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(11/09/05 12:00pm)
In order to better serve lunchtime crowds at the College, Sodexho Dining Services changed its staffing patterns and procedures this year, which has resulted in the hiring of more part-time staffers than in previous years, according to John Higgins, general manager of Sodexho.
Rather than continue to hire workers for full-time positions, the company decided to add more part-time staffers to help alleviate the long lines and slower food service during the peak lunch hour between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., Higgins said.
"We added approximately 10 percent more people," he said. "The people we would have hired would be all part-time."
Higgins said the change is in response to the class scheduling that leaves an hour gap in the mid-afternoon for a large percentage of the student body.
The scheduling change he referred to was adopted last September, allowing classes meeting from 10 to 11:20 a.m. to have the option of meeting until 11:50 a.m. and classes from 12:30 to 1:50 p.m. to have the option of beginning at noon, according to Shirley Daniels, scheduling officer for the office of Records and Registration.
As a result, many students have a break between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. if their professor does not use the extra class time and they head straight to the cafeteria.
"It doesn't matter where you are, at 11:30 a.m., everything is filled," Higgins said. "That's just when everyone goes to eat now. We needed to have our maximum staffing during that time."
Higgins said that before the class schedules changed, the dining halls had a steadier stream of customers throughout the entire day.
However, now the eating pattern has shifted.
"We have a very high volume of business for an hour and then it drops significantly until dinner," Higgins said. "We're getting 1,500 people through our doors in 45 minutes."
"Because of this dynamic of having so many people in one hour, we're required to have maximum staffing at that time," he said. "We had people staffed during the wrong times before."
Higgins said that all staffing changes were discussed with the local union, Local 54, which represents many Sodexho employees on campus.
"We needed to make changes and we did it with the union's support," Higgins said. "We have a great relationship with them."
Overall, Higgins is pleased with the progress Sodexho is making in dealing with the midday frenzy.
"We're in a much better position this year than last," Higgins said.
"I've noticed there are more workers now," Doug Patalano, junior secondary education/history major, said about the staffing at Brower Food Court. "I see workers that used to be at Eickhoff are here now. I feel like now they have more (workers) to better manage the crowds."
Still, many other students continue to be frustrated with the service.
"I was amazed when I came here this semester and there were lines out the door still," Jamie Manganelli, senior communications studies major, said about Eickhoff Dining Hall. "It's horrible."
Michelle Spiegel, freshman elementary education/Spanish major, said she believes Sodexho can still make steps to improve service during meal times.
"There's another line right there that they could have open," she said, pointing to the empty cash register beside her while waiting in line to enter Eickhoff Dining Hall.
In response to Spiegel's complaint, Higgins said that a cashier can get between 400 and 500 people through a line in five minutes.
He added that if the other register were opened that "it would just add a crowd in the service area."
"It kind of staggers the crowds this way," he said.
There are no other major changes in the works to improve the food service on campus, according to Steve Hugg, district marketing specialist for Sodexho.
However, Hugg said that reducing turnover in the staff is a goal of his and will be a major factor in maintaining quick and quality service.
"As we get employees in these positions, it's important that we keep them here with us," Hugg said. "Any time you can keep the right employee in the right position, it's better for everyone."
(09/07/05 12:00pm)
Structural problems in the Spiritual Center completed last December were discovered this summer, adding to the lengthening list of construction woes for the College.
Part of the floor in the facility buckled after just eight months of use, according to Brian Murray, director of Campus Planning and Construction.
"We're trying to figure out what caused it," Murray said. "So what we simply did was where it buckled up, we cut it so it leveled and we ran a carpet runner. So now what we'll do is figure out what caused that."
Despite the problem, the College found a fix that allowed the Spiritual Center to remain in operation.
"The floors had bubbles in them so they covered up most of the wood floors with carpet," Andrew Croft, president of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, said. "In one spot if you lift the carpet you can see three cracks in the wood in the shape of an incomplete rectangle where they gutted out some of the mass beneath that spot in the floor."
Croft said he also noticed a moldy smell in one of the closets of the center.
Murray said he has contacted the contractor to take a look at the problem and figure out the cause of the buckling, but that the facility is stable and safe for student use.
Ann DeGennaro, director of Campus Wellness, said she is glad the Spiritual Center will remain open despite its structural problems.
Many students, however, feared the building would be shut down as a result, and it did not take long for these fears to turn into rumors that many believed.
Last week, it was circulated that damage was caused by water leakage and that the building would be shut down completely.
"I guess this kind of rumor would be going around because leaks seem to be the things that affect most of our newly constructed buildings like the Science Complex," Melanie Kaufer, president of the Jewish Student Union (JSU), said.
Many of the recent building projects on campus have been plagued with construction problems.
The College is in litigation with the company that built the new Science Complex and the Metzger Drive Apartments, which experienced extensive water damage during their construction.
"(These problems) are not the school's fault," Mike Oropallo, senior biology major said. "They hire and trust a construction company and they obviously don't want this to happen. But it's frustrating because all of these construction problems are directly affecting us because now (the construction workers) are going to have to be here longer, doing more work while we are trying to take classes and enjoy the campus." The 4,000 square-foot Spiritual Center opened in December 2004 to replace the old Alumni Chapel, which was demolished to allow space for the construction of the New Library.
(11/04/04 12:00pm)
When Will Lewis strolls around campus dressed in a Scottish kilt and flowing cape, carrying an oversized walking stick, heads turn - and he likes it that way. Lewis' unique style has caused him to be the subject of glaring eyes, hushed whispers and confused stares around campus. If students don't know him by name, they definitely recognize him by sight.
But the sophomore English education major doesn't mind the attention. In fact, he dresses in the manner he does in part to raise awareness about his religion - paganism.
"It gets people to ask me questions," he said. "I like to combat ignorance. (Paganism) is really a faith like anything else."
Although many pagans are not as easy to identify as Lewis, there are more practicing pagans in the United States than people might realize. A June 2001 study performed by the Graduate Center at the City University of New York showed that there is an estimated 140,000 pagans in America today.
It is commonly believed that the number is even larger since many pagans are still "closeted" about their faith in fear of being outcast and ridiculed by society. There's even a small number of pagans at the College.
Lewis stressed that pagans are not evil devil worshippers and do not act like the characters in the popular movie, "The Craft."
"This is not a faith that practices harm," Lewis said. "It's a loving faith; only instead of following a person's life, it follows nature instead. The ultimate goal for a pagan is to seek a oneness and harmony with everyone and everything."
Still, because many people hold such negative opinions of pagans, Lewis is always somewhat on edge when he tells people about his faith.
"It's almost frightening to say you're a pagan to people because you never know how they'll react," he said.
Paganism is one of the oldest forms of religion and, as a result, many offshoots of paganism have formed over the centuries.
"There are more ways you can practice paganism than there are denominations of Christianity," Lewis said.
Lewis said the version of paganism he practices is pulled from both Celtic and Norse forms of paganism. "I use only what aspects of the pantheons work for me," he said.
There is no common gathering place for pagans, like a church or temple, nor are there written rules or pillars of faith for the religion. As a result, each sect has different practices and traditions, according to Lewis.
However, most pagans follow the general philosophy of the Wiccan Rede, "Harm ye none, do what ye will," and the Three Fold Law which states that everything he or she does will return to him or her three times over.
Lewis also said all pagans believe there are two main gods - one for the masculine aspects of the Earth and one for the feminine - as well as many minor gods and spirits.
Although Lewis has been a practicing pagan for six years, he was actually raised Catholic. Lewis turned to paganism after his faith was shaken when he was studying for his confirmation.
"There was something about (the beliefs of Christianity) that left me very uncomfortable," Lewis said.
During that time, Lewis read "Teen Witch" by Silver Ravenwolf which convinced Lewis that paganism better matched his ideologies.
"I read the book and it all just clicked," he said.
Even though Lewis' mother remains Catholic, she is still supportive of the faith her son has chosen, Lewis said.
Brandon Pe?a, junior interactive multimedia major, converted to paganism a year ago after he too began to question his Christian faith.
"I was tired of the hell, fire and brimstone of Christianity," Pe?a said. "I researched a lot of different religions and I found that paganism was be the best fit for me."
Pe?a said paganism has helped him become more at peace with himself.
"I meditate a lot now and I think it makes me a better person because I'm less agitated and more calm," Pe?a said. "It's a very loving and relaxed religion, which I like."
While Pe?a focuses his attentions on the meditative aspects of paganism, Lewis is most interested in faith's healing practices. "I like helping people," Lewis said.
Both Lewis and Pe?a said they do cast spells and read tarot cards; however, their spells are not like those depicted in popular culture.
"Spells are more about sending out a certain energy," Pe?a said. "You never go against someone's free will when you cast a spell."
Although there tends to be a negative connotation connected to pagans, Lewis and Pe?a both said they haven't run into any major conflicts with people regarding their faith.
One of the best places to learn more about paganism and meet other pagans is in New Hope, where many stores sell pagan literature and also post information about pagan groups, according to Lewis.
However, Lewis said he is interested in starting a group on campus for people interested in learning about paganism.
(09/15/04 12:00pm)
It's a student's worst nightmare - you wake up one morning to find your computer wallpapered with pop-up ads or frozen with last night's Google search scrawled across the screen. "It's frustration, anger and disappointment all at the same time," Kajal Vora, junior international business major, said.
A rash of new viruses has been creeping into many computer systems on campus. Most students at College turn to the Information Technology department (IT) for help, but few know much about the technology wizards who magically bring new life to a machine with a few quick key strokes. Nor are most students aware of how this vital department keeps the College's network up and running all year long.
Although it may seem like your computer is under constant siege by bugs, worms and other harmful computer insects, your computer is in fact much safer than you think.
"Our firewalls pretty much block any viruses out there. We actually don't get attacked as much from off-campus," Craig Blaha, associate director of information policy, security & Web development, said.
"The viruses come from people plugging in their laptops and bringing something in they had gotten when they were home. So all you need is that one person who's on the network and has a virus to start a new infection."
With the Norton Anti-Virus Web site listing that about two new viruses appear daily and the SysAdmin, Audit, Network, Security (SANS) security Web site posting a "survival time" for computers as 17 minutes - meaning that 17 minutes after hooking up a computer without any anti-virus software to the Internet it will become infected by a virus - the need for students to protect their computer is of utmost importance for the maintenance of an efficient network system, according to Blaha.
"Students should keep up with the latest anti-virus software and Windows updates. The software you buy is only as good as the last time you update it," he said.
Still, the IT staff realizes that the campus will probably never be virus-free, even if students try their best to protect their computers individually, so it has developed a multi-layered system to keep students safe and computer hackers on the defensive.
Researching
The College might be a small state school, but it's getting help from some big names both nationally and internationally. In an effort to stay one step ahead of the viruses on the Internet, Blaha said he has signed the College up to a number of listservs that allow him to communicate with other higher education IT departments.
"Universities typically have an open networking environment, which is different from other places," Blaha said. "We don't monitor what goes in and out of the network so that causes us to have different issues."
One server Blaha cites as particularly helpful is EduCause.edu. Its current membership list comprises nearly 1,900 colleges, universities and education organizations and has more than 13,000 active members. Through this organization Blaha said he can post questions to other universities about virus problems the College might be having or simply read other's posts to get up to speed about what issues higher education institutions are coming across.
"The problem might not be happening here, but if we know about it, we can at least keep an eye out and we'll know what do if the problem does come up," Blaha said.
The listservs are therefore helpful in keeping up-to-date on the latest viruses and, as a result, keeps Blaha and other IT staff members a little more sane.
"There's definitely a lot to it (the job). But once you get up to speed on what's happening, it's all a little more manageable," he said.
Identifying
Hidden away in the basement catacombs of Green Hall, Shawn Sivy, associate director of networking/technical services, is one of the most important pieces of the puzzle in keeping the school's computers running virus-free.
Sivy supervises the network activity by interpreting the graphs, which document both incoming and outgoing information from the network.
"If we see unusual patterns and we see that a virus is affecting the network then we'll investigate further," Sivy said. "You may see a lot of traffic coming from a particular machine or certain port, so then you investigate what the port is used for and if any viruses are known to use that port."
Although helping to detect and prevent viruses is only a small part of Sivy's job description, it is still an important one
(04/07/04 12:00pm)
It's a student's worst nightmare - you wake up one morning to find your computer wallpapered with pop-up ads or frozen with last night's Google search scrawled across the screen. "It's frustration, anger and disappointment all at the same time," Kajal Vora, junior international business major, said.
A rash of new viruses has been creeping into many computer systems on campus. Most students at College turn to the Information Technology department (IT) for help, but few know much about the technology wizards who magically bring new life to a machine with a few quick key strokes. Nor are most students aware of how this vital department keeps the College's network up and running all year long.
Although it may seem like your computer is under constant siege by bugs, worms and other harmful computer insects, your computer is in fact much safer than you think.
"Our firewalls pretty much block any viruses out there. We actually don't get attacked as much from off-campus," Craig Blaha, associate director of information policy, security & Web development, said.
"The viruses come from people plugging in their laptops and bringing something in they had gotten when they were home. So all you need is that one person who's on the network and has a virus to start a new infection."
With the Norton Anti-Virus Web site listing that about two new viruses appear daily and the SysAdmin, Audit, Network, Security (SANS) security Web site posting a "survival time" for computers as 17 minutes - meaning that 17 minutes after hooking up a computer without any anti-virus software to the Internet it will become infected by a virus - the need for students to protect their computer is of utmost importance for the maintenance of an efficient network system, according to Blaha.
"Students should keep up with the latest anti-virus software and Windows updates. The software you buy is only as good as the last time you update it," he said.
Still, the IT staff realizes that the campus will probably never be virus-free, even if students try their best to protect their computers individually, so it has developed a multi-layered system to keep students safe and computer hackers on the defensive.
Researching
The College might be a small state school, but it's getting help from some big names both nationally and internationally. In an effort to stay one step ahead of the viruses on the Internet, Blaha said he has signed the College up to a number of listservs that allow him to communicate with other higher education IT departments.
"Universities typically have an open networking environment, which is different from other places," Blaha said. "We don't monitor what goes in and out of the network so that causes us to have different issues."
One server Blaha cites as particularly helpful is EduCause.edu. Its current membership list comprises nearly 1,900 colleges, universities and education organizations and has more than 13,000 active members. Through this organization Blaha said he can post questions to other universities about virus problems the College might be having or simply read other's posts to get up to speed about what issues higher education institutions are coming across.
"The problem might not be happening here, but if we know about it, we can at least keep an eye out and we'll know what do if the problem does come up," Blaha said.
The listservs are therefore helpful in keeping up-to-date on the latest viruses and, as a result, keeps Blaha and other IT staff members a little more sane.
"There's definitely a lot to it (the job). But once you get up to speed on what's happening, it's all a little more manageable," he said.
Identifying
Hidden away in the basement catacombs of Green Hall, Shawn Sivy, associate director of networking/technical services, is one of the most important pieces of the puzzle in keeping the school's computers running virus-free.
Sivy supervises the network activity by interpreting the graphs, which document both incoming and outgoing information from the network.
"If we see unusual patterns and we see that a virus is affecting the network then we'll investigate further," Sivy said. "You may see a lot of traffic coming from a particular machine or certain port, so then you investigate what the port is used for and if any viruses are known to use that port."
(03/31/04 12:00pm)
the invasion of Iraq, thousands gathered in the streets of New York City passionately waving signs, banging drums and shouting chants in protest of the war.
The protest, held on March 20, was the largest demonstration since Feb. 15, 2003, when over 100,000 people gathered in Midtown with calls to prevent war in Iraq.
The New York City rally was part of a world wide protest to the war. In addition to that in New York, protests were organized coast to coast and in almost every continent. Great Britain, Spain, Argentina, Japan and even Pakistan are a few countries where there were large-scale protests against the war.
Rome had the biggest turnout, with official estimates at over 300,000 people in attendance. Organizers of the event say the numbers are closer to 2 million participants.
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg estimated that 30,000 people attended the rally in New York. However, organizers of the rally estimate that over 100,000 people came out to the streets.
Throngs of police forces and surveillance cameras were present to help keep the protest peaceful. At least one police helicopter was witnessed inspecting the situation from overhead.
In an added effort to keep control of the crowds, police set up metal barricades along the police route to keep protestors within only certain areas of the streets.
Many attendees were angered by the attempt to barricade the route. One enraged protester shouted, "We're not animals, you can't pen us in."
Still, the day was fairly peaceful. Police reported that only four arrests were made for disorderly conduct.
The protest began on 23rd Street and Madison Avenue, where protestors were first greeted by a 17 foot papier-m?ch? statue of the President Bush holding a bomb, with the word, "Empire" written on the front of the bomb.
Before the protesters marched a 19-block stretch through Midtown, they listened to various poets, politicians and other activist citizens criticizing the war and Bush.
High-profile speakers included Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio), who was the only Democratic presidential candidate who voted against the war last year, and Tony Benn, a former member of the British Parliament.
Bloomberg briefly stopped by the march, but did not speak at the event.
The protest brought a hodgepodge of people together - young and old, rich and poor, radicals and moderates alike.
Old men and military veterans marched stoically, while holding a banner of protest and occasionally being led in a military-like marching chant.
Many young children, held in the arms of their parents, experienced the event and some children were even heard joining the crowds with their political chants.
Fresh-faced college students with body-piercings and brightly dyed hair stood side-by-side with mothers, in conservative dress and salon-styled hair to hold up signs urging Bush to bring their sons and daughters, friends and peers, home from Iraq.
Among the group of young students protesting the war was Mike Shelichach, sophomore English major at the College. "I went because I think Bush is the most dangerous president in United States history," he said, "and I want to do all I can to get him out of office as soon as possible."
Participants in the march were all encouraged to carry signs and placards sponsored by different anti-war organizations as they marched along the parade route. Slogans like "ReDefeat Bush," "Bring the troops home now" and "Money for Jobs, not for War," were popular political comments featured on the signs.
Other signs depicted more radical and controversial opinions. "End the New Colonialism" and "Stop the 9/11 Cover-up," were carried by some of the more zealous critics of the war.
One protestor had created a homemade sign with the original message, "Yo Bush, my taxes aren't your venture capital."
In addition to carrying signs, protesters called out chants like, "Hey hey. Ho ho. Bush and Cheney have got to go."
Though the protest was civil in comparison to many of the protests of the 1960s and 70s, Shelichach said he still believes that protestors still have the same passion for their cause. "I think there's a lot of genuine anger toward the president among the protesters," he said.
Pockets of counter-protesters were posted outside of the barricades along the march's route. The demonstrators were fairly quiet and held signs with pictures of 9/11 and terrorists in an effort to show their support for the president and the war.
The protest in New York City was led by the Act Now to Stop War & End Racism Coalition (A.N.S.W.E.R.) and United for Peace and Justice, the two major anti-war coalitions in the United States.
(02/04/04 12:00pm)
It's Tuesday night - party night for many students at the College. The halls bump with bass from the blasting sound systems, girls cover their faces in layers of make-up and dress in their favorite pair of jeans, guys finally shave their 5 o'clock shadow. The energy is intense as students get ready to go out for a night of carousing and letting loose.
But Lauren O'Malley, sophomore music major, and her friends have opted to stay in this Tuesday night. Instead of partying, O'Malley and her friends are playing board games.
Board games are not just for children anymore. This cheap and easy way to pass the time is regaining popularity among adults and college-age students. The NPD Group, a marketing-information company, recently found that sales of board games rose 10 percent in 2003. Now the trend is making its way to the College.
Students say the socializing that accompanies playing these games is one of the major reasons they enjoy the activity. In an age where entertainment often consists of staring at a television or computer screen for hours at a time, board games actually require players to interact with each other.
O'Malley said seven of her friends participated in her game night in the dorms, while Nicole Meister a sophomore math/secondary education major, said she sometimes gathers a much larger crowd, so the night truly becomes a social event.
"Last semester we ended up recruiting a pretty big group of people because we would tell everyone how much fun we were having. By the end of the semester, we had almost too many people playing," Meister said.
Also, students are finding that board games can be just as competitive as playing action-filled video games.
"I am a competitive person, as are people that I play with, so we get a kick out of [playing games] just as much as a game of football," Meister said.
And on those nights when going out is simply not an option, many students on campus believe board games are a perfect way to pass time.
"Sometimes you either don't wanna drink or go out really, or you can't party because you have class or something else to do in the morning, so you stay in and have a PG night," Meister said.
Sarah Rasmusson, professor of women's and gender studies, teaches a class regarding popular culture. Rasmusson believes that 9/11 and the invasions in Afghanistan and Iraq are part of the reason of this renewed interest in playing board games.
"With the country being at war and the economy in the tank, people are looking for fun without having to get dressed up, go out to clubs, buy drinks and spend," she said. "People are looking for less socially-pressurized settings to have more intimate, low-key, inexpensive fun."
One of the most popular games on the market today is Cranium. Since its introduction in 1998, the game has received the Toy Industry Association's "Game of the Year" award twice and sold over 3 million copies.
The game appeals to a wide audience because it incorporates aspects of Trivial Pursuit, Pictionary, charades and different "word" games all into one game. Because of the variety, it is almost a guarantee that each player will like at least one part of the game.
"It's got something for everyone," Meister said.
Another new game that dovetails off of the recent popularity of retro shows like VH1's "I love the 80's" is "The 90s Game" by Intellinitiative Incorporated. The game tests players on their knowledge of the popular culture of the decade covering topics like Jenny McCarthy, the Seinfeld cast and Deon Sander's debut rap album.
Although newer games like Cranium and The 90s Game are soaring in popularity among students, classic board games like Scrabble and Trivial Pursuit still have a market. Chuck Murphy, senior English major, plays Scrabble at least once a week. Murphy says for those looking for a way to challenge their minds, Scrabble is a perfect choice.
"I like to play it because it is not the easiest game," he said. "It uses my vocabulary, and while it is a game of chance, and requires some skill, it takes an active and interested mind to spend the time to get good at it."
Whether Cranium or Scrabble, board games are filling the shelves of students at the College. The new trend is giving students more options as to how they would like to spend their free time. As Murphy said, "Good times at college don't have to be limited to debauchery."
(11/11/03 12:00pm)
Students re--lived their childhood as they watched a furry blue monster sing in Spanish and other off-beat creatures sing and dance as part of a video montage introducing guest speaker Sonia Manzano. Manzano, known as "Maria" from "Sesame Street," gave a lecture, "One, Two Three: Who put Latins on TV?"
It was part of the College's Multicultural Lecture series that hopes to broaden the student body's understanding and appreciation of the diverse cultures represented on campus.
Manzano, who looked as though she has not aged since the first time she appeared on the show 30 years ago, spoke about the need to develop one's character. She also stressed the importance of having diversity in the media.
During her childhood, Manzano said television was her escape. Yet television made her feel more isolated and alone. As a child, Manzano would ask, "How can I watch hours of television and not see anyone that looked like me?" She did not have role models to draw from for comfort and support because society and the media did not portry the Hispanic population.
"I felt I did not exist in the world," Manzano said. "I didn't have images of people like me living, contributing. Not having any role models made my world seem even smaller."
However, Manzano credits "Sesame Street" for changing this for Hispanics and other minorities.
"Sesame Street provides something that I did not have growing up; images of real Latin people existing in society," she said. "It spoke to children from inner city streets, from stoops, by trash cans."
The urban environment of "Sesame Street" allowed underprivileged children to see something familiar on television, which in turn, improved their self-esteem and confidence levels, Manzano said.
Through "Sesame Street", Manzano has affected generations of children.
"I grew up with her," Vanessa De Jesus, senior elementary education and psychology major, said. "Just seeing her in the media had a big impact on my outlook on myself and my culture."
Even though the program helped the media to recognize the importance of minority groups in America, Manzano said Hispanics and other minorities must still push to be fully represented in the media. She cites comedian John Leguizamo as one of her role models and as someone who has the right idea about what Hispanics need to do next. "He says there needs to be more Latins behind the scenes, in decision-making positions," said Manzano. "He's the first person I've heard to say this."
Addressing the entire audience, Manzano urged all people to take chances and strive to make a difference in the world. "You can't put limits on yourself," she said. "The world is yours to impact."
(09/16/03 12:00pm)
The generation of Americans who grew up with G.I. Joe believes that the image of the American soldier is a big, buff, stern-faced man programmed to fight and kill. However, the American soldier today is far from this stereotype. The men and women fighting for this nation as soldiers are people with real jobs and lives who do not just live for conflict.
P.J. Spigner, sophomore law and justice major, is living proof that the life of a soldier is not just drilling and killing.
From afar, Spigner seems a bit intimidating. His large frame and statuesque height seem threatening. However, upon closer inspection it becomes clear that Spigner is far from menacing. He greets everyone he meets with a smile and a quiet, soft-spoken voice that soothes the ear. Yet, although Spigner does not look like G.I. Joe, do not be fooled. In his short time with the Army, he has already proved himself to be a dedicated and committed soldier.
Spigner enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserves in 2000 for the same reasons many enlist. Along with receiving financial aid for school, Spigner comes from a military family and wanted to carry on the family tradition. Once he signed up, Spigner settled into his new life. He was able to go to college like most nineteen-year-olds, and then one weekend a month he did his part for the Army and kept up on his military training.
However, Spigner's routine life shattered after Sept. 11, 2001. Just one week after that day, Spigner learned his unit was being activated. By Oct. 1, 2001 Spigner was on a plane heading toward North Carolina to begin intensive training in preparation for overseas combat.
For two months, Spigner went through combat training at Fort Braggs, learning combat and life skills necessary for going to war. While most of his friends were spending their time studying biology and philosophy, Spigner was getting up at 4 a.m. and learning map reading skills and terrain maneuvering.
"We also had to do heat training since it's over 125 degrees there. They had a mock desert and we would go out having 40-50 lbs of gear on from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. since that's the hottest part of the day," Spigner said.
Even with the intensive training, Spigner said he still did not feel completely prepared when the time came to actually go to Afghanistan.
"I wasn't sure what to expect," Spigner said. What he came to find in Afghanistan was a virtual "tent city" which was to be his home away from home. This so-called "city," as Spigner described, was a fully operational army base, almost identical to the kind of base he had been training on in North Carolina.
Although back in the states Spigner went through extensive artillery and combat training, he found that once in Afghanistan his role in the war effort was much different.
"I worked as an aid for a general, so I basically got to just work out of headquarters," Spigner said.
As a result of his assignment, Spigner does not have the kind of war stories your grandfather or father told you about World War II or Vietnam.
"When you're not on front lines, you don't comprehend what it means to be at war," Spigner said. "It feels like you're at home, just a couple 1,000 miles away."