Housatonic Horizons November 2011

HORIZONS
http://hccperspective.blogspot.com
HOUSATONIC COMMUNITY COLLEGE

November 2011
News
Occupy Wall Street Continues

H&S
Do You Understand the Flu Vaccine?

Opinions
Facebook Connection
A&E
Men in Pink Tights?

Sports
Occupy Movement Gains Momentum
Is Tigers Time Up?
izons Hor
Housatonic Students Seem to Break a National Reading Trend 3
By Tom Cahill STaff WriTer
Contents
A Touch of the Flu Understanding the Flu Vaccine13
By mary e. anderSon STaff WriTer
Horizons Staff
Lovanda Dava Brown
Editor-in-Chief Advisor
Select CT IDs Now Available4

By KaiTlyn Barra STaff WriTer
Family Connections: Facebook Connects the Disconnected!14

By BoBBi BroWn Senior STaff WriTer
Prof. Steve Mark
News and Outrach Editor

Deb Torreso
More Than a Teacher 5

By Chad fiSher STaff WriTer
What Happened to All the Jobs? 14

By eriC SWanSon STaff WriTer
Opinions Editor
Jennifer Claybrook
Healthy Living Club at HCC 5

Underwear on Display: Fashion or Foe? 15

Sprts Editor, Editor-at-Large

T.J. Mallico
Web Developer
Adam Bello
Veterans Oasis Center6

By aShley STephen STaff WriTer
Popular TV Shows Among HCC Students16

By lauren WeinSToCK STaff WriTer
Melting Pot Spirit Alive at HCC 6

By auSTin
STaff WriTer
Vaughn
Who Dropped the Soap? 16

By SamanTha delgado STaff WriTer
Welcome to the Mad House: The HCC Parking Garage 7

By Jay lederman STaff WriTer
Ballet Eloelle Presents: Men in Pink Tights 18

By loVanda daVa BroWn ediTor-i n-Chief
HCC: A School of Opportunities 7

Possible Extensions for MLB Players 19

By TJ malliCo STaff WriTer
You Dont Know What Youre Missing at the Library 8

MLB Trade Deadline Winners/Losers 19

By T.J. malliCo STaff WriTer By ChriS galli STaff WriTer
Is Tigers Time Up?20
Cougar Couples: A Different Perspective 8

By laura guSTafSon STaff WriTer
Mary Anderson Kaitlyn Barra Mark Bein Tom Cahill Ashley Campbell Tamirah Collins Mohammed Dafalla Samantha Delgado Chad Fisher Chris Galli Laura Gustafson James Harlow Darren Harris Chris Heun Vanessa Hylton Keri-Ann Jackson Isaiah Jefferson Jay Lederman Andrew Mathieu Janette McClure-Kuhn Raul Rodriguez Sam Rosoff Ashley Stephen Jason Stover Eric Swanson Austin Vaughn Ashley Welfare Dave Weidenfeller Lauren Weinstock
Reporters
Are the Protests Spreading throughout the Country a Sign of a Nation In Chaos? 9
By daVe Weidenfeller STaff WriTer
Graphic Design Staff

Design Advisor
Andy Pinto
I Love You, but I Want to Choke You with a Turkey Leg! 10

By aShley Welfare STaff WriTer
Design Directors:
Sharon Poplaski Zachary Cowan Michael Kelly
By JaSon l. SToVer STaff WriTer
Become A Better Student 10
Alcohol and College Students 12

By aShley CampBell STaff WriTer
Im Every Woman! Early Detection of Breast Caner Saves Lives 12

By roBBi BroWn Senior STaff WriTer
Childhood Obesity vs Fast Food Monopolies 13

By JameS harloW STaff WriTer
Daniel Bourque Vera Cotrim Samantha Dankulich Romar Edwards Sergio Escobar Cassondra Fama Lauren Hartlett Carol Humbert Tammy McMichael Cassandra Mendoza Alyssa Poplaski Abelardo Pulido Jean Salomon Nicole Strazza
Design Staff
HORIZONS News
ews
Housatonic Students Seem to Break a National Reading Trend
By Tom Cahill STaff WriTer
e college students catch a bad rap when it comes to our reading habits. Almost half of Americans between ages 18 and 24 never read books for pleasure, is what The Boston Globe had to say about it. Theres no question that there is a heavy amount of reading required for classes, but how much are students really reading? When school work is put aside, is reading for leisure still an option? Theres a gap left unfilled if too much time passes without reading, says Shawn Mando, 22, a criminal justice major here at Housatonic. He admits to his guilty pleasure of xbox and the Call of Duty series, but explained that hed choose a war-book over a war-video game any day. When my schedule opens up more, I try to make it a habit to read a new novel every week or so, he added. Although Mandos reading habits are regular, he still joined the overall campus consensus that most college students dont read too often in their free time. Whats interesting is that even those who read most, still doubt that it is a majority practice. I feel like I am the only one of my friends who really reads, said Christina Whitman, 20, a freshman at Housatonic. It actually turns out that most students are not unalike. Even though it occupied a lesser portion of their time, a high percentage of Housatonic students admit to reading for fun. In three of my classes alone, I posed a quick question at the beginning of class. How many of you guys read something outside of school work on a daily basis? Every single hand went up in each class. Without taking a step out of my own classes, thats 63 students = with a 100% ratio of those who read because they want to, not because they have to. According to a national study in The Boston Globe, The number of 17-yearolds who never read for pleasure increased
from 9 percent in 1984 to 19 percent in 2004. The article also stated, only 30 percent of 13-year-olds read almost everyday. You may presume that those students who dont read as often do so simply because reading is something that they do not enjoy. Surprisingly that didnt seem to be the case for many students. Joe Theriault and Mark Dargon agreed simultaneously, I dont read as much as I like to because I just dont have enough time. Still both read daily, not as much as theyd like to, and a majority of it on the Internet. Does checking MLB.com regularly count?, Dargon asked jokingly, telling me that the majority of his textual consumption is sports news on websites. Thank god for the Iphone, Theriault chimed in. Reading is still reading, whether it is on paper or plasma, right? Many of us are right on the cusp of that technology dependence, kids who grew up with more books than video games. Among students interviewed on and off campus, in comparison, video games were actually the least owned by students, followed by computers, books and TVs respectively. This may go without saying, but reading as a hobby seems to help me so much when it comes to my text books for school, Vanessa Karcher,19, an HCC student and avid reader. I am into murdermystery books, books that always keep me thinking, she explained, it is much easier when its a topic that interests you, but the practice makes reading material I am not so much interested in a little bit easier. A steady reading habit definitely correlates to better understanding with my school books, Victor Santana agreed. Santana is a Housatonic graduate now fin-
ishing his Bachelors in History at Southern Connecticut State University. My reading habits were poor in high school, as were my grades, Santana said. I made a conscious effort to change that during my college career and my grades have made the change accordingly. Whether or not increased reading is to attribute solely I dont know, but I dont believe its a coincidence. Now were getting closer to the subject in question here. So weve established that many Housatonic students read, excellent, but why does this matter? In the book, Academically Adrift: Limited Learning on College Campuses (University of Chicago Press) by a professor at New York University and another at the University of Virginia, it argues nationally that students study/reading habits
The number of 17-year-olds who never read for pleasure increased from 9 percent in 1984 to 19 percent in 2004.
have been steadily declining over the last half-century. They tell us that students, on average, went from studying 25 hours a week in 1961 to only 14 hours a week currently. Not only did this book doubt our college readers, they also convey a theory from a direct result of depleting study habits. The authors followed 2,300 undergraduates at two dozen universities, and concluded that 45 percent demonstrated no significant gains in critical thinking, analytical reasoning, and written communications during the first two years of college. To think critically is to not passively listen, but to listen/read and think actively. It isnt unfathomable that exercising your mind constantly with reading will enhance your ability of understanding, is it? The more we read, the better we study and
learn. Anne E. Cunningham and Keith E. Stanovich explain this in their article What Reading Does for the Mind as a rich get richer, poor get poorer concept. The concept applies to all benefits of reading. It is agreed that comprehension ability and reading volume are in a reciprocal relationship, Cunningham and Stanovich explained. The same article states that someone who reads an hour a day will read 4,358,000 words in a year, where as someone who reads only 15 min a day will only read 1,148,000 words that year. The newspaper is how I get my reading done, says Ryan Basque, 21, of Gateway Community College. Ill be honest, I basically just scan my text books, and Im not too big on novels. The news interests me, Ill read the newspaper front to back whenever I can. In an intricate study done again by Cunningham and Stanovich, in a system of ranking the 86,741 word forms in English by frequency of occurrence in a large corpus of written English, it showed that newspapers show 68.3 rare words per 1000. Adult books and prime time adult shows were only 52.7 and 22.7 rare words per 1000 respectively. (Childrens books rank higher than adult television at 30.9 rare words.) When national statistics can be concerning, only a third of high school seniors read at a proficient level, and proficient is not a high standard, according to MSNBC, it is a breath of fresh air to see these this stereotype challenged here at home. So hats off to you Housatonic. If the numbers were to apply to our school as well, I should have found that only about half of the students that I spoke with would have been reading for fun, and that is certainly not the case. The benefits of reading are evident, knowledge is power. If this trend remains steady and true, Housatonic will continue to be an academic powerhouse.
Got some news you want covered? Let us know!

Write to housatonichorizons@gmail.com.
HORIZONS News
Select CT IDs Now Available

By KaiTlyn Barra STaff WriTer
his month, the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will start a new program to offer identity protection to people renewing driver license and identification cards. According to the DMV, this is only done on applicants for new licenses or ID cards. The department will ask renewing customers whether they want to show original identity documents to create a record for their identity with the agency as well as for
federal identification purposes. However, they can also reject this verification and just get a regular drivers license or ID card . Many people do not know about this program since it just started October 3rd but everyone should definitely look into it because it is good for identity theft. Through the program, called SelectCT ID, people verifying will get a gold star on the license or ID card. Those declining will have one stamped Not for Federal Identification. The DMV reports that the difference could be extra screening under
a proposed federal program slated to go into effect in 2017 for airports and federal buildings and also use for possible commercial transactions. The program stems from national security measures and federal identification standards resulting from the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the U.S. It is also designed to offer residents additional protection against identity theft by having a historical record of proven original identity documents shown to DMV. People wanting a license or ID card indicating their identity was verified by
DMV will need to present certain original documents like a birth certificate, a valid U.S. passport or other primary documents, proof of name changes including as a result of marriage, divorce, etc. as well as of current address. Some people seem to agree that this is a good idea. It will help with identity theft and protect people more. I am definitely considering getting it, said Tracy, 41, of Milford.
Corrections for Issue 1: The Horizons staff would like to extend an apology for any inaccuracies in articles published in Issue 1. These issues are found in but not limited to the following pieces: Tutoring at HCC: Correction: Tutoring services are offered here at HCC during the following times: Monday-Thursday at 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday from 9 a.m to 4 p.m Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Also, the Academic Support Center only schedules appointments for tutoring services in person. You must go to room B116 in Lafayette Hall to schedule an appointment. To cancel or reschedule an appointment already made, please contact the front desk at (203) 332-5019. Who Dropped the Soap: Segments of this article were misplaced during final layout. Please turn to the Arts and Entertainment section to read Samantha Delgados full article.
HORIZONS News
More Than a Teacher

s students left room 219s Friday morning English class on October 14, they looked as though they had just witnessed a gruesome death or perhaps a catastrophe which had forever changed the world as they knew it. Though these assumptions would seem very likely, the truth is, they had just finished taking adjunct instructor Cindy Wolfe Boyntons midterm exam. Who wouldnt be happy about that? Boynton is an Adjunct Instructor of English and Journalism at Housatonic and Yale University. Sitting down with Boynton on that Friday morning, just six days before her big performance, the realization became clear, she is much more than a teacher. No, not for any similarities to smell, appearance, or the fact she made her Friday morning students cry, but rather for her many deep layers. These layers consist of a teacher, a wife, a mother of two, a caregiver to her parents, a friend to many, and so much more the list could go on forever. There are so many titles you could give to an individual such as Boynton, but the most amazing might arguably be her recently added title of Broadway actress after only a few months of training. With the help of friends Jan Mason, Geoffrey Sheehan, Mike Boland, Brenda Jacobson, acting coach Reno Venturi, the United Solo Festival, and her supportive family, Boynton has successfully written and performed her own play on Broadway. The play is calle Right Time to Say I Love You, and it holds a very special place in Boyntons heart. Ive told other peoples stories my whole life through journalism. Now I want to tell my own, she said. Boynton was adopted by Barbra and Edward Wolfe and has known them as her parents her entire life. She was raised in Milford and still resides there to this day. Boynton says growing up she was given everything she ever wanted and was very happy. One of the things I remember most, and I talk about this in my play, is having a white canopy bed which no other girl in
school had, she said. As Boynton grew up, she became very interested in writing. When she was still in high school, she pursued her first journalism job at the Milford Citizen. I worked with Cindy when she first started out at the Milford Citizen. She was willing to do anything in order to succeed in journalism. She never ceased to amaze me with her talent and perseverance, said Deb Noack, Boyntons former co-worker at the Milford Citizen.
ease, according to medical dictionaries, is a degenerative disease, which attacks the central nervous system. This causes the person with the disease to lose their ability to function normally at times. This includes the movement of arms and legs among other things. With her father aging and finding it hard to care for just himself, Boynton willingly took the role of her mothers care giver. Spending many sleepless nights at her parents house, she was finding it harder each
The best comparison could be to an onion.
Since then, Boynton has worked for the New York Times and Boston Globe. She has also worked for other publications and done some public relations work as well. When viewing her resume, anyone can see how talented and versatile she truly is. Boyntons college includes attending HCC and Southern Connecticut State University, graduating in May of 1994. She majored in English and won an award for fiction writing. She did all of this while maintaining a 3.5 GPA. Though she has accomplished so much throughout her life, Boynton, at the age of 43, felt the yearning for a new challenge. After reading the book Just Kids by Patti Smith, where it is stated it is not hard to write a play, Boynton felt a play would be the direction of her next accomplishment. It is a great book, you would be inspired too, she added. With her newly found inspiration, she decided to take her recent lifes conflicts and creatively turn them into a solo performance. I am a part of the sandwich generation, Boynton added. According to Websters Dictionary, The Sandwich Generation is a group of around 20 million Americans who are, like a sandwich, in a place between the needs of their children and their aging parents. In the previous years, Boyntons mother had developed Parkinsons disease and has needed a lot of care. Parkinsons dis-
day to be away from her husband, Ted and sons Teddy, 17, and Steven, 13. This experience would be the focus of her play. Once Boynton became less busy with her parents, she went to work on writing it out. I really wanted to create something good out of my sandwich, experience instead of destruction, said Boynton. For the next eight months, she would spend time writing her play and eventually submit it to The United Solo Festival at Theatre Row in New York City, a festival for solo performances which receives thousands of applicants per year. I am not new to writing, but I am new to writing plays and performing them. I didnt expect to be accepted in my first application, said Boynton. Knowing she had less than six months to prepare for the performance, she enlisted the help of a few friends and well known acting coach Reno Venturi. This is a major feat for someone as new to acting as Cindy, said Venturi, who has been a culmination of an actor, director and acting coach for 49 years. It is hard for a new actor to come in and perform any play, let alone a play of their actual life experiences. A lot of the time, because it is something they experienced in their own life, it is hard for the actor to realize the audience isnt seeing what they see. Every word and every movement needs to show emotion.
Boynton and Venturi decided to meet three times a week up until the day before her scheduled performance. Boynton also recorded herself performing the play and would watch it a few times a day in an attempt to perfect it. It was hard work, but [Boynton] is ready, said Venturi, two days before the October 20 performance. The countdown was on 48 hours until show time. Boynton seemed cool and calm , carrying on with life in her normal routine of teaching classes, taking classes, and caring for her family. But an hour before show time brought a different story. I looked at the clock when it said I had an hour before I would perform and I started to feel sick said Boynton. I began reciting my lines very quickly. Before I knew it, it was show time. Later, Boynton stepped on stage and did her 40-minute performance, with the crowd laughing and sighing at the up and down struggle she portrayed while in the spotlight. The music turned on, lights went down and the room eruptedwith clapping and cheering. After the show, everyone met on the second floor lounge to wait for her. She came out and the claps erupt again. She was greeted by her husband, sons, sister and friends some who traveled from as far as Washington D.C. and New Hampshire. Boynton proudly sat next to her husband on the lounge couch. They talked about whether or not she looked nervous on stage. I could tell you were nervous, said, her husband, Ted, jokingly. She gave him a little slap on the head, but smiled at him. She was glowing with confidence and sheer happiness from the fact she performed so well. However, Boyntons break will be short lived with another show in November. With all of her accomplishments, Boynton wants everyone to see her life as a single statement: You really can do anything you set your mind to. Have questions or comments about this article? Tweet the author @Chadwin_ Fisher
Healthy Living Club at HCC

very year many people make a resolution to work out more, eat better and generally live healthier. But every year, they most often lose their drive along the way. The Housatonic Community College Healthy Living Club is here to help, say co-advisors Jennifer Falasco and Janice Schaeffler. Though in the United States obesity rates are higher than ever and diabetes is more common among adults and children, the general population does show a desire to live healthier. This is the reason supplement companies gross $25 billion annually. But what if people could live healthier without throwing all their money
at the supplement industry, fad diets, and overpriced workout plans? You can if you become a part of the Housatonic Community College Healthy Living Club. The Club will help people live healthier through nutritionists, yoga instructors, and more. It is open to anyone who is a student at HCC. The greatest part about this is while everything seems to drain peoples life savings nowadays, but this club is free. Just take one hour a week to go to a meeting and students can start making their way towards better health. The way the Healthy Living club plans to bring people together is by spreading the word of good health. According to a flyer that was given out on club day, the club plans to share healthy
recipes, learn more about improving overall health, institute daily walks around campus, and even go on hikes around Connecticut. Falasco and Schaeffler say the club will also be bringing in a nutritionist sometime in January to give a lecture. This lecture will potentially be open to non-members as well as members. The club will also be at the Health Fair which will be held by the HCC Womens Center. Currently there is no set date for the fair, according to Linda Bayusik, HCC activities coordinator. The club is planning to make not only the members aware of health, but also the rest of the campus. They will do this by potentially making distance markings outside for people who want to walk, post calories for foods in the cafeteria, and maybe
even by putting up signs to encourage taking the stairs instead of the elevator. They are also open to suggestions at every meeting. The meetings are every Tuesday at 1 p.m. in room 317A Beacon Hall. Cant come to meetings because you have a conflicting schedule? Thats alright, you can still join. Contact the club through their FaceBook page listed below and they will keep you posted about events. To see more like their FaceBook page @ Housatonic Community College Healthy Living Club. Have questions or comments about the article? Tweet the author @Chadwin_ Fisher
HORIZONS News
Veterans Oasis Center

By aShley STephen STaff WriTer
ome say that veterans of the United States Military are a different breed. Whether two veterans served side by side or not they will always have a companionship that isnt understood by anyone who isnt military. Coming back into the civilian world is not an easy transition for most veterans, especially when trying to figure out what they are going to do with the rest of their lives. Going back to school is always an option thanks to their military background and nowadays trying to find a job without any schooling is a daunting task.
Here at HCC we do our best to support this transition for our veterans with offering all of the Montgomery GI Bill options and tuition waivers that are allowed in the state of Connecticut. Yet Housatonic felt as if they could do more and decided to open the Veterans Oasis Center, a place where veterans could come to relax, share their trials & tribulations and help one another if needed. When I first decided to come back to school I felt very alone because I was older then most of the students and my life experiences were very different. After spending time with other Vets that I had met in the Veterans Oasis Center, my transition was much easier and I felt more at
ease with my surroundings, says Christopher LaBrecque, U.S. Navy. The Veterans Oasis Center opened up at HCC in October of 2008 and since then has been utilized daily by a number of different veterans from all branches of the military and other students are always welcomed. Items such as couches, a TV, and kitchen items have all been donated from many different companies in which the Veterans representative reached out to. Letters to companies are sent out at he beginning of every semester in hope of being able to add more items to the center which is located in B101. The Veterans Oasis Center has allowed me to socialize and interact with
other people whove gone through similar situations as me, says Omar Jimenez, National Guard Veterans have been extremely appreciative of the center and the work put in by the school to make life here at HCC easier for them and their dreams more attainable. Without the Veterans Center I would be disappointed because it would have made finding other Vets to talk to more difficult. We enjoy each others company and it helps our days go smoother, says Sylvie Papageorge, Army and National Guard.
Melting Pot Spirit Alive at HCC

By auSTin
Vaughn STaff WriTer
he Great American Melting Pot is a term used to describe the blending of cultures, races, and peoples within the United States. The US has always been a country made up of immigrants, from the first English settlers at Jamestown in 1607 to the new immigrants that enter our nation everyday. These people of varied origins, homes, beliefs, and ideals are an important part of our national identity transforming our culture, ideas, and identity as Americans. Our country is continually growing and changing thanks to the differences that everyone brings whether they are a national or an immigrant, and the Melting Pot spirit is still alive and well here at Housatonic. After noticing the diversity of accents among many of the students at Housatonic, this reporter decided a look into the lives of Housatonics international students could give insight into the lives of immigrants around America, and an understanding of the evolution of ever changing American life and culture. Obrian Wright is a 27-year-old Physical Therapy major here on a student visa from Jamaica. Wright is staying with relatives who live in Bridgeport and chose Housatonic for its affordability, location, and international student accommodations. [In Jamaica] There arent many jobs, says Wright, and most of them are underpaid. He says a couple of people work to support the family and the others pick up odd jobs to supplement the income when needed. Wright earned a business degree at a university in Jamaica but was only able to find work as a salesman making basic commission. Our needs are always met, Wright said, and we all have luxuries such as Playstations and televisions. He even proceeded to show me his two active smart-phones, an iPhone and Blackberry Torch. Wright said between the incomes of the continually working family members, the money from odd jobs, and ruminants, a term for money sent from other family members living abroad in places like the US and Europe, the people of Jamaica live comfortably. Allen Petit Homme, a 30-year-old ex-
marine from Haiti, is another Housatonic student from abroad. He immigrated with his father and stepmother to New York City in 1999, and the family proceeded to move to Bridgeport within the next year. After attending the University of Bridgeport for a couple of years, Petit Homme left and served in the Marine Corps for six years. He is now working towards a criminal justice degree. Petit Homme chose HCC in order to stay close to his family in Bridgeport before heading to the University of Connecticut for graduate school. He says his father and stepmother send some money back home to Haiti every now and then, but he is financially unable to send any himself. Petit Homme was unable to make any sort of comparison from the US to Haiti economically, but he considers the US his home now and loves the opportunities it provides him. HCC student Jose Ramos, while neither an immigrant nor an international student, has had quite a time adjusting to life in America. Ramos was five years old when he first moved to Bridgeport from Puerto Rico with his mother and younger brother Louis. Ramos mother moved to Bridgeport to be close with her father, who lived in Connecticut since the 1980s, and started a career as a hairstylist. Ramos describes his family, both here and in Puerto Rico, as extremely close and says his family here talks with his family in Puerto Rico about every other day. This extreme closeness with his family abroad and curiosity about his other home led Ramos to move back to Puerto Rico when he was 12. He stayed with his other set of grandparents and worked part time on his uncles farm while continuing in middle school and
starting high school. Ramos describes Puerto Rico as country and said there was land available to own. He also stated that landscaping work, such as what he did on his uncles farm, was big for teenagers and young adults while going to school. Ramos said the schools in Puerto Rico were much
for Fed Ex as well, but he described the environment as hectic and the Bronx as a place to party, not to live. Ramos then moved back to Bridgeport as he finished high school in mid-2009, but his family was soon broken by the loss of their patriarch in January 2010, his grandfather who had brought them to Bridgeport. He said
Illustrations by Vera Cotrim
harder at first. Teaching was done at a much faster pace, and he had to get used to Spanish as his primary language. He said the teachers would use repetition to drill it into you, and they fostered an intense spirit of academic competition. Ramos said he loved Puerto Rico for its calm environment and that it was like its own country. However, at the age of 15, Ramos moved back to Bridgeport for a better education and career opportunities. He attended Bassick High School in Bridgeport, where he graduated in 2009. During late 2008 and early 2009, Ramos lived in the Bronx with his aunt while still commuting to Bassick for school. He worked
it made the family stick closer together but caused many of them to move back to Puerto Rico, including his aunt in the Bronx. In January 2011, Ramos began taking classes here at HCC. He said he felt it was a good starting point, a good place to see what college is like. He is currently in human services and plans on transferring to a university nearby after graduating next winter. Ramos says he misses Puerto Rico and his family, mainly his Grandmas cooking! He and his Connecticut family fly back to Puerto Rico when they can for a little taste of family and home.
HORIZONS News
Welcome to the Mad House: The HCC Parking Garage

By Jay lederman STaff WriTer
he six-story, concrete asylum towering over our campus sits in silence, waiting to commit its next victim. You might not consider it anything other than a place to park your car while youre sitting in class. But for some students the narrow gaps of the HCC parking garage are terrifying. The parking garage is an absolute danger zone, says Tiffany Morriar Students who are walking in the garage often hear the familiar sound of screeching tires that send shivers down your spine. Whether youre entering or exiting the stairwells in the parking garage at some point you may feel susceptible to being run over by a speeding car. Morriar, who has had many close calls inside the nightmarish halls of the parking garage, refers to one incident in particular that could have ended tragically. I was walking to the stairwell on the first floor, when a car came swerving around the corner and literally almost hit me. To make matters worse, Morriar says, the person was speeding, and texting on their phone, completely unaware that they could have hit her. I was highly upset, she added. Although unharmed, Morriar agrees the parking garage is ex-
tremely unsafe for students who are walking through it. General Studies major Carlashia Harden uses the parking garage on a daily basis. One day while searching for a parking space she noticed a student who was backing out of a spot, and seized her opportunity. As she patiently waited for the vehicle to begin backing out Harden was barraged with an attack of verbal abuse from the driver behind her. Like so many students Harden fell victim to the erratic behavior that is often displayed inside the bowels of the concrete beast. There was another car behind me, and the guy in the car started screaming at me to get out of the way, I was a little scared and shaken, she said. Carlashia became very uncomfortable as the screaming behind her continued. What are you doing? Get out of the way! the voice behind her shouted. She became so concerned that the situation would escalate she wondered why security officers were not present to witness the individuals ridiculous behavior I didnt know what was going on with the security at that moment, and it kind of frightened me, but I got over it, she added. Its Carlashias first semester here at Housatonic, and she has learned a valuable lesson. If you commute to school or use the parking garage your eventually go-
ing to experience a traffic jam during peek hours. Dean of Adminstration Ralph Tyler declined to comment about the safety concerns inside the parking garage. It has been a career practice of mine that I do not grant or participate in interviews with any form of media services, he said. Master Sargent Christopher K. Gough, who has been the Director of Public Safety at Housatonic for over 9 years, offered his perspective on the problem. Our biggest problem with the parking garage is start times, getting people in and out, theres one way in and one way out, he said. A start time basically means the time in which classes start. According to Gough,, high volume start times are from 9 a.m.-11:00 a.m and 2 p.m.-5 p.m. Two security officers are present in the garage during normal campus hours. Enforcing the speed limit in the garage is no easy task. In some instances security may not be able to issue verbal warnings to every person who is speeding. But students can still get caught. During the interview Gough nonchalantly clicked on a computer screen near his desk, which displayed videos of every single angle in the parking garage; including both north and south stairwells as well as inside the elevators. He concluded by saying That parking garage is a privilege, not a right.
We can suspend your parking privileges if need be. Perhaps there are a few simple things students can begin doing to create a more enjoyable experience in the parking garage. Drive slower. Make it a habit to be more aware when driving in the parking garage, and understand people are walking in between cars, out of stairwells, and exiting their vehicles. Dont use your cell phone inside the parking garage while youre driving. Its a known fact that it can lead to fatal accidents. Be on time, every seasoned student knows the earlier you show up the less of a hassle it will be to park your car. Do not pull into the first space you see. You will not get to class any faster, and youll just end up adding more stress to the already overwhelming traffic jam created inside the garage. Instead park on higher levels first filling the garage from top to bottom. Dont feel like walking down all those flights of stairs? Use the elevators. Thats why theyre there. If we all remember to do these simple things, parking in the garage would be less of a nightmare. Until then Ill see all of you on the battlefield that we call, the HCC parking garage.
HCC: A School of Opportunities

By BoBBi BroWn Senior STaff WriTer [didnt] have to stop there, she adds. HCC has been an establishment since 1966, and has educated thousands of stueather Walker graduated from dents. Students from all kinds of ethnic Harding High school after not backgrounds, races, and religions attend getting accepted into the four year HCC. HCCs mission statement located college of her choice. Nonetheless, she on its official website states that the miswas still encouraged to continue her edu- sion is to strive to be sensitive to stucation. dents with diverse backgrounds, needs, She signed up for HCC and joined and goals. the nursing program. Although this is I was amazed at how HCC embraced the start of her future, she is glad she is me and how HCCs staff welcomed me in school and looks forward to transfer- when I needed help. I am Muslim and what I wear may seem unappealing to some people, says Aalia Ghahem, an Early Childhood major at HCC. If I can be honest, some people look at me like I am a terrorist or something, but that will not stop my love for children. I never thought about going to college, [and] I felt I was not prepared or would not fit in, she adds. Faculty members gather for seminar to embrace However the world the opportunities at HCC. may set limits on somePhoto courtesy of hcccommnetedu ones goals or dreams, ring and hopefully getting accepted to HCC breaks those limits. HCC has over a the school of her choice. Like Walker, hundred different programs for students many students have felt the heart break who may be first time students, and for of not getting into their dream school or returning or transfer students. HCC has may have never thought about attending degree and certificate programs, concollege for whatever reason. HCC is a tinuing education (non credit programs), school of possibilities and opportunities and even transfer credit programs. HCC that gives hope and a second chance to somehow or another picks up where othstudents who missed out on the first one. ers school left off with most students. When I got my letter of rejection When students first come to HCC, from the school I worked so hard to get they are asked to take the aAccuplacer in, I broke down and cried, says Walker. test which helps HCC as well as its asThis really discouraged me, but this piring students to know where they stand didnt stop me! I went and signed up for as far as what they know. This test does HCC, [and] came to find out that HCC not judge whether or not a student is is a really good school and my dream smart or isnt, but it focuses on where
students are, and places them in the correct classes for the semester. [Im] not going to lie, I thought I was really dumb when I took the test to get into HCC, but the test showed me areas where I needed to improve, says Sara Gomes, a nursing major at HCC. I agree, I was ashamed at what I didnt know but I got over that and worked my tail off until I made the deans list, say Cory Johnson, a student at HCC. [During] the first semester at another school, I had a full scholarship but they kinda told me I had to leave because my grades had dropped. I was really enjoying the college life and kind of gotten carried away with it and my grades started to reflect it, says Jose Josephs, a computer science major. I regret what I did with my education, and HCC has really helped me get back on track. Im really proud of myself because I was given one more chance and I am taking full of advantage of that here at HCC, he adds. HCC has given many students a second chance to really get themselves together and start all over again. HCC ensures students will get the same education at any four-year college of their choice. HCC provides help in the Academic Support Center which allows students to get the help they need on campus. Students can even have 24-hour access to tutoring by using E-Tutoring online. I have never been that good in math, but my professor Rizzi has been a great help because he is my teacher and my tutor. Although this is my second time taking math, this time I think I got it with the help of my professor! says Jean Baptist, an HCC student. With hours of tutoring available, HCC manages to open its doors to students with different goals or interest.
HCC offers programs for those students who like business. This program teaches students how to manage a business and offers insight on how to create their own business. I really enjoy my business class, and my professor is very professional which brings a great atmosphere to our classroom, says Helen Smith. I am learning that time management is very important in maintaining a business or a goal! Most of all, [I must] always keep track of any and everything I invest my time in, she adds. The program at HCC allows students to work at their own pace, and students have the convenient opportunity to sign up for classes that work according to their everyday life. I love to draw and Im very much into theater arts,says Kim Cohen, an HCC student. I spend a lot of time attending HCC art events or theater programs, and I have to bring my 2-year-old son. So when I [come to school], I am able to drop him off at HCCs daycare. HCC has an on-campus daycare which helps student parents still go to school while their children are being cared for by the employees of the daycare. Nonetheless, students are well prepared for success with HCCs staff. They are usually able to guide them on the correct path. There are guidance counselors, teachers, and the help offered in the ASC available to help students get classes, transfer to another school, and even prepare for graduation. Whatever the case may be, HCC has been and always will be a school of possibles and opportunities. For more information on what HCC offers, log on to www.hcc. commnet.edu or visit HCC offices located through out the schools campus.
HORIZONS News
You Dont Know What Youre Missing at the Library!

he Housatonic Library has many resources to help guide you in your school work throughout your semesters here. Are you having trouble with a research paper? Try looking into Interlibrary Loans. Doing a group project? The Library has study rooms with specific computers designed for such work. Databases: Librarian Mark Gore says one useful resource that students arent taking advantage of are the databases. We do have lots of databases that are well worth making use of. Theres a wealth of knowledge in them. Peter Everett, Public Services Librarian, adds, there are thirty-seven databases and I do my best to make students aware. Between myself and the librarians who go to a hundred different classes a semester, so thats the whole thing where some students maybe aware of it but not all. All databases can be found off campus through your My Commnet account. Just log in and click on the Library tab. The databases will be under My Library Resources, so you can access it anywhere there is a computer.
Interlibrary Loan: The library has a service called Interlibrary Loan. Gore explains the process, Suppose youre researching a topic and you need another source or another book that we dont have. I can use whats called First Search and try to find a book for you from another library and hopefully theyll send it here on your behalf. So that you can make use of something we dont have from libraries throughout the country. In turn we send out books- that is where the Inter comes in. Its a collaborative agreement. Not a lot of students take advantage of this. Contact the HCC Library or even I can help out with anyone who needs to use the Interlibrary Loan. Or they can just stop by the reference desk to receive assistance. However, getting a book from a Connecticut library, even as close as Sacred Heart University, will take about a week, so Gore cautions students to plan accordingly....the other library has to process the mail and it has to be received. So allow enough time for your research, he adds. Course Reserve: For some classes, your assigned textbook can be in the course reserve section. Gore says, We have some of the textbooks, not all of them, and they can be checked out. [Librarian] Jennifer Falasco, who is in charge of the books,
picks the ones that are in demand. And we have what instructors put on course reserve here [behind the circulation desk]. Reference Desk: If you need help, ask someone at the reference desk located in the middle of the Library. Someone is always there to help, and theyll walk you through it. Study Rooms/Carrels: The Library has three group study rooms in the back that can be used by students with a library card. The rooms include a new C-Pod, a collaborative computer, with 3 keyboards attached to a screen so if your doing a group project, you can all work on it at the same time. If you need to study or do work by yourself, the library also has 91 study carrels at the back that are quiet and relaxing. Books: To the right when you first walk in is the Best-Sellers. The library does not own but rent these titles, chosen from the New York Times Best Selling list. The idea is to keep having new ones so after awhile they get turned over with the current best sellers. The library also has audio books on disk. So if you rather just listen to a book, you can do that, especially if you have a long commute. New books come
in all the time. These books are displayed when you first walk in the library and on the circulation desk. The Card Catalog System is where you look up all material from the collection. Students can find the Card Catalog on their my commnet accounts, also under Library Resources. DVDs/Tapes: The feature films in the Tapes section are the post popular items in the library, set up by title. You can check out any three at a time. Educational DVDs such as Shakespeare plays and anatomy films are on the other side. And we also have some old VHS tapes over there too. Also in this section are the instructional DVDs in certain subjects such as math, so if you ever need practice or extra help those are there for you to utilize. Hours: The Library hours for the Fall and Spring Semester are Monday -Thursday: 8:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m., Friday: 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., and on Sundays 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. The Library is open year round even when the semester is over although the hours do change: Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Some people can be intimidated to ask for help, but in the library you dont have to worry. The staff is there to aid you.
Like Horizons on Facebook and Follow Us on Twitter! Visit the Housatonic Horizons Facebook fan page to read the latest about whats going on at HCC as well as articles you wont find in the paper, and to send us links, comments, and suggestions. Follow us on Twitter at @HCCHorizons, and search the hashtag #hoccnews to learn about campus news as our reporters discover it!
Cougar Couples: A Different Perspective

By laura guSTafSon STaff WriTer
ave you ever wondered what it would be like to date someone much older than you? With new media attention drawn towards agegapped relationships, such as Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher, and the characters played by Ed ONeill and Sofia Vergara in Modern Family, is the concept of being involved in a Cougar relationship more widely accepted modern day than it was in the past? Jackie Allen, an HCC student, says, Its more popular now. They make movies on it. Several aspects to these relationships come into play, such as psychological effects, maturity levels, and both mental and physical preference. With media acknowledging the idea of an older woman or man dating someone half their age or younger; judgment from family, friends, peers and acquaintances can take a toll on a persons decision to pursue anything further with a significant other. One HCC student, Laisha Andino,
was asked if people could be influenced to make different decisions in a Cougar relationship based on the people around them. Andino replied, Personally, I think family has an impact on that. So, whether or not an individual takes others opinions into their own, outsiders may still pass judgment nowadays if they engage in this sort of affiliation. On the other hand, with the flourishing media stir and concentration on making inordinate predicaments more ordinary, there are psychological aspects of this interest in Cougar Couples that better explains why they may occur. Psychology Professor Larry Segallmexplains that there are several components in breach relationships such as Demi Moore and Ashton Kutchers that can cause conflict. Maturity connections can cause problems, said Segall. There are definitely different levels of sexual maturity. With maturity in mind, people involved in age-gapped relationships may find it easier or harder to relate with someone who is not close in age to them. He says that an older man pursuing a
younger woman could be interested in how she may be energetic and more attentive or more sexually desirable. With rumors flying around the news, tabloids and web, he recent concerns with Ashton cheating on Demi have been very disappointing. Hardships can arise in age-gapped relationships because of maturity levels, change in interest, beliefs and overall chemistry. The news of the split went over harshly and abruptly for the couple, who were only willing to come across half spoken on Twitter. Kutcher replied to these accusations with a web link to Public Enemys hit Dont Believe the Hype, while Moore tweeted with Epictetus When we are offended at any mans fault, turn to yourself and study your own failings. Then you will forget your anger. So, whether the couple is done for good still remains up in the air but speculators assume that Ashton may be accused of cheating because of the pictorial evidence taken by paparazzi when he was spotted with a younger woman. It is also a challenge for any young person to settle
down with a person significantly older than them and share responsibilities that are attached to that person such as children, sharing a house, chores, and other everyday duties. It can become overwhelming and at the end of the day, can we blame Kutcher for his rebellious act of presumed adultery? Cougar Couples is a growing phenomenon that has been swallowed and digested by media. The references to differing aged relationships is more accepted and experienced in our society modern day than it was ten years ago. Although Ashton and Demi Moore are only one well known example of these relationships, they both seem on the fence when it comes to their feelings, whether negative or positive. Although media twists these couples in different ways, a lot of them either work out or fail like in any other relationship. Since there are several dynamics at play, who is to judge ones dating preference? Times are changing and will continue to, so if you are on the fence about that particular someone; no matter the age, go for it,. What do you have to lose?
HORIZONS News
Are the Protests Spreading throughout the Country a Sign of a Nation In Chaos?
By daVe Weidenfeller STaff WriTer
he chaos surrounding Wall Street first came to my attention via email as a link from an old friend. Im sure it was meant as a joke playing off my distaste for corporate America. Having basic knowledge of civil rights movements and the counter culture of the 50s and 60s, the rebellious nature of the name alone pulled at my curiosity: Occupation Wall Street. I questioned if this movement was as legitimate as they claim. Do we live in a nation suffocating in chaos? This serves as the second more recent major political movement since the Tea Party Movement back in 2009. On September 17, 2011, a group set up camp in Liberty Plaza and occupied Wall Street. Metal fencing and a security detail composed of police surrounded Wall Streets beloved Bronze Bull. Their symbol of aggressive business. This corralling of the bull is an important image, which stands both powerful, and symbolic of the stalemate of American economic stamina. Reminiscent of the sit-ins and rallies during Americas civil rights movements and anti-war efforts, Liberty Plaza, as well as over seventy cities nation wide including Connecticuts capital of Hartford and the home of ever conservative Yale University, have been occupied in support of this Anti-Corporate Greed Movement. Seems pretty simple, but its not. Where this event in American history takes a turn to the complex is when people try to define what the protests are about. So what is the Occupy Wall Street movement all about? Picket signs displayed thoughts of the people throughout Liberty Plaza. One that sticks out in my mind read, If there was an actual war on Poverty, then money would actually be put into it. Others called for the end to a war now in its eleventh year. Yet, others still called attention to the movements lack of focus-- Were Here, Were Unclear, Get Used To It! It is this very fact that has got people talking. In a Fox News video posted under the title, Wall Street Protesters Cant Get Their Story Straight with guests Fran Tarkington and Heidi Harris, they discuss protesters demands of extending New Yorks millionaire tax. The top one percent of New York currently pays forty percent of the taxes collected. This does not seem out of focus when one makes the connection that the people benefiting from the gross profits of big corporations are these same millionaires. When asked about this, Tarkington immediately started off by saying that the federal bailouts (granted during the end of the Bush administration and extended by
the Obama Administration) are anti-capitalist, and instead of targeting Wall Street the protesters should be in Washington D.C. Tarkengton adds that it is the government at fault and that bailing out the banks, automakers and other businesses is against the fundamentals of what this country is all about. Many other people such as Don Imus to Chaz from the WPLR morning show have publicly stated they feel the protests should be taking place in the capital, and that the Federal Government can fix this problem. It is the lack of focus and organization that keeps people on their toes. They are only left to guess and interpret messages that emanate from the ever-growing number of protests across the United States and the world. Remarks from occupywallstreet.org argue that these protests, this movement is indeed inspired by those in Egypt not too long ago. Still, others are angry at the corruption and seemingly excessive greed on Wall Street. Bailouts come to mind once again when talking of corporate greed. Hundreds of financial institutions were granted bail out money including big players such as Bank of America and insurance giant AIG. Many of these institutions have returned nothing back. Many people like myself, do not know why these corporations have given nothing back while operating in the traditional manner with the ultimate goal of large profits. A list of institutions and dollar amounts can be found at projects.propublica.org/ bailout/list. The bail out focus is a political and economic issue with a draw on where fair business practice and fair government meet and cross the line. But what about those accountable for unethical business practices or flat out criminal actions? One would think that would be a priority. This can fit under corporate greed as well. The media is littered with stories of fraudulent business deals, and with people conned out of their savings and never get a dime returned even if the crook is caught. People like Lauren Reed believe that these people should be held responsible for their actions, Hell yea, Take everything they got and give it away! she said with a smile. Mortgages, even car loans and credit cards were believed to be purposefully given to people they knew could not keep up with the payment. People see extra charges on bill statements because corporations pull every cent they can while trying to reduce the services you get (i.e. Bank of America and their new monthly charge for debit card use). Criminal Actions such as the infamous Maddof scandals and pension fiascos are also fueling the fire of the Wall Street Protest. With all of this to instill the economic crisis, America is facing yet another aspect
Photo by Cassandra Mendoza
of protest. This focus of protest concerns the billions spent on a war many Americans do not support and or even approve of when people in this country are losing their homes and their jobs. Debates over budgets that seem to hack at the throats of the social programs designed to help support those in need of assistance. Yet another attraction are the billions wasted on the drug war should have gone to serve the community, or national infrastructure like highways, bridges and sewage line, things that have been ignored for decades. With all the variations on focus and belief or lack there of, the simple demand for change is evident. It was here I stopped and realized that in order to answer the original question Are we a nation in chaos? we must look at two other seemingly irrelevant but vital issues that give added insight. First, we must look at The Tea Party, no not the Boston tea party all though it is indeed a reference to the act of protest against the English back in 1773. The Tea Party is the first major political movement in the United States since the turmoil of the anti- war efforts of the 60s, making Occupy Wall Street the second massive movement in a four-year period. The Tea Party Movement by this time has been absorbed into the Republican party since its inception, and is viewed as both a conservative and libertarian movement. According to the Movements official web page, fiscal responsibility, Constitutionally Limited Government, and a Free Market are the three demands or core values embraced by Tea Partiers. They are very direct, easily defined, and are explained in detail on the Tea Party web
page. There are two different movements: one conservative reserved and well organized, the other more free flowing, lacking in focus and even proposing a more radical way but both call loudly for a common element-- change. In a Fox News broadcast with Don Imus and Pat Buchanan, Buchanan a seasoned veteran in D. C., mentions how he has never seen things so deadlocked up there on Capitol Hill. He goes on to convey that without willingness to work together and compromise, fixing the political and economic issues in this country will be a hopeless cause. Like many, Buchanan feels that Americans are much too self-absorbed and selfish. It is obvious that the tension of economic and political stability in America is at an all time high. According to an article in The Week in Media magazine, unemployment rates remain at a staggering 9.1 percent. With a massive national debt and a military spread thinly across the globe, people like Buchanan feel we cannot even defend our own borders. So is this nation in chaos? Thats up to you to decipher on your own. Attention both students and staff members: feel free to share your opinions or ideas. If you have been involved and have a story to share, please write to: Dave Weidenfeller at dcweid.weidenfeller8@ gmail.com.
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HORIZONS News You Can Use
ews you can use

I Love You, but I Want to Choke You with a Turkey Leg!
By aShley Welfare STaff WriTer
amilies; we all have them. Hopefully, we all love them; even though there are times when our families get on our nerves and we want to cut them with the carving knife, especially during the holiday, like Thanksgiving. So, how do your peers avoid the pressure of picking up the big pan of freshly made Mac & Cheese and throwing it in Uncle Bennys face for pushing your buttons one too many times? Not every family, during the holidays, has it easy. How can it be when mom is preparing food thats only for one day; ten nights in advance, or more realistically, four? Then, more than fifty people show up for dinner at one small location. Kevin Chang, 19, a student, here at Housatonic, knows just what to do. I go out and take a
breather. When times get rough with everyone in the house I take a break, but mostly things go well, he says. What he also likes to do that struck a chord is, he makes sure that he puts personal problems aside for the family. Its easy to get excited and take certain things out of context when there is a full room of people that are bothering you, but what happens if you are not the calm type? Quentin Pew, 19, also an HCC student, believes that the direct approach is the most reliable approach. Being outspoken has caused him problems in his past, but he is never shy of something that he believes works. He told me that he isnt afraid of telling his family what is needed to be said. Another great way to avoid confrontation is by attacking it head strong so there is no room for saying that you were not told already about the issue. Eric Ramsey, 19, a General Studies major, agrees He and his brother argue a lot and at times it gets too out of hand; especially when they fight. Even some of his family members get in to huge disagreements and fights. Dont think it is just his family. There are others, but they are afraid because they dont know how their friends will act or perceive them to be. To help out as many students as we can, I asked random students just one word answers of what they will do and why. Heres a few: Tell how you feel. Its better to be honest, than to keep it all in. Smile, things will get better. Remember, they are your family. Pray, (for those who believe in a higher power). Even if they are your family, things get tough. Sleep. If you can find a way to get out and take a five minute cat nap, that might help you from knocking somebody out. And lastly, RUN!!! Sometimes you need to just run, as fast and as far as you can. Even though all of these are very helpful, it is still your family, and you know what you can do to tolerate one another, either way, family is family, no matter how big, small, or annoying they might be. Happy Holidays! Want to tell me what you think about this article or any other that I write? Tweet me, @AshMarieHCC
Students prepare for the challenges of Thanksgiving. Photo By Cassandra Mendoza and Photo Editing By Mike Kelly
Become A Better Student

By JaSon l. SToVer STaff WriTer
lot of students bomb on test and quizzes, but mostly because they do not know how to study. Everyone has a different studying style. The way you are studying now may not be the best way for you. The only way to know how well youre studying are by the grades you receive from tests and quizzes. If youve earned below satisfactory grades, chances are, your preferred style of studying is not effective. As I learned in my Academic Skills class, there are three main learning styles: Visual, Auditory, and Tactile/Kinesthetic. Some people learn by (seeing) visual, some people learn by (hearing) auditory, and some people learn by (doing) tactile/kinesthetic. No one uses one of these styles exclusively because its about finding a balance of what works for you individually. The style you choose may not always be the same. It may vary or be combined with others given the nature of the work. Manage your time wisely because many students run into problems regarding procrastination. The better you are with using your time efficiently and effectively, the more you will be able to accomplish. I work better under pressure, is the number one answer for students when it comes to procrastination, said Professor Kim Droniak. Bucks County Community College offers the following tips on how to become a better student: Clear your schedule. Dont overextend yourself. Recognize that your obligations and resulting stress are as important as other peoples needs. Set limits around being interrupted or rescheduling your work time to accommodate others. Omit or reschedule some of your other obligations. You want to give full concentration to your studies without feeling guilty about what youre NOT doing. Get motivated. Create a work area that is free from distractions and commit to staying there for at least one to two hours. If you get side-tracked, remind yourself how this activity will help you to meet your goals. Prioritize. What has to be done first? When is it due? What is worth more in terms of your grade? What is worth more in terms of your personal, educational, or career goals? Make sure you understand the task. Ask questions. Get help if you need it. Break down the task into chunks Estimate how much time youll need to complete the task. Dont try to do it all at one time. Break it down so that its do-able and not so overwhelming. Stay up-to-date on assignments to help avoid overload. It doesnt have to be perfect. Some people are so afraid that they wont perform perfectly, they wont do anything at all. Make sure you understand the expectations of
your instructor. Then evaluate how important the task is and what level of performance is acceptable to you. Then just do it! When you really hate it, try to make it as enjoyable as possible. Work on this task first, while you have more energy. Reward yourself when you complete certain aspects of the task. Note taking is very important to your studies because it helps the brain make a connection to whats being taught. Organized notes help you identify the important ideas in the lecture. A lecture is where you learn what information your teacher thinks is important and what the majority of your exams will consist of. Listening well and paying close attention is essential to note taking. Droniak says Be prepared to take notes, and have your notebook opened and pen handy. [Be prepared] no matter what the events of class are, whether it be a guest speaker or trip to the library. According to citruscollege.edu, here are tips to help you succeed as a student. Sit as close to the front of class as possible to increase your level of attention and decrease distractions. This allows you to hear and see unimpeded as well. Date your notes and identify the class. Look for clues the instructor may give that he or she is saying something important: Repetition Watch the instructors eyes--is he or she reading from notes to be sure something is stated exactly. Highlight obvious clues. Instructors often tell you in so many words that something is important or will be on a test. Star, underline, use a highlighter or in some other way mark it as such. Listen for verbal asterisks such as, The main point is..., We will focus on..., The key is... Notice the instructors interest level. Is he or she excited? Is the voice more emphatic than usual? Consider all visual aids important. Copy all material from the board or overhead projector or other visual displays. Use only one side of the paper, or use 3x5 cards. Either way allows you to lay the notes out to see the flow or get the big picture. Leave space. You may need to add clarification or additional material later. Space also indicates movement to a new topic or idea. Dont try to write everything down. Leave room in your listening to hear effectively and interact with the class when appropriate.
HORIZONS News You Can Use

Take notes in different colors. Color can be used to show main ideas, important or emphasized material or movement from one topic to another. Alternately, when reviewing notes, use several colors of highlighters. Use pictures and diagrams. Make your notes visual. Dont erase. Neatly line through mistakes. This takes less time and you may find your first impression was right. Ink smears less than does pencil and will not fade as quickly. Keep a supply of pens, so if one is dry or leaves those nasty, messy globs, you can switch to another. Of course, some notes, such as math problems, may be taken in pencil. Avoid doodling. You may miss something or lose your concentration. Try to write legibly. Be conscious of your handwriting. Try to notice if your notes are getting hard to read and remind yourself to get back on track. Be open-minded. If you disagree with the lecturer, dont let it interfere with taking notes. Quickly note your questions or disagreement and pursue it later. Raise questions in class if appropriate. Otherwise, indicate questions you may have or notice when you become lost in your note taking with a question mark or other symbol and go on. Later you can check with the instructor or another student to clarify. Although a good study environment is individualized to fit a particular person, there are certain distractions that study areas should be free of. Keep your phone off, says Droniak. One place you can study within HCCs campus is the library, but if you want somewhere a little more secluded, try the study rooms within the library. On the third and second floor of Beacon Hall, there are plenty of comfortable seats available, and the area is pretty quiet most of the time. Not the cafeteria, said Droniak. It is often crowded and has too many distractions with people constantly in passing. Consider these things when choosing an adequate study environment: Get enough rest BEFORE! Eat meal FIRST! Water When most ALERT! Quiet Sufficient lighting Music (if prefer) Comfortable place (desk, table, etc.) Minimal distractions Comfortable temperature
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Study material during the week, at least once a week, whether there is a test or not. Keep a daily planner, and work studying into your daily routine. Set up a routine for each class [because] it will help eliminate the procrastination, says Droniak. The best way to approach the subject is by understanding the material thoroughly, and ask questions in advance about anything you do not comprehend. Some helpful study techniques for you to try according to Academic Skills Studies DS099. Flash cards Rewrite notes Study several days before exam DO NOT CRAM! Quiz/self-test/questions Get tutoring early! Go to library-study alone Memorize (if necessary) Practice experiments Draw pictures/diagrams READ notes everyday, before each class READ notes or TEXT aloud to yourself Study with friend/groups Highlight notes and other materials Students, use your resources because there here for you. Stop by the Academic Support Center in Lafayette Hall or check out etoturing.com online. If you have any questions, Kim Droniak will be happy to assist you. She can be located in room B202 Tuesdays and Thursdays 5:30/6:30 pm or via email kDroniak@hcc.commnet.edu. By giving HCC students tips and suggestions on how to take better notes in class, manage time, having a workable study environment, and some alternate study techniques, Im sure [to see] grade improvements, Droniak said.Build relationships with students, staff, and faculty. It can increase study help. Its a continuous way to gain new skills.
Where Did They Lose their Message?

Learn more in a New Public Relations Course at HCC!
Introduction to Public Relations, COM201, will be offered this spring at HCC, Mondays and Wednesday, from 12:30-1:50 p.m. for all interested students. The course will focus on public relations as its practiced today, and also review the historical backdrop of this very important profession. In addition to learning theory and industry best practices, the class will critique current public relations scenarios in business, government and politics. Through these case studies, we will appreciate the complexity and range of decision making strategies that go into crafting effective public relations policy. A former journalist and editor, Adjunct Professor Frances Trelease brings 15 years of experience to the classroom. She creates a highly interactive classroom environment where students will become actively engaged in the learning process. They will come away with a real-word understanding of this profession.
CL&P, Netflix, Herman Cain...
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HORIZONS Health & Science
ealth and
By aShley CampBell STaff WriTer
cience
the next morning. Such a fact causes them to miss assignments. If the students cant seem to steer away from frequent drinking, this is when parents need to step in and get involved to address and rectify the situation . A parent who checks in on their child frequently would notice something wrong by their behavior including a huge change in their grades, lack of communication, and mood changes. Its important that parents pay attention to their childs experience and activities in the first 6 weeks of college. It wouldnt be a bad idea to pop on campus every once in a while just to be aware of whats going on. A parent who is involved always has a better chance of getting a student back on track. Remember, binge drinking affects 44 percent of college students nationwide. Dont be another statistic.
Alcohol and College Students
he first few months of each semester for college students usually goes along very smoothly. They go to class on time, and hand in assignments when they need to. Simply put, they are always on top of their work. Then suddenly, all of that effort slows down in the middle of the semester. Students start getting invited to events off campus. These events tend to throw students off. When one event goes well, they just cant wait to attend another. Most of these off campus events involves drinking which is something their parents warned them about even before starting college. Some students in college dont even drink. This is when peer pressure takes the wheel. They start drinking and begin to sli Binge drinking varies amongst certain
colleges, and depends on the type of college and the location. Binge drinking is often detected when a female or male has five or more drinks in a row. For many students, binge drinking starts with either a beer or a shot of Vodka. It is common among students who drink socially and those who participate in activities over the weekends. According to statistics revealed by Northern Kentucky University, In one multi-campus survey, White non-Hispanic students reported to have the highest percentage of binge drinking in a 2-week period (43.8 percent), followed by Native American (40.6 percent), Hispanic (1.3 percent), Asian (22.7 percent), and black non-Hispanic students (22.5 percent). When it comes to alcohol and drugs in any school, peer pressure is the main reason. People drink just because others are drinking or even use it as an excuse
to fit into a certain group. A few use alcohol as an escape from school stress and relationship issues. During school events or special occasions, alcohol is seen as a form of celebration and is often deemed acceptable. These can be good reasons to consume alcohol, but these reasons dont negate the fact that binge drinking happens more often than necessary. Too much alcohol usage can lead to students damaging property, unsafe sex, a run in with law enforcement, and most importantly a drastic decline in their academic performance. Students start to fall behind in assignments, they do poorly on quizzes and exams, and find it hard to concentrate in class. Procrastination takes a huge toll on students who use alcohol frequently. By being out all night, students rarely get a good nights rest for the next day. Having a hang over can cause students to lose the motivation to attend class
Im Every Woman! Early Detection of Breast Cancer Saves Lives

ctober is known as Breast Cancer Awareness month. With all the major planning that takes place throughout the year, there is still a great need for women to get checked for breast cancer. Early detection can slow down the cancer and give women better chances to live longer. Each year, an alarming number of 40,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer. This number will keep rising if more women dont get checked for breast cancer in its early stages. As a result, students at HCC have participated and have also made it their duty to bring breast cancer awareness to HCCs campus. Julian Douglas lost his mother to breast cancer in 2006. Although it has been four years, he still finds it hard to cope with. Whenever there is an event during the year addressing breast cancer, he helps out by passing out fliers, sending out emails, and coordinating walks for breast cancer. Losing my mom opened up my eyes to realize how important your health is, and getting help before things get worse. The doctors were unable to get to the cancer in time before it had spread into my mothers chest, says Douglas, a Business major at HCC. I didnt know my mom was really sick. She never really spoke about her health to me or my brothers, but we all knew something was wrong. Sometimes I wish I knew before things got real bad so we could have helped her get earlier help, he adds. According to a recent article written by the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is common among American women and this can be passed genetically. The
article also states that 5 to 10 percent of all breast cancers are hereditary. Many people go without ever getting tested which leaves important information unknown. Elaine Ward is a community leader and radio producer who co-hosted a radio show called, You Need to Know. The topics discussed on this show informed men and women on important issues that affects them in their everyday lives. One particular issue paid regard to the health of women.
Although there are a number of women who have lost their lives to breast cancer, there are many survivors who live to tell their stories. These women encourage the importance of getting their mammograms and getting support if breast cancer does occur. I wear my pink ribbon with a smile on my face, says Omega Jones, a seven year breast cancer survivor and Bridgeport resident. I wouldnt wish breast cancer or cancer on my worst enemy, so just call me a walking miracle. My biggest challenges were accepting that I had it and realizing that it didnt need to be the thing that ended my life! she adds. Women like Jones go into the community and educate young women to take the risk of breast cancer seriously. Jones is a part of the Mount Sinai church in Waterbury, where they link up with many churches and organization in the BridgeThis ribbon represents breast cancer awareness month. port area as well as other Courtesy of hydenicblogcom parts of CT. These groups of women host womens I am an advocate for everyone, but es- health care programs that encourage colpecially our women. We have to take bet- lege students and women from all over ter care of ourselves. Breast cancer does to attend. These seminars also speak with not have to be the end of your life, but by men who either have wives that are diageducating yourself and visiting your doc- nosed with breast cancer or men who have tor often you will be keeping track of breast cancer. what is going on in your body, says Ward. We host these programs all year long This is very true. We as women, by giving out information, and by having whether young or old, need to get our speakers come in to address our women monthly mammograms and even do our as well as our men. I love our women but own breast exams during free times, it is important for men to know they too agrees Viola Muhammad, a Certified can get breast cancer,says Sharon Tilley, Nurses Aid (CNA ) at St. Vincents Hos- a breast cancer survivor and a Bridgeport pital. resident.
[Nonetheless, it is widely known that women are more prone to receive breast cancer than men,] but I think its great that they come and get examined, she adds. Tilley is a project organizer for the womens breast cancer life group because she was diagnosed with breast cancer 21 years ago and continues to fight and help other young women seek early detections. Due to the lack of knowledge on what a women should do or know about breast cancer, many women remain oblivious to the idea. A mammogram takes a deeper look inside of breasts with the use of an X-ray. This x-ray helps doctors to detect breast cancer in its early stages. According to an article published by the CDC for breast cancer, it states that, women between the ages of 50 to 70 years of age should have their breasts checked every two years or every six months. Women whose tests come back abnormal are able to sit down with a doctor and get mental and psychical help to deal with their breast cancer. Women are able to get a second opinion before they take any steps toward surgically removing the breast (vasectomy) or chemotherapy. For more information on breast cancer or support groups, call the National Cancer Institutes (CIS) a 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237), or TTY: 1-800-3328615. For Medicare information, you can call 1-800 MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or visit In addition, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a branch called the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection program, which works with health departments and other groups to provide low-cost or free mammograms to women who qualify. You can find out more at http://www.cdc. gov/cancer/nbccedp/screenings.htm
HORIZONS Health & Science
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Childhood Obesity vs Fast Food Monopolies

By JameS harloW STaff WriTer
very year more and more fast food chains are opening up worldwide. While these fast food chains want people to think that they are helping the community, they are in fact actually hurting them. The result of these chains are causing a growing problem in the United States, and all over the world. This problem is childhood obesity. Childhood obesity is a very serious problem that has nearly tripled in the United States in the past thirty years. Obesity can be stated as having too much body fat, but it does not mean that someone is overweight, but rather the person weighs too much. Obesity can cause the vital func-
tions of the body to not work properly, resulting in heart disease, stroke, or even in some cases, depression. First Lady Michele Obama is very active in preventing the spread of this disease, and makes regular appearances on talk shows to discuss prevention. Many things contribute to this disease. Some people are obese because they eat too much unhealthy food. Regardless, one of the major problems is the fast food nation that we are living in. McDonalds and Burger King are examples of fast food chains that are adding to this growing problem. For example, the McDonalds trademark sandwich the Big Mac contains an astounding 540 calories. While these fast food chains offer healthier options like salads and apple slices, people still tend to
lean more toward the unhealthy choices. Consuming the food is not the only problem; advertising is as well. McDonalds targets their advertising towards young kids. By doing this, they hope they will grow up loving the fast food chain into adulthood and will buy their product for years to come. A byproduct of all of that time in front of the TV is that the average child sees 40,000 TV commercials a year. Research has shown that a two and three year-olds already knows the McDonalds logo. Kids channels like Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network play commercials from these fast food chains numerous times a day, hindering work towards a solution. Family life is also affected by this disease. Childhood obesity leads to stress at
home for not only the child, but for the other family members as well. Some children are obese because their parents are. Researchers say that children are imitators and will eat a lot if they see their parents eat a lot. But on the other end, some are just genetically prone to this disease. There are just so many things that affect this disease. But one thing is for sure, kids love staying inside and playing on their computers, watching TV, and listening to music. An active life style is very important if a child is going to stay healthy. So parents, get your children off the couch, and send them outside to enjoy the fresh air. It could save their lives!
A Touch of the Flu Understanding the Flu Vaccine

lu season has arrived once again. For many, it is just a ten minute wait in a pharmacy or doctors office for the vaccine then they are done until next year. Although it seems simple, there is so much more involved. The process really all begins each spring when the World Health Organization decides which two other strains of flu to add to the H1N1 (swine flu) to make the coming seasons flu vaccine. They hope their selections will be the strains in existence for the coming flu season. Sometimes they are and sometimes they are not. It does not stop there. Once the vaccine is made, there is so much more to consider. The Flu nasal spray, made for persons 2 through 49 years of age, appears to be the
answer to prayers for those with a fear of needles. However, Medimmune, the company that manufactures the spray, is very specific when it warns those diagnosed with asthma and persons taking aspirin therapy not to take the nasal spray version. Also, since the spray contains a live virus instead of an inactivated one as found in the flu injection, caution should be exercised if you are pregnant or nursing. The pharmaceutical manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline makes the injectable Fluarix for ages 3 years and up. Again, for pregnant and nursing women, make sure your Fluarix injection is the preservativefree version. Sanofi Pasteur makes a preservativefree injecting flu vaccine for 6 through 35 months of age, which is half the size of the adult version.With such a variety available, the Center for Disease stresses the importance of giving an age appropriate dose.
A new concern arises this year for young children receiving the flu vaccine along with the pneumococcal-13 vaccine. Parents are warned that the two given together could cause fever-induced seizures. The CDC recommends that they still be given in spite of the risk since the alternatives, meningitis and flu, are far worse in the long run. This is a choice that the parent must make . It would appear that the flu vaccine is far more complex than many people think. Tammara Usedo from HCCs Health Services offered her view of the flu vaccine, stating that the side effects of the vaccine outweigh benefits, and flu is just a small part of an overall larger health problem. Usedo believes that people should eat healthier, take better care of themselves, and make a point to be aware of what is in the food they are eating. Then, the bodys
own natural defenses can help protect a person against flu and against disease in general, she concludes. The bottom line for persons intending to get the flu vaccine is to know the facts and present your questions or concerns to your care giver. And rule number one: always let your doctor or nurse know if you have an allergy to eggs before receiving a flu vaccine of any kind. For the nasal spray, be sure to let your caregiver know if you have an allergy as well to gelatin, the antibiotic gentamicin, or arginine. Remember to be sure and inform your caregiver if you are sick or have a fever before getting vaccine. If you are already sick, the vaccine will not make what you have better. For more information about the Nasal Flu spray, visit Flumist.com or call 877-633-4411. Further concerns can be directed to the CDC at 800 232- 4636.
Images Wants YOU!

Calling all creatives...
Were looking for creative individuals to submit work to Images, HCCs Literary Magazine. Send poetry, short stories, or illustrations to housatonicimages@yahoo.com, sempric@hcc.commnet.edu, or lovandabrown@yahoo.com by December 9, 2011. We cant wait to review your work!
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HORIZONS Opinions
pinions
Family Connections: Facebook Connects the Disconnected!
ver heard the saying whats lost can always be found? Well, its true, thanks to Facebook. Facebook and other social networking sites can be said to be a blessing or a curse. In my situation, Facebook has been a blessing. When I was five, I was separated from my family and placed into foster care. I didnt know much about my real family or how to locate them. Then I was introduced to Myspace, which allowed me to search for family members. The only thing that was wrong with Myspace was you could go under so many different screen names.This made locating people very hard. It wasnt until I was introduced to Facebook that everything changed. This social networking site known as Facebook has been up and running since February of 2004. This site has created creative ways to stay connected to family and friends. Most people may agree that Facebook was just for socializing and updating their status, but to me it became more. I remember getting a friend request from my older sister, who I havent seen since I was five. We began talking and getting caught up on each others lives. After that day I looked at Facebook in a whole different perspective. I was on the hunt to locate people
Facebook has allowed people to stay connected to people from all over the world
I havent seen in years, but more so my family. When I was younger, and when my family became separated, I honestly didnt
think I would ever see them again. Facebook has its ups and downs, but people have been able to find long lost family members, high school sweethearts and even their enemies. I can honestly agree with you, says Jasmin Davis, an HCC student. I moved from North Carolina when I was 12. I am 19 now and there wasnt a Facebook back then, or at least I didnt know about it. I had to leave all of my friends behind. I always wondered how everyone was and I later used Facebook to locate most of them, she adds. No matter how far the distance, Facebook has allowed people to stay connected to people from all over the world. People who live as far as China are able to keep in touch with people here in the US. I never knew how possible that was until I realized how big Facebook has expanded . My family is from Jamaica. I talk to my aunts and uncles all the time on Facebook because its less expensive than to call up there,says Ishmel Lockheart, criminal justice major, at HCC. Facebook has given people second chances, just like me. Although my life played out the way it did, I am forever grateful because this social networking site allows me to stay up to date with the people I love and keep close eyes on my enemies.Whatever the case may be, people can still be far a part
but close at heart; by simply logging on to Facebook. Im truly amazed at how Facebook
reason may be, people are staying connected even if that means finding people we dont see everyday.
Students take free time to endorse Facebook Photo by Cassandra Mendoza
unites people everyday. My brother is overseas, in Iraq, and almost everyday I am able to talk to him. He uploads videos of him on base. Even though it brings tears to my eyes that I cant hug him, his love reaches me every time he hits me up on Facebook, says Dymond DuRock. Facebook has been an outlet for all kinds of connections. People are able to connect to the president of the United States, by reading his status or looking at pictures he may upload from the White House. They are even able to stay in contact with their favorite singer or actor. Everyday, there are millions of people who log on to Facebook and for whatever that
Some may find it strange connecting with family members by way of Facebook, but I count it as a blessing because even though I may not be able to hug or see someone face to face, just knowing that no matter where I am, as long as we have Internet connection we will always stay connected. Life has made me realize that although we may be miles away our hearts never have to be. Facebook has been that connection back to those family members who mean the world to us!
What Happened to All the Jobs?

By eriC SWanSon STaff WriTer
rom outsourcing to technological innovation, the job front is under attack from all sides. Even government legislation is playing a big part in the job market. These days the atmosphere in Washington DC more closely resembles an elementary school playground. We are led to believe that we either stand behind the President or stand behind Congress. Well, I vote for the third option. I stand with the people. We have a problem in our country and at the root of it lies the fact that we havent learned from the continuous mistakes of our predecessors. Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it, wrote George Santayana in his The Life of Reason. It is almost too easy to make this ar-
gument. To put it simply, we should just look at the board game Monopoly. This game is rooted in the mistakes made in business over 90 years ago. Lets take a moment to analyze a typical game. Everyone starts out with nothing and slowly and surely starts to buy up property. You pass go, and miraculously you are given $200. So you decide to purchase more property. You look at this as an investment, because eventually you will be collecting rent from the property. Eventually you own all of the houses on your block and decide to start building houses, and finally hotels. Low and behold anyone else who has landed on your property is now broke. The animosity just grows as the game goes on and as Im sure we can all attest this game very rarely ever ends with a smile on everyones face. So what happened? We all started out with an even playing field, didnt we?
Yes we did, but it didnt stay very even for long. Eventually that lucky individual who rolled the dice and gambled landed on the Boardwalk, and soon after took Park Place as well. As luck would have
Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it

it this individual who owns the most expensive piece of property in the game also owns the water and electric utilities. So one individual owns your water, electricity and the roof over your head. Which would be fine if one night at this location didnt bankrupt you. But this is the name
of the game Monopoly. Charles Geisst describes a monopoly as when ...one company dominates its industry, being able to set prices, control production, and often raise barriers to competitors wishing to enter the field. Why is this bad? Because its goes against everything that our free market stands for. The free market is here so that if the general population doesnt like a product then they arent going to buy it and said company can either change, or die off. But if you rule the market, and control all aspects of this field, and lack any competition, you have no reason to adapt at all.
HORIZONS Opinions
Creativity and innovation are what made our country great, and competition is the only thing forcing companies to stay relevant. Throughout the 1930s the economy was so bad that entire families were forced out of there homes and into shanty towns. John Steinbecks The Grapes of Wrath accurately describes this atmosphere. The jobs disappeared, you couldnt pay your mortgage, so the banks or monster foreclosed on your property. In the end the main character Tom Joad goes on to stand with his people to fight back. The problem we face today is that 1% of all the wealth in this country is tied up between a handful of people and these people in turn pay lobbyists, who influence our lawmakers. One would argue that the common man should just pay a lobbyist to speak on there behalf, but what is one lobbyist to an army of corporate owned lobbyists? To further that, it isnt in a politicians interest to pay mind to the disenfranchised. These politicians know that if they do what the lobbyists tell them then the corporate overlords will make sure they have what they need for re-election or give them a nice job afterwards. The Great Depression is said to have started with the stock market crash, but its real root was in the trusts and monopolies that dominated the economic market. Rockefeller owned all the oil, and Carnegie owned all of the steel. All throughout the 1930s men tried and tried to figure out what went wrong but came up empty handed. Eventually it became apparent that the only thing that could save our their toll on the middle class and recent college grads. The unemployment rate for college students and young adults
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start of the Great Depression. What are the reasons for this, and what can be done to reverse these trends that are so harmful to not only our way of life but our own well being? In a nut shell all of our economic troubles can be related back to the millions of people out of work. Without financial stability the public doesnt spend money. When we take away spending we are left with stagnant economy, or more simply put a country that is not moving forward. With more people out of work, and federal and state funding of community/ state universities projected to be cut ,the burden of paying for rising costs in tuition will be placed on the student, who is out of work. If you cant get a job because you are unqualified, and you cant go to school to attain qualifications because you cant afford to, what is one left to do? There is not one simple answer; instead we are left with many causes and no easy fix to a serious problem. As students at a community college our main goal is to attain a good paying job upon graduation, but what do we do if there are no jobs once were through? Millions of young adults are finding out the hard way that the job market is not what it was when they started their education.
JOBS
The
With our unstable economy, job opportunites continue to decline. Illustration By Cassandra Mendoza
Future
under the age of 24 is now higher than it was in the 1970s. Why is this happening now? The recession has been blamed on the housing bubble bursting, but why did it have to burst? Our economic standing is reminiscent of 1927, right before the
country was regulation. Legislation was passed to limit the scope of business. The banking industry had legislation forced upon it also. The economic woes throughout Connecticut and over the country are taking
Underwear on Display: Fashion or Foe?

ashion trends come and go, but there is one that has been going strong for more than twenty years, and it shows no signs of losing popularity. Sagging has become so much more than a fashion statement. It has evolved into a symbol of rebellion, and a rite of passage for youth. Some believe that it started in the prison system among inmates who were not allowed to wear belts. Others believe musicians have boosted the popularity by adopting the style, which caused its popularity to endure over the years and spread across nations, and which has likely reinforced the idea in the minds of many young adults. At any place where young people meet, you are bound to see a young male dressed, or maybe half-dressed is a better description, with pants sagging and underwear exposed. Is it sanitary? Is it even safe for the individuals who follow this trend considering that flexibility is restricted? To better understand the phenomenon, it is best to get insight from the sagger and nonsagger alike. A look around HCC reveals several male students in varying degrees of sagging. Some provide vague responses when asked why they choose the style. One student named Ishmael admits that the style is comfortable and that he has sagged all his life. Another student, I will name Marcus says he tried the style only once and would never do it again even though
many of his friends sag all the time. He indicated that he would probably get beat up before leaving the house if he tried the style again. Most importantly, he
What about the negative side effects of sagging? It is easy to see that males who sag have to walk with the added burden of keeping the muscles of the lower extremities more rigid in order to help their pants stay up. Think for a moment of the muscles they are tensing and in turn the muscles they are not using as one normally would. What will happen over time? The Theory of Adaptation along with Jean-Baptiste Lamarck offer a possible answer. Lamarckism theorizes that use and disuse of body parts used more often become stronger and larger, while parts not used slowly waste away and disappear. Even more disturbing is the the corresponding inheritance of acBaggy pants continue to maintain their relevance in the world of fashion. quired characterisPhoto By Cassandra Mendoza tics theory, which is the concept that does not believe you have to sag to fit in modifications that occur during an organor be popular. isms lifetime are passed on to its off-
spring. Lamrack believed that the long neck of the giraffe gradually evolved as a result of giraffes stretching their necks while trying to reach higher branches of the trees. Imagine the effect that sagging could have over time. Should one expect to find a future race of people who all walk like they are wearing sagging pants even though they are not? Or maybe one might discover athletes overall who have lost their edge because certain leg muscle groups are inherently weaker despite exercise conditioning? HCC Sociology Professor Sandra Enders believes the trickle up theory could explain the longevity of sagging. In this theory the innovation is initiated from the street and adopted from lower income groups. It eventually flows to upper-income groups from the bottom up. Although Enders has a background in retail, she has always believed fashion to be an expression of the self, and reveals traces of past, pain, anger, happiness, and even loneliness. The image a person chooses to portray publically comes from their internal feelings and emotions, and often his/her choice of clothing expresses the emotion or psychological state of mind whether it is serenity or turmoil, she continues. Sagging obviously is more than just a fashion trend. The only argument that I can offer for sagging is that it is a habit that can easily be observed and easily broken.
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HORIZONS Arts & Entertainment
rts and
By lauren WeinSToCK STaff WriTer
ntertainment
nights juicy episode of The Jersey Shore. I cant help but join in on the conversation. How many hours of television do you watch normally on a daily basis? I ask Mallory. Usually about two to three hours a day, she answers. So since I heard you talking about Jersey Shore, Im assuming you watch a lot of MTV? I asked. Well maybe not a whole lot, but I do watch some of there main shows, Mallory continued. Jersey Shore, Teen Mom, True Life, and The Real World are my favorites for that channel. Mallory is also a big fan of Bravos Real Housewives, and Style Networks Jerseylicious. But her all time favorite show is Keeping Up With The Kardashians on E! Entertainment. So pretty much, you like shows that are juicy, scandalous, and over the top? My question made Mallory giggle. I suppose I really like the drama filled and intensity of some of these shows. I know that most of them are trash, but if thats the case, those kinds of shows will never be boring. I think people are drawn to how ridiculous some of these shows are. People watch Keeping up With The Kardashians because of their luxurious lifestyle and the crazy outbursts that happen in the family, I added. Yes, is like these people are getting paid to gossip and over react and make big deals about things that are not really big deals. Its ridiculous, but for some other reason, highly entertaining, Mallory responded. Jeremy Beers, another HCC student on the left side of me chips in on the conversation and offers his opinion as well, I watch a whole lot of TV at least like four to five hours a day. I asked Jeremy just why her watches so much television. After all, it isnt the healthiest thing to do because its not productive. Jeremy answers, Just because I work hard throughout the day, and when I come home its just a fun hobby of mine. Okay Mr. Beers, what are your top shows of choice then? I questioned. Jeremy responded with, American Dad, Family Guy, and Man vs. Wild. Jeremy likes cartoons and funny shows that do not require a lot of thinking or complex thoughts. That is what keeps me entertained, Jeremy explains. Im a simple person and I like to keep my TV simple as well.
Popular TV Shows Among HCC Students
n the year 2011, television has seen its greatest days. For decades, there have been many great, inspiring, and delightfully funny shows and programs. Others have been corny, fake, and drama filled for people to watch and be entertained by. Some say the population would go completely insane without the entertainment of T.V. at night when they arrive home from a long stressful day of work and or school. As I began to think about all the channels, stations, shows, and sitcoms that exist, I couldnt help but consider all of the students on my campus, and what television shows they might be watching, and just why they were watching them? Sitting in Beacon Hall cafeteria, I could see my fellow college mates swarm in and out of the cafe. Its eleven a.m., and a new fresh crowd of students arrive for their first few classes of the day. The TV is on in the corner of the room, and an early morning news channel is running in the background for those eating lunch. I sit down with HCC students Elliot Griffin and Nick Riley to discuss what they
love to watch for their own personal entertainment at night. Elliot says he loves to watch Sports Center and UFC because he is a very sporty person himself. Its a lot of fun to come home from a day of school and be able to watch a few hours of television at night. Especially sports because Im a very athletic person and watching others be athletic as well entertains me. I am also a huge fan of The Office a good laugh is always in order for TV at night. Elliot claims. How about you, Nick? I ask, Do you love the good dry humour of Steve Carrol and the Office? Nick shakes his head. I enjoy it sometimes, but for the most part, I love to watch things like Storm Chasers on the Discovery channel, and the Weather channel. Nick added the reason he loves to watch the Weather Channel is because he hopes to someday pursue a career as a meteorologist. My discoveries so far have been that people usually watch the things they are most interested in and can relate to. I go on with the rest of my day, and I situate myself in the computer lab in Lafayette Hall. I then find a student working on a research paper and talking quite loudly to her friend next to her about last
Who Dropped the Soap?

ditors Note: Due to a formatting error, the last few paragraphs of this article were inadvertently deleted when it was published in Issue 1. As a result, we are re-running this article in its entirety in this issue. After an astonishing 41 years of being on air, the soap opera All My Children was cancelled last month, while another ABC soap One Life to Live, which has been on for 45 years, will be cancelled in January 2012. The news came in April when ABC execs made the announcement that the network could no longer keep the shows running due to declining ratings. All My Children will be replaced by yet another talk show called The Chew while One Life to Live will be replaced by, The Revolution whose concept is still unknown. But a new online network called The Online Network, projected by Prospect Park, will be picking up both soaps in the hopes to bring viewers to their website.
All My Children aired its last episode on September 23rd with a literal bang, and leaving a frustrating cliffhanger but an enticing incentive for viewers to continue watching the show once it comes back on the internet in January. According to an article posted on the website, Fierce Online Video, actors have already been contracted to start working on the soaps again. But not all our favorites will be returning. Susan Lucci, who played Erica Kane on All My Children since it first aired, is upset about the cancellation of the soap and has so far refused a deal with Prospect Park. She explains in her memoir All My Life who she blames for the demise of the long-time running soap. Since the Soap Opera movement in the 1970s began, the stories have been geared toward housewives who could use soaps to forget about their own troubles for an hour. Delilah Diaz, a student here at HCC, says All My Children was a comfort for her: Soap Opera was part of my peace. It helped me cope with life, with the things going on. Id just go in my room, close
my door, [and] watch my soaps. Whatevers going on out there, Im just into my soaps. Although extremely unrealistic at times, most story lines hit close to our hearts. They have also been known to be the first to explore sensitive and serious topics such as the use of date rape drugs, domestic violence, and tolerance of the LGBT community. Linda Bayusik, Director of Student Activities, has been watching soap operas since they first began airing. She watched All My Children exclusively and made sure to plan her routine around the soap. Back then I was a stay at home mom and soaps were the thing to watch. Bayusik continues, saying, [Im] Definitely not watching The Chew and Im not picking up another soap. As for watching the show online, Bayusik says, Not sure, havent made up my mind yet. Watching online isnt my thing. Well see what happens. Thea Douglass, who works the front desk at Beacon Hall, says she started
watching because her grandmother was a faithful viewer. Every chance I got to spend time with her, we were sittin in the living room watching her soaps. On hearing that the All My Children was cancelled Thea says, Im surprised because it seemed legendary; so many people watched it from when it began. In an article posted on Fox News, it explains why the soap generation is ending. A key point made is how the peoples interest in made up drama has been switched to real drama as seen in the rise of reality TV programming. A second point is how the lead demographic, women between the ages 18-49, are going to work. When soap operas air, between 1:00-4:00, the majority of women are still working or are in school. The fact is in 1990, there were19 soaps, in 2000 10 left, and today only 4 exist. By the end of the decade (2020) it could be possible that all soaps will be off the air.
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Perspective
Gain Some
17
Photographs of Montana Frontier by Richard Buswell at the Housatonic Museum of Art

Richard Buswells photographs of Montanas abandoned, overgrown homesteads and artifacts of the Montana frontier will be on exhibit at the Burt Chernow Galleries, Housatonic Museum of Art. Traces/Montanas Frontier Re-Visited will be on view from Nov. 4, 2011 until Dec. 18, 2011. Buswells photos are precisely realized individual works, intended to be studied and savored one at a time. For more than 35 years, Buswell has used the camera to explore the visually profound and unique historical complexion of his native state. Julian Cox, Curator of Photography at the High Museum of Art says, Beaten and weathered facades become as a sublime as the cloud dappled, never ending Montana sky. In the world as seen through Buswells eyes, history and archaeology are inextricably meshed. History provides the link between then and now, and archaeology the means to understand and reconstruct the passage of time. Buswells photography represents thousands of hours and miles spent crossing and re-crossing the state of Montana a land mass as large as the British Isles, but populated by less than a million people. His photographic studies are intimate, miniature landscapes, organized with the same rigor and described with the same sensitivity to light and space as he accords the grand vista. Cox continues, Richard Buswells work occupies a special place - and provides a lasting reminder that the most unique forms of beauty and invention can often be found close to home. Buswells work is in the permanent collections of 191 Museums both in this country and in Europe. In 2007 the Montana Museum of Art and Culture exhibited Traces/Montanas Frontier Re-visited the exhibit now on view at the Housatonic Museum of Art and a book with the same title has been published. The Housatonic Museum is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Thursday evenings until 7 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. The Museum is closed when the college is closed. For further information contact 203-332-5052 or visit www.housatonicmuseum.org.
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We have databases covering many subject areas. These databases offer mostly full-text articles from journals, magazines and newspapers. The library is one of the areas providing computer services to HCC students, faculty, and staff. The computers are intended primarily for locating library materials and academic research. Let us know if you would like an individual library tour or in depth look at any particular aspect of library collections or services. Please visit the library and sign up for your library card.
Happy Thanksgiving! from the Horizons Staff
18
Ballet Eloelle Presents: Men in Pink Tights

By loVanda daVa BroWn ediTor-in-Chief
n Sunday October 9, 2011, at Klein Memorial Auditorium, Theatrical Performance Director Victor Trevino introduced a whole series of drag-painted men in honor of the 20th Anniversary of his male-based dance company, Ballet Eloelle.
Thank you ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to Klein Memorial Auditorium, said the host. The audience cheered and praised him as he proceeded. It is my privilege to introduce, Men in Pink Tights! The show began with a blended sound of trumpets, violins, and indistinct praises. The first dancer paraded the stage and displayed a peacockdesigned cape that hung from his neck.
Audience members continued to praise as they dissemble for intermission. A blonde haired girl with a metal-laced smile commented on the events that occurred just moments before. The performers are doing very good, says Claire Sweeney, 14, a student-volunteer for the production. Yeah, this is a good turn-out,
performers that were introduced before made their way to offer a final and hopefully memorable performance. They are all dressed in classic Spanish attire. The men wore red vests, white shirts, and black tights, while the women wore flowing skirts and roses that accessorized their brunette wigs. After a 20-minute span of tiptoed dancing, the music heightened to let the audience know that the show would soon meet its end. And of course, it did just that. The show came to its expected demise, and the audience delivered its ovation.
Men in Pink Tights premiered free of charge, and welcomed a diverse audience of all ages. It began at 7 p.m. on the aforementioned date. The auditorium wasnt particularly crowded. The room was dimly lit, and contained a few glowing exit signs above the standing doors with five cylindricalshaped lights on each side. There was a very mixed audience, and the conversations varied as well. Well, whatever anyone might say, weve certainly got the best parking place in town, said an older gentlemen to his guest while sitting in an aisle-aligned seat. There was evidence of Klein Memorials history. The burnt orange seats held a worn velvet graze, and emerald-auburn patterns stamped the carpets that rested among the peeling green- cemented floors. There was a vacant display of seats that rested on the hovering level. The first 14 rows were filled and the rest of the seats held just a few audience members. Finally, at seven minutes past seven, the lights dimmed to present darkness, and the red curtains rose.
The music was dramatic as an automaton swana slowly moved across the stage and followed him.
Illustration By Abelardo Pulido
A s w a n h u n t e r emerged. There was a flirtatious chemistry between the swan hunter and the now ballet-compelled swan. No words were spoken, but the audience was provided with mere dramatic gestures and complimenting melodies to understand the comedic sense being relayed. Act I reached its demise when the leading swan was finally captured and shot by the hunter. The curtains fell to mask the bowing performers. That was great! Theyre very good!
says her 13y-ear-old blonde haired co-worker, Chloe Proto. Theyre very funny. After a 15-minute intermission, the lights dimmed to introduce the next act. Murmured chatter simmered to an uneven silence, and the light music began just a few seconds shy of the curtains segregation. A new dancer found the stage and twirled and twisted throughout the allotted space. The bass of the drums offered dramatic appeal to each landed flip, and the audience cheered appreciatively. As he made his way off stage, he is replaced by a group of men in pink tights. They all performed harmoniously once again while humorously batting their eyes at the audience. A few audience members were slightly more amused than the rest. Awkward isolated claps plague the nonchalant laughter. Each dancer took his turn to provide a solo performance and they all met sporadically throughout the act. They met in a circled fashion towards the end, and they all bowed shortly after. Once again, the curtains closed, and intermission was welcomed. Wooh! All right! The audience persisted to chant, and once again they disintegrated for intermission. Act III marked the grand finale. All
Men in Pink Tights was delivered just in time to dethrone the sensationalized costumes worn each Halloween. And just before the show was completely over, its host reminded all audience members to consider a few important things, Ladies and Gentlemen! Leave a donation, drive home safely, and always remember your men in pink tights!
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HORIZONS Sports
19
ports
Possible Extensions for MLB Players
By TJ malliCo STaff WriTer Extension Chances - 67% - The prob- ertson - Relief Pitcher - Coming into the lem isnt Ellsburys play when it comes 2011 season, David Robertson was the to uncertainty about a new deal, its the low innings relief pitcher who maybe very year in the MLB there are financial situation. With Boston signing would come in a couple of big spots. players who are given long-term Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez extensions based on their previ- to $100 million plus contracts, overous seasons of success. Some players in paying for John Lackey, and Clay recent memory would include Blue Jays Buchholtz and Jon Lester extensions Jose Bautista (5 years/$65 million), Pi- worth more than $80 million, puts rates Jose Tabata (6 years/$37 million), Boston in a sticky situation. Nobody and Tampa Bays young ace Wade Davis (4 is sure if the Sox have the money that years/$12 million). could get Jacoby to stay long term. Some players are fortunate to receive Clearly Ellsbury deserves a cona lengthy, well-paid deal. However, not tract extension, at 28 years old and all players get the huge deal they want. coming off his best offensive season, Low market teams like the Padres nev- Jacoby has the chance to command er gave Adrian Gonzalez a long-term a deal somewhere in the area of 5 5 deal because of their financial situation years/$70 million +. which results in a trade for multiple big 3) New York Yankees - Robinleague ready prospects. son Cano - Second Base - Robinson Adam Jones with a towering 3 run shot to give the Orioles the lead. Here are some of the players that are Cano is the best second in baseball, Photo Courtesy of prosportsblogingcom in line for an extension, or deserve an period. Hes averaged more than a extension for their respected ball clubs .300 batting average, 25 home runs, throughout the league: 100 runs scored, and 40 doubles the past But, when big free agent signing RaAmerican League East: three seasons. And while hes due for fael Soriano was expected to miss 3-4 1) Baltimore Orioles - Adam Jones - over $15 million next season, Canos 4 months and Joba Chamberlin and Pedro Outfielder - After being one of the major year/$30 million dollar extension is al- Feliciano out for the season, the Yankees trade chips that sent Erik Bedard to Se- most up. did not know where to turn. Robertson attle, Jones has spent four solid seasons Extension Chances - 95 % - If theres made his first all-star game this season with the Orioles. Hes posted a career any team that is going to lock up talent, posting an ERA under 2.00 and more average of .278 with over 20 home runs especially home-grown prospects like than a strike out an inning for the 4th the past two seasons, while also adding Robinson Cano, the Yankees will get the consecutive year. career highs in RBIs and stolen bases job done. With Canos impressive 7 year Extension Chances - 43 % - Lookin 2011. ing at Robertsons first four years in the Extension Chances - 78 % - If league, the numbers are actually very Baltimore wants to be a contendgood. A career ERA of 3.09 in 198.1 iner sooner than later, they have to nings pitched is a reliable stat to look at lock-up Adam Jones. They gave for extension-worthy players. As good thriving shortstop J.J. Hardy a Robertson is, it will be tough for a deal 3 year/$22 million extension, to get done. The Yankees can ride his arwhich shows us they are arent bitration where he wouldnt make more afraid to spend. Adam Jones than 3 million a season, but locking him seems willing to work a contract up now could make him Marianos reand I believe they get it done, explacement. pect a contract offer in the range If Robertson ever does get a deal of 5 year/$35 million extension. done, a 4 year/$14 millioncontract seems 2) Boston Red Sox - Jacoby what the young fire baller could eventuEllsbury - Outfielder - After ally come across. Jacoby Ellsbury with a beautiful diving catch to keep an injury-riddled 2010 season 5) Toronto Blue Jays - Brett Lawrie the Red Sox alive. where Ellsbury only played in - Third Base - Shaun Marcum getting Photo Courtesy of wwwthemagazinetimecom 18 games, nobody really knew traded to the Brewers for Brett Lawrie what to expect from the young and other prospects seemed like a steal center fielder. Luckily for Red Sox fans career wheres he averaged over a .300 for Milwaukee. Marcums adjusted eashes been there most valuable player, ca- batting average, puts him in line for a ily to the National League posting a 3.54 reer highs in runs scored, hits, doubles, big deal. Look for Cano to command a ERA in 200.2 IP this year. homeruns, and rbis really contributed to mind-blowing extension around the area Brett Lawrie has been just as much a the teams. Ellsbury power has been the of 6 year/$140 million. If Derek Jeter steal for the Blue Jays. Lawrie was hitsurprising part, by hitting 32 home runs got over $200 million, Cano will easily ting .353 with 18 home runs before callthis year, hes hit more than he has had surpass 100 million. ing him up. In 171 at bats with the Blue in all other seasons combined. 4) New York Yankees - David Rob- Jays Lawrie is batting .293 with 9 home
runs, 8 doubles, and 4 triples. Extension Chances - 57 % (depending on 2012 production) - Hes still early in his career, but the Blue Jays are willing to spend on talented players. Theyve locked up Yunel Escober, Rickey Romero, and Jose Bautista in recent memory. If Lawrie can post a 2012 stat line of .285/24hr/87rbis/.338obp then the Blue Jays giving him a 3 or 4 year deal at $15-20 million could be possible. 6) Tampa Bay Rays - Matt Moore Pitcher - Matt Moore is the best young pitching prospect in the game, period. His last two years in double and triplea Moore threw over 200 strikeouts in less than 160 innings pitched for each season. Hes averaged an astonishing 12 strikeouts every 9 innings. In his first career start against the Yankees Moore struck out 11 batters in just 5 innings of work. He ended up throwing 9.1 innings throughout the last weeks of the regular season posting a 2.89 ERA with 15 strikeouts. Extension Chances - 65 % - Theres a decent shot the Rays can get something done. Theyve given young prospects small extensions in the past, Wade Davis (4 years/$12 million), James Sheilds (4 years/$11.5 million), and Evan Longoria (6 years/$17.5 million). The Rays front office is very smart at recognizing MLB stars early in their career and take a business risk by handing out small, but affordable deals. So far most of the contracts have worked to the Rays advantage and thats why I think theyll get a deal done. An 5 year/$15 million extension is something the Rays can get done. Moore has the potential to be as good or even better than Clayton Kershaw. And when you add potential Cy Young Award Winners James Shields and David Price, Rookie of the Year Canididate Jeremy Hellickson, plus Wade Davis, the Rays have a rotation thats almost as good as the Phillies. These extensions would be beneficial for each team in the American League Division. If the teams lock these players up they would be setting themselves up for future playoff runs. All of these players mentioned are in line for an extension and I believe at least 3 will get done before the start of the 2012 season.
MLB Trade Deadline Winners/Losers

By T.J. malliCo
very season July 31 comes around for the baseball community and that only means one thing: The Trade Deadline. With July in the rearview mirror and with all the players traded, lets take a look at some of the players that have made huge impacts as well as a few that have underachieved. Best Impacts: 1) Mariners Trade: Erik Bedard to: Boston Red Sox - Position: Starting Pitcher - Bedard pitched pretty well with
his stint in Boston. In fact, throughout the whole year, Bedards ERA is 3.62 in 129.1 innings, which is his most pitched since 2007 (the year he led the American League in Strikeouts). From what John Lackey has provided this season, and the health issues surrounding Clay Buchholtz and Dasuike Matsuzaka, at least a rotation of Lester, Becket, and Bedard, is respectable. 2) Astros Trade: Michael Bourn to: Atlanta Braves - Position: Center Field Micheal Bourn, throughout his career, has always been known as a base stealer.
Hes swiped more than 40 bases the past 4 seasons. Hes never been know as a huge threat with the bat, but Bourn was on a tear this year. He finished with a .294 battting average and a career high in hits, doubles, and at bats. 3) Athletics Trade: Brad Ziegler to: Arizona Diamondbacks - Position: Relief Pitcher When Brad Ziegler was traded off to Arizona, a lot of front offices around the league were shaking their heads in awe. Ziegler has been in the league since 2008 and has a remarkable ERA at 2.41. The
Athletics got solid mid-level prospects, but the Diamondbacks got a steal in return, in 20.2 innings for the D-backs Zieglers posted a 1.74 ERA and a career high in strikeouts per nine innings. With Ziegler under team control for another couple of seasons as well, everybodys got to be asking General Manager Billy Beane what his motive was for trading such a talent. 4) Astros Trade: Hunter Pence to: Philedelphia Phillies - Position - Center Field When the Astros traded Hunter Pence and Micheal Bourn, organizations around
20
the league clearly knew they were headed to a re-building mode. They received top prospects such as outfielders Jonathan Singleton and Jordan Schafer, but with a league worst 106 losses and a switch to the
HORIZONS Sports
any possible reunion to his former team. outs. The Pirates traded for Ryan Ludwick, However, their transition from the Naexpecting veteran leadership and a pres- tional to American League hasnt been ence in the middle of their lineup. Even a breeze as some would have hoped. for low-level prospects, the deal hasnt Jimenez has an ERA of 5.10 since joingone smoothly. Ludwick has only 2 ing the tribe, and has thrown his lowest homeruns and 11 runs batted in over 100 amount of innings since 2008, while givplate appearences for the Pirates. To go ing up a career worst in earned runs and along with a .232 batting average, its safe home runs. Fukudome hasnt been much to say his transition to the east coast wasnt more reliable. Even with having a career so pleasant. Even with the low production high in hits this year, hes still hitting unthey recieved at the trade deadline, Pirates der .270 with a low on base percentage. were buyers at the deadline for the first The only way the Indians were going to time in over a decade, and that alone is a keep there hot streak going this season big step in the right direction. depended heavily on Jimenez and Fuku3) Cubs Trade: Kosuke Fukudome to: dome. With poor production from both Cleveland Indians - Position - Outfielder - players that required some of the Indians Rockies Trade: Ubaldo Jimenez best prospects, the Indians slipped to a sub to: Cleveland Indians - Position - Starting .500 record and are not going to the playPitcher offs. The Indians trading for Kosuke Fukudome and Ubaldo Jimenez showed executives around the league they were gearing up for a World Series run. Both of these players have shown in the past they could both light up the stat sheet. Fukudome came over from Japan 3 years ago and finished sixth in the Rookie of the Year voting in 2008. Ubaldo Jimenez had a record-breaking 2010 season with a 15-1 record at the July All-Star break, Atlantas Key aquisition Micheal Bourne rounds third and heads for home plate. and a career high in inPhoto Courtesy of wwwzimbiocom nings pitched and strike-
Even with a surprising first round exit, the Phillies are going to be loaded next year. Worst Impacts: 1) Dodgers Trade: Rafael Furcal to: St. Louis Cardinals - Position: Shortstop The Cardinals trading for Furcal seemed more like a veteran staple move rather than a franchise impacting deal like Ubaldo Jimenez getting shipped to the Indians. Either way its put, however, Furcals playing terrible. Furca had a career worst .232 batting average and .298 on base percentage. Hunter Pence and teammate Ryan Howard celebrate Furcal is in the a much needed home-run. Photo Courtesy of wwwphillysportslivecom third year of his 3year/30million American League after the new Collective dollar contract, however ESPNs Jeremy Bargining Agreement comes out, Houston Craft reports that Furcal would like stay is looking at a serious decline. with the team beyond the 2012 season. Pence has been brilliant for the Phillies, 2) Padres Trade: Ryan Ludwick to: this season hes had career bests in aver- Pittsburgh Pirates - Outfielder age, runs batted in, and on base percentage At the July 31 deadline, the Pirates had (.314/927rbi/.370obp). The question with a surprising 54-51 record and were lookthe Phillies was their offense and with ing to make serious acquisitions for a posPences contributions, plus the best pitch- sible playoff run. The Astros asked way ing staff in baseball many thought they too much for Hunter Pence and so did the were going to the World Series for sure. Cubs for Aramis Ramierez, canceling out
Is Tigers Time Up?

By ChriS galli STaff WriTer
f someone were to say that I made 90.5 million dollars last year and my career was on a downhill slide, I would probably suspect that this someone might have had one too many drinks But when it comes to Tiger Woods, this statement is very true. Eldrick Tont Tiger Woods is one of the most famous sports athletes in the entire world, and despite his many issues in the last few years he is still the highest paid athlete in the entire world. Now by this time, everyone already knows of his debacles, but that is not what this story is about. Is there any chance that Tiger could ever get back to when he was in his prime? Prime is an interesting term to use, especially when it comes to golf. For the more traditional sports, prime is usually more associated age wise, between 25-30 years old, but for golf there really is no age. In the top ten of the Official World Golf Ranking the ages vary from 22, being Rory Mcllroy ranked third to Steve Stricker who is ranked fourth at the age of 44, doubling Mcllroys age. Tiger Woods, as of October 17th, 2011 is ranked 55th in the world, and even though he has been ranked 1st in the world for an incredible 623 weeks; he has not held that spot since October 30th, 2010. So in only a year, he has dropped
54 places. When he decided to play in recent tournaments, there have been glimpses of the Tiger from the past, but also glimpses of a young, inexperienced golfer that is struggling to make simple putts. What is wrong with Tigers game? Is it really all the injuries that he has suffered, or could it be that he lost confidence in himself? Just like all professional sports, golf is just as much mental as it is physical. As I do, most people in the world expect more out of athletes almost as if they are inhuman and are not allowed to make mistakes. This brings up another question: if Tiger does eventually plays up to the caliber when he won 14 major championships, which is second all time among male golfers trailing only the great Jack Nicklaus with 18, will he ever be considered and thought about as he was just a few short years ago? Will he be forgiven? John Kozlowski, an HCC student and avid golfer, said, Well, I dont know if people are going to like him like they used to, but I am not so sure if he can ever get back to where he was. He also believes that if he was ever going to get back there he would have to get his head right, and get back to just playing golf. This is just one students opinion, and to be honest there is no answer to these questions. It is not an uncommon occurrence for someone
Tiger Woods contemplates his fate. Courtesty of golfsales365com/
who was on the top of the world, to fall so quickly. However, its the rising back up that can be very difficult. For Tiger Woods to do this, it is not something that is going to happen overnight, and it could take several years. At only 35 years old, physically, Tiger has a very long time to keep playing golf. However, something he will have to show is how long he has mentally before he just packs up his bags, and puts his clubs away for good. Some would say that talking about Tiger Woods retiring anytime soon is far-
fetched, but is it really? Through all of his problems with his personal affairs and the media, he has always shown confidence. But when will this be too much for Tiger? There is no doubt in anyones mind that Tiger is still one of the most recognized athletes across the globe, but as of lately, it has been more because of his celebrity status than of his golf accomplishments. So for the time being, we will all have to wait and see if Tiger Woods will still be remembered as one of the greatest golfers of all time.

Housatonic Horizons November 2011

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HORIZONS

HOUSATONIC COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Occupy Wall Street Continues

Do You Understand the Flu Vaccine?

Men in Pink Tights?

Occupy Movement Gains Momentum

Is Tigers Time Up?

Select CT IDs Now Available4

Family Connections: Facebook Connects the Disconnected!14

Prof. Steve Mark

News and Outrach Editor

More Than a Teacher 5

What Happened to All the Jobs? 14

Healthy Living Club at HCC 5

Underwear on Display: Fashion or Foe? 15

Sprts Editor, Editor-at-Large

Veterans Oasis Center6

Popular TV Shows Among HCC Students16

Melting Pot Spirit Alive at HCC 6

Who Dropped the Soap? 16

Welcome to the Mad House: The HCC Parking Garage 7

Ballet Eloelle Presents: Men in Pink Tights 18

HCC: A School of Opportunities 7

Possible Extensions for MLB Players 19

You Dont Know What Youre Missing at the Library 8

MLB Trade Deadline Winners/Losers 19

Is Tigers Time Up?20

Cougar Couples: A Different Perspective 8

Graphic Design Staff

I Love You, but I Want to Choke You with a Turkey Leg! 10

By JaSon l. SToVer STaff WriTer

Become A Better Student 10

Alcohol and College Students 12

Im Every Woman! Early Detection of Breast Caner Saves Lives 12

Childhood Obesity vs Fast Food Monopolies 13

Got some news you want covered? Let us know!

Select CT IDs Now Available

More Than a Teacher

The best comparison could be to an onion.

Healthy Living Club at HCC

Veterans Oasis Center

Melting Pot Spirit Alive at HCC

Vaughn STaff WriTer

Illustrations by Vera Cotrim

Welcome to the Mad House: The HCC Parking Garage

HCC: A School of Opportunities

You Dont Know What Youre Missing at the Library!

Cougar Couples: A Different Perspective

Photo by Cassandra Mendoza

HORIZONS News You Can Use

ews you can use

Become A Better Student

HORIZONS News You Can Use

Where Did They Lose their Message?

CL&P, Netflix, Herman Cain...

HORIZONS Health & Science

Alcohol and College Students

Im Every Woman! Early Detection of Breast Cancer Saves Lives

HORIZONS Health & Science

Childhood Obesity vs Fast Food Monopolies

A Touch of the Flu Understanding the Flu Vaccine

Images Wants YOU!

Students take free time to endorse Facebook Photo by Cassandra Mendoza

What Happened to All the Jobs?