donate, HCC
Human Services President Kimaya
Brown, said. 'They said my hemoglo-
bin was low.
Although The American Red
Cross can check your hemoglobin
level during the donation process and
beIore you actually donate blood via
a sample they withdraw, it is strong-
ly recommended that an individual
know their hemoglobin level beIore
they go to a blood drive to donate
blood by having a physician test their
blood sample. This is because an indi-
vidual can help raise their hemoglobin
level with a suIfcient amount oI iron
implemented into their diet so when
they actually attend a blood drive they
have a greater chance oI being a good
candidate Ior donating.
Other Iactors that can deIer a per-
son Irom donating blood include tem-
porary illnesses like a cold or the fu
iI a Iever is present. A person must be
symptom Iree Ior 24 hours beIore they
can donate blood. Since losing blood
can make a person Ieel weak, all
symptoms oI illnesses must be cleared
prior to donating blood Ior saIety pur-
poses.
Another and important deIerral
are medications. A complete list oI
medications is required beIore being
able to donate. Since medications can
cause birth deIects iI given to preg-
nant women who receive blood Irom
a donor, it is extremely important that
people bring in a list oI all their cur-
rent medications with them to a blood
drive.
Depending on the medication, a
person can either be temporarily or
permanently deIerred Irom donat-
ing blood. the American Red Cross`
medication deIerral list includes Pros-
car (fnasteride), Avodart and Jalyn
(dutasteride), Propecia (fnasteride),
Accutane (Amnesteem, Claravis,
Sotret, isotretinoin), Soriatane (acitre-
tin), Tegison (etretinate), growth hor-
mone Irom human pituitary glands,
insulin Irom cows (bovine, or beeI, in-
sulin), Hepatitis B Immune Globulin,
Plavix (clopidogrel) and Ticlid (ticlopi-
dine), Feldene, and experimental med-
ications or unlicensed (experimental)
vaccines. Tegison, growth hormones
Irom human pituitary glands, and
insulin Irom cows (bovine, or beeI,
insulin) are permanent deIerrals. The
remaining medications are temporary
deIerrals.
II you are permanently deIerred
Irom serving as a blood donor, don`t
give up. There are other ways you can
help the American Red Cross by do-
nating Iunds to support their disaster
relieI, and by becoming a volunteer
when disaster strikes.
The American Red Cross` blood
donation process consists oI Iour
steps.
The frst step is the registration pro-
cess. Their staII and volunteers will
start by discussing basic eligibility.
They will then explain inIormation
about blood donation and will ask Ior
a Iorm oI identifcation. Blood cannot
be donated without proper i.d.
In the second step you will be asked
questions about your health and travel
history. The personal questions can ei-
ther be answered by yourselI by read-
ing and clicking on the answers on the
computer oI the Amercian Red Cross
employee, or by having them read
aloud to you by the employee. One oI
the questions asks iI you`ve had sexu-
al intercourse with an AIDS or HIV
positive person, because it puts you at
risk oI having the diseases as well.
All blood donated and collected by
the American Red Cross is tested Ior
HIV, hepatitis B and C, syphilis and
other diseases beIore it is made dis-
tributable to any hospital Ior transIu-
sion use. II any inIectious diseases are
Iound in a donor`s blood, they will be
immediately notifed and their blood
will be thrown out.
You are asked where you have trav-
eled because in countries located in
Europe and other parts oI the world a
disease called CreutzIeldt-Jakob Dis-
ease (CJD), a human Iorm oI Mad
Cow Disease, was discovered to be
Iatal. CJD is a progressively rare and
Iatal brain disorder. You are consid-
ered to be at a high risk oI being a
CJD carrier iI you`ve received a dura
mater (brain covering) graIt, human
pituitary-derived growth hormone
injections, or have a biologic relative
who has been diagnosed with CJD.
A mini physical consisting oI
checking your temperature, pulse,
blood pressure and hemoglobin level
is perIormed in addition to the second
step.
The third step is the actual donation
in which a pint oI blood will be col-
lected. The phlebotomist will insert
a brand new and sterile needle into a
vein in your arm which will Ieel like a
quick pinch in where a blood bag will
fll in approximately 8-10 minutes.
In the fnal step you will be given
reIreshments. Free juice and cookies!
The reIreshments are given to keep
your blood sugar stimulated aIter giv-
ing a large amount oI blood. You will
be asked to sit down and relax Ior 15
minutes while you enjoy the reIresh-
ments to make sure you`re not light
headed or dizzy.
'I Ieel fne usually, Kellerman
said. 'Sometimes during the day I get
tired, like really really tired.
'I Ielt fne aIter donating, HCC
student Melissa Mickolyzck, 21, said.
'This is my second time, but I`ve nev-
er Ielt light headed or dizzy. They said
I bled like a man because it only took
fve minutes to fll up the bag.
AIter donating Ior the frst time,
you will get a blood donor card in the
mail to show every time you donate
blood, which can be only every 56
days Ior whole blood according to the
American Red Cross. Each state has
its own system and a blood donor card
will be given to you in every state that
you donate blood in.
The universal blood type is O-neg-
ative and can its red cells can be trans-
Iused to patients oI all blood types. In
addition, the plasma in AB-positive
blood can also be transIused to any
blood type as well but it`s supply is
commonly short.
Blood cannot be recreated in a lab-
oratory, it can only come Irom people
who donate.
Becoming a donor is simple. Visit
www.redcrossblood.org and enter
your zip code to fnd the nearest blood
drive near you. All it takes is one do-
nation to save up to three lives. Like
the American Red Cross and its part-
ner Keebler say 'be a good cookie.
Donate blood today and remember,
you could be saving your own liIe.
*Editors Note. Red Cross emplov-
ees requested that they not be identi-
hed bv name in this article.
Artwork by VonMarie Navarro
Contributing Artist
14
HORIZONS Opinions
We are very excited about this third issue of Housatonic Horizons for the 2012 Fall semester, and we all would like to
thank you for picking up your copy of the paper. All of us from both Publications and Graphic Design worked very hard
to give you our best. Horizons is not just a class project... It is YOUR paper, so we invite you, faculty, family friends and
most of all the students to write in to us. We want to hear your comments questions and suggestions for future issues of
Horizons. Feel free to contact Housatonic Horizons sta at housatonichorizons@gmail.com or you can contact myself at
dcweid.weidenfeller8@gmail.comank you!
We look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Editor in Chief
Make Sure the College Can Still Contact You:
Act by January 1!
Beginning January 1, 2013, your new student email account will become your oIfcial email address Ior all Housatonic Community College communication and will be the only
email address on fle Ior students! Find out your new e-mail address by logging in to my.commnet.edu. You can Iorward your student email account to another email account that
you check regularly. Learn more by visiting the Frequently Asked Questions at http://www.ctregents.org/365
By Elliott griffin
stAff WritEr
H
ow important is Iollowing a
given direction? Does one have
to imitate those who may help
them in order to achieve success and
happiness?
It seems most outstanding humans
haven`t done what those beIore them
may have told them to do. What a bless-
ing disobedience has been to man. Per-
haps rather than adhering to orders and
bland structure, the most infuential and
accomplished people have made a ne-
cessity out oI an ignorance oI orderly in-
fuence. Henry David Thoreau, arguably
one oI the greatest minds humanity has
seen, once said, 'What old people say
you cannot do, you try and fnd that you
can. Old deeds Ior old people, and new
deeds Ior new...I have yet to hear the
frst syllable oI valuable or even earnest
advice Irom my seniors. They have told
me nothing, and probably cannot tell me
anything to the purpose.
It is important Ior students to sincere-
ly and honestly look at and understand
what they are doing and who they are
becoming, rather than simply continuing
a recurring cycle, and hesitantly Ialling
into a career.
Housatonic`s own Edwena Chance,
ProIessor oI English, will tell you all
about why you don`t need to blend in to
be successIul. 'As a student, a Iocused stu-
dent, you should reIuse at all costs to be
measured by someone else`s yard stick.
You should be so busy with your work and
goals that you don`t even see anything else
going on around you. As Iar as being social
and ftting in, Iorget all that.
Chance is known amongst her peers and
students alike as a woman oI great under-
standing and perspective. She understands
the diIIerence between a good student and
a good person. 'A lot oI people are great at
playing the game in school; they`ll get all
A`s, but once they get out in the real world,
they`re helpless. There`s a very important
diIIerence between Emotional Intelligence
and academic ability. What you need to be
successIul in real liIe, outside oI school,
is Emotional Intelligence. You need to be
able to connect with people through your
own experiences. Academic Ability will
only help you fnd your way around a
classroom, and there`s no real Iulfllment
in that.. and no money either, she says.
II we know oI the lack oI importance
within fnding common ground among
your peers, a search light is suddenly point-
ed on our need to ft in. What good is it?
From where does it come? It is oI no rela-
tion to success; an enemy, in Iact.
At the beginning oI Iulflment is rec-
ognition. Each person is responsible Ior
fnding what they can do to make the world
around them better, and dedicating them-
selves to whatever that may be.
For most, pinpointing the source oI
their happiness can be tricky. In a search
Ior wisdom, I spoke to my own Iather,
Robert GriIfn, a working class painter,
husband, and Iather oI three, about the es-
sence oI success through his eyes.
'You need to frst defne Ior yourselI
what success is. II successIul, to you, is a
lot oI money and not caring about anything
else, then by all means go ahead and suck
up and ft in with whoever you need to. But
iI you are Iocused on being happy with
yourselI and you want to Ieel good more
than you want money, then don`t worry
about making anyone else happy. Don`t sit
in anyone else`s chair. It is both reassuring
and comIorting to share space with prooI
that happiness not only exists, but thrives,
in the absence oI riches.
The Iear oI Iailure Irom a grading sys-
tem limits the necessity oI understanding
concepts and weighs Iollowing orders
heavier than expressive creativity or indi-
viduality.
The seeking oI an assigned leader`s ap-
proval is a distraction Irom our true abili-
ties as people. Students, most importantly,
must identiIy and understand the lack oI
necessity in putting your own creativity
into the cast oI another`s. Glen Carney, a
20-year-old student at Southern Connecti-
cut State University, showed an interesting
sense oI wisdom in his youth when ex-
pressing his Ieelings on success and what
it means to him as a young man. 'Success
is diIIerent in everyone`s mind. To me, be-
ing successIul means to meet up to your
own personal goals and thereIore Iulflling
your own happiness. Part oI achieving suc-
cess is to never allow anything to slow you
down or get in your way. I look at my own
Iather and see his work ethic and determi-
nation, combined with his compassion Ior
his Iamily, and I understand the balance
and dedication needed to hold happiness
and success in each hand, he said.
We are creators. This fckle, insignif-
cant Iear oI not being molded into every-
thing we`ve seen by the same Iaces that
yell instructions into our ears is a product
oI a pattern oI enIorcements which every
student has become Iar too Iamiliar with.
I have been told oI the dynamic be-
tween love and understanding. To be loved
and understood is something beautiIul, and
can only bring positive creation. To be un-
derstood, however, by those who do not
love you, is to live at the mercy and direc-
tion oI another.
To give your identity to a designed
structure is to surrender your own path to
the vision oI another, and what a terrible
waste this would be.
Structure in Success
Image by Kim Nguyen
15
HORIZONS Arts & Entertainment
arts & entertainment
arts & entertainment
e
By dAnnyy AlAMo
stAff WritEr
M
any students at HCC are known
Ior academics, Iashion sense or
personality, but there are oth-
ers who should be known Ior their talent.
Many students at Housatonic are artists,
musicians, actors and perIormers. There
are many students who have musical tal-
ents but don`t showcase them out oI Iear
oI being considered a show oII. Rappers,
singers, songwriters and producers quietly
roam the halls oI Housatonic and deserve
the right to have their talents showcased.
One oI those students is actress, singer,
rapper and songwriter Leandra 'Coolie
Brooks, known as Coolie Ior her gospel
inIused jazzy, reggae and R&B sound.
Brooks is a stylish, 18- year-old, bubbly
student whom I heard rapping alongside
a group oI Iriends in one oI the LaIayette
Hall student lounges. I sat back and lis-
tened to Brooks` fow. She had some Ja-
maican-inIused lyrics that had nothing to
do with sex or money, just liIe.
She said her interest in music began
when 'people in high school called me
Coolie because I`m jamaican and indian.
I began by acting and have been success-
Iully acting Ior many years, I started writ-
ing music at the age oI 13 but was too
shy to ever sing |my songs| in Iront oI
a crowd. I started to test them out in my
church, open mic nights and talent shows
until I built up the courage to share it with
the public. I then started Ieeling more and
more confdent and started singing more
oIten, I started to become as confdent
as I am when I`m on a stage acting and
realized they`re both one in the same,
perIorming and the stage became my
new home. Friends, Iamily and church
members would play my music in their
cars, iPod`s and events so I decided to
take it Iurther and started recording my
music.
As I was listening to her speak I
looked at her computer screen and no-
ticed what seemed to be recording soIt-
ware with vocals. I asked iI her hobby
was something she planned to continue
to do in the Iuture, she replied, 'This
isn`t my hobby. This is my passion,
and I will defnitely continue to pursue
it because I want to make a diIIerence
in someone`s liIe with my music. I`m
still in the beginning stages because I`m
learning the business side right now, but
I hope that sometime soon the world will
have my songs on repeat.
When asked who her infuences were,
she smiled and replied, 'Jah Cure, Chris
Martin, Musiq Soulchild and Alicia Keys.
Brooks` music can be Iound on Face-
book.com/Cooliebrooks or Youtube.com/
CoolieBrooks.
In the Beacon Hall caIeteria, I saw my
Iriend Rey, who is currently working on a
mixtape. Hw explained his stage name and
how he got it.
'My stage name is Rey Mula. Rey is
my government name and Mula signifes
money which is the motive Ior my music,
he said.
He described his music as 'old school
rap with a new school Ieel. I incorporate
urban beats with a little pop and a little
electro rhythm.
He said he was 14 years old when he
started in the summer oI 2006.
His infuences are Kanye West, J Dilla,
Drake and Kendrick Lamar, as 'they`re all
diIIerent when it comes to music and they
don`t sound similar to other rappers in the
game. His music can be heard at sound-
cloud.com/reymula.
I thanked him Ior his time, then sat down
and looked over my notes and thought
about how much talent must be hiding in
the hallways. I thought how great it would
be iI all the talent whether dancer, singer or
actor collaborated on a projects how much
unity would be within our campus.
Im Up and Coming!
Im Coming Out... Musically!
RevMulas Possible Mixtape Cover
courtesy of Rey Castillo
By sAM rosoff
sEnior stAff WritEr
E
rica Shannon is a Business major
here at Housatonic, but she loves
photography. She originally regis-
tered Ior a photography course to satisIy
her degree`s Fine Arts requirement, but she
ended up joining the Photography Club as
well, and is now the Vice President.
Last month, Shannon helped organize
a trip to the Metropolitan Museum oI Art
in New York City, a museum she is very
Iamiliar with.
'I`ve been to the Met many, many
times, almost every month, Ior as long as
I can remember. There`s always amazing
things, so it`s always a great trip, Shan-
non said.
The Photography Club makes trips to
various museums typically once a semes-
ter, though they used to be more Irequent;
they were cut back due to budgetary re-
straints. It is advised by ProIessor Michael
Stein, who also advises the Art Club.
Both oI Stein`s clubs are essentially led
by the students; they propose the agendas
every semester, and Stein helps point them
towards what is reasonable and within their
means. Members oIten bring in their own
work Ior critique or to exhibit them, but
typically feld trips are a high priority.
'Over the years I`ve done about 200 oI
these trips, Stein said. 'We`ve done many
diIIerent places: museums, Ellis Island, the
Botanical Gardens, the Bronx Zoo, Mystic
Seaport, Sturbridge Village. Mostly muse-
ums and galleries, though.
Stein stressed that these trips oIIer great
opportunities to any student, regardless oI
their major. 'The Met is probably the most
important museum in the western hemi-
sphere. You have the Louvre, you have the
Hermitage in Russia, you have the Prado in
Madrid, and then the Metropolitan, Stein
said. 'To have our students be able to visit
it in less than an hour and a halI is just an
incredible opportunity Ior them.
According to a list compiled by The
Art Newspaper this past April, The Met is
the second most attended museum in the
world, with just over six million annual
visitors, bested only by the Louvre in Paris,
which has nearly nine million annual visi-
tors. People fy Irom all over the world to
see the artwork displayed in The Met, and
a wide variety oI languages can be heard
throughout its halls. The museum`s audio
tour Ieatures eight diIIerent languages.
The Met showcases some oI the most
recognizable artwork in the world, such as
Jacques-Louis David`s Death oI Socrates,
Van Gogh`s Wheat Field with Cypruses,
and many other Iamous works Irom Monet
to Pollock, Vermeer to Rembrandt.
The building itselI is almost a quarter
mile long and takes up more than 2 million
square Ieet. Seeing every gallery in one
visit, which includes ancient armor and
weaponry, Greco-Roman statues, medieval
art, and a variety oI special exhibits, is vir-
tually impossible.
'I was particularly interested in two
photography exhibits that happened to be
there this time, Stein said. 'One was on
manipulated photography beIore Photo-
shop . and then they had a sort-oI sequel
show which was photography aIter Photo-
shop, which was eye opening.
The museum is located on the eastern
border oI Central Park, at FiIth Ave. and
82nd St., with nearby subway access to the
rest oI the city. A short train ride can get
you to anything New York City has to oI-
Ier.
'There`s nothing like coming to the
city, Shannon said. 'It`s an experience all
on its own . there`s just so much liIe.
Shannon said she enjoyed New York City
Ior its culture most oI all.
'Art is what makes liIe worth living,
whether it`s painting, music, theater, or
dance, Stein said. 'We happen to be ex-
tremely Iortunate to have this, whether it`s
the Met, the |Museum oI Modern Art|, or
the Guggenheim.
Stein considers museums like the Met
to be a critical part oI a student`s education,
and pointed out that many oI his students
had never been to a museum beIore.
'They can`t really consider themselves
to be an educated person simply because
they had a math class, an English class, and
a biology class, Stein said. 'There`s more
to being an educated person, and that`s to
fll those voids oI understanding oI what
makes people human.
Next semester, Shannon is hoping to or-
ganize a trip to the Guggenheim Museum,
another Iamous art museum in New York
City. 'It`s one oI those museums that when
they have a particularly spectacular exhib-
it, it`ll blow your mind, Shannon said.
HCC Gets Cultured
The Photo Club Visits the Met
HCC students Sergio Escobar and Maria Checo
stand in front of 'Armor for the Joust of Peace,` a
suit of armor from around 1500, on display in the
Metropolitan Museum of Arts Great Hall.
Photo by Sam Rosoff.
Photo by Sam Rosoff.
16 HORIZONS Arts & Entertainment
Grafti in Bridgeport:
Vandalism as Art
By sAntiAgo AChinElli
stAff WritEr
G
raIfti has been been the subject
oI much controversy in public cir-
cles. Some people see it as a detri-
ment to local economic growth and a blight
that shouldn`t be tolerated. However, graI-
fti has become increasingly popular in the
realm oI Iormal art shows, with graIfti art-
ists like Banksy and Shepard Fairey gain-
ing prominence and respect Irom the art
community.
This Iame is not without controver-
sy, however. The rise in popularity oI
Banksy`s stencil style oI graIfti has lead
to an increasing riIt between what is per-
ceived as graIfti and what`s seen as street
art. Indeed, with original Banksy works
Ietching hundreds oI thousands oI dollars
at art auctions, municipal councils in Brit-
ain have been caught ordering 'graIfti
to be cleaned up, while leaving Banksy
pieces intact.
Bridgeport has made leaps in promot-
ing graIfti as a vehicle Ior increasing
public participation in the arts. During
the 2011 Bridgeport Arts and Culture Fes-
tival, artists Irom all over the Eastern sea-
board came to Bridgeport to paint on huge
chunks oI decaying retail space down-
town. This culminated in the creation oI
a mural park right in the middle oI this
outdoor gallery, with murals depicting the
Bridgeport Bluefsh mascot, and a central
piece Ieaturing one oI Bridgeport`s most
prominent citizens, the late P.T. Barnum.
The kind oI murals that were put up
around the downtown area would have
been impossible to accomplish under
the cover oI night, with the risk oI being
caught by law enIorcement and fned.
This marks the diIIerence between
graIfti Iound in Bridgeport, and those
Iound in other areas. There is more eI-
Iort put towards craIt and execution oI the
pieces when the local government makes
a space Ior public artistic expression.
The public council has done an extraor-
dinary thing in allowing the community
to express it`s uniqueness without being
subject to strict ideas oI what a cityscape
ought to look like.
However, this raises the same question
that Banksy`s pieces raise when he puts
them up around world: II we allow this,
then what do we do about 'bad graIfti?
Is the local government supposed to be
dictating what is art and what is not?
The Bridgeport Council oI Arts and
Culture, as well as any other government
agency interested in promoting civics
through art, is going to have to ask them-
selves the same hard questions. Tread-
ing careIully, coupled with an interest in
promoting dialogue about social issues, is
what`s going to permit institutions to have
a say in what gets put up on city walls,
rather than just a power-washing veto.
photo CrEdit: pApEr-MAt