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(10/29/18 11:46pm)
By Danielle Silvia
Production Manager
Puyuma Express, a Taiwanese passenger train, derailed from its track, killing 18 people, including at least three children, and injuring about 170 others in Taipei, Taiwan on Oct. 21, according to The New York Times.
This was the worst rail accident in Taiwan in over 27 years. Most of the passengers first noticed smoke and heard a loud noise the moment the train began to derail, according to BBC.
The train, which was headed for the destination of Taitung, a city on the southeast coast of Taiwan, was carrying 366 passengers, according to The New York Times.
The train departed from Shulin in New Taipei City, came off the tracks and crashed in Xinma Station in Yilan County, Taiwan, at approximately 5 p.m., according to The New York Times.
The Puyuma Express was composed of eight passenger cars. All eight cars derailed during the accident and five of those cars overturned. The train had been in operation since 2011 and just completed maintenance work, according to CNN.
Officials are still trying to determine the cause of the derailment, but speed is a factor that could have played a role, according to CNN. A report was also filed by the train’s driver nearly 20 minutes before the crash, which said that the air pressure in the brakes was thought to be “too low.”
Lai Sui-chin, vice chairman of the transport ministry’s electrical engineering department, said that the air pressure in the brakes did appear unstable before the crash occurred. He continued to say that due to the lack of pressure there would not be sufficient power to brake the train before the crash, according to CNN.
Of the victims, CNN reported that eight members of a single family traveling home from a wedding were killed.
The cars landed in a “zig-zag pattern,” with most of the victims trapped underneath the train cars or thrown astray on the land nearby, according to The New York Times.
Many of the victims were crushed to death, while others attempted to escape by smashing windows or using emergency exits, according to BBC.
(10/23/18 12:02am)
By Danielle Silvia
Production Manager
The aftermath of a limousine crash that killed 20 people on Oct. 7 in upstate New York is raising more questions than answers. Inside the vehicle was the driver, Scott Lisinicchia, and 17 passengers, who were celebrating a friend’s birthday at a local brewery. Both Lisinicchia and all 17 passengers, as well as two pedestrians, were killed in the crash.
The limousine merged onto a busy intersection and suddenly lost control, hitting an empty car, according to The New York Times. This crash, the cause of which is still unknown, has put limousine safety in the spotlight, and politicians across the nation are trying to configure solutions to prevent future accidents.
Senator Chuck Schumer of New York is currently working with the National Transportation Safety Board to keep track of all future limousine crashes in order to discern a cause. Schumer also stressed a need for stricter safety regulations for limousines, according to The New York Times.
“Stretch limos exist in a gray area. They’re not a car. They’re not a bus. And that’s the problem,” Schumer said at a news conference in Manhattan on Sunday, according to The New York Times. “They fall through the regulatory cracks and there are no safety standards for them. That has to change.”
States have different laws when it comes to limousine rental and driver regulations. According to the CT Post, in Connecticut, limousines that carry less than eight people are only required to be inspected once every six months by the Department of Transportation.
Companies like Lyft and Uber have no regulations at all, which is a hazard many lawmakers are also concerned about. Senator Toni Boucher, a Republican from Connecticut who sits on the General Assembly’s Transportation Committee, expressed this concern.
“That crash has left questions about the vehicle and the driver,” she said, according to the CT Post. “We need to determine if our laws are well-written as to the qualifications of drivers and the inspection of these vehicles.”
The limo had failed “safety inspection in part due to an anti-lock braking system (ABS) malfunction indicators for the hydraulic brake system,” according to ABC News.
Such an error could either indicate a malfunction with the entire braking system of the limo or the indicator light connected to the braking system.
ABC News also stated that Lisinicchia did notice issues with the limousine and was warned not to operate the vehicle. He had also complained of such complications to his wife prior to the accident.
“They said that one time he was driving one of the vehicles and a muffler fell off with clients in the car and he had to stop the car, get out of the car, remove the muffler and move it to the side of the roadway,” Richard Burke, a spokesperson for the Lisinicchia family, told ABC News.
Lisinicchia previously worked as a truck driver and had extensive driving experience. Those who knew him and had driven with him noted that he was both an experienced and a safe driver, according to ABC News.
Many lawmakers are taking all of this into consideration and advocating change in the automobile industry rather than blaming the individual driver. Since this was the deadliest transportation accident in the U.S. since August of 2009, many politicians feel serious actions must be taken to prevent future tragedies.
(10/10/18 12:39am)
By Danielle Silvia
Production Manager
Senior English and communication studies double major Scott Glading wanted to bring Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” to life for a contemporary audience. As director of All College Theatre’s first major production of the year, he put a 1930s spin on the playwright’s classic.
From Wednesday, Oct. 3 to Saturday, Oct. 6, ACT performed the classic comedy in the Don Evans Black Box Theater in Kendall Hall. It was produced by Sam Franz, a junior English and communication studies double major, and Jill Merbach, a junior marketing major.
ACT’s Twelfth Night tells the story of siblings, Viola (played by senior math major Rebecca Conn) and Sebastian (played by senior science Political Science major Robert Hicks), who were separated after a shipwreck, but then unite in a foreign land. They find themselves intertwined in a love triangle.
Orsino (played by Alec Skwara, a senior secondary education and history major) is in love with and eventually rejected by Olivia (played by Sydney Blanchard, a sophomore English major). Viola makes her way into Orsino’s land after the shipwreck disguised as a male under the alias Cesario. Meanwhile, Viola is falling in love with Orsino, but Olivia is infatuated with Cesario, not knowing that he is truly Viola.
Conn was thrilled to play Viola and enjoyed every moment of the production process.
“It was a great experience to put on this show with both the cast and crew,” she said. “Everyone’s worked so hard and it really shines through when you’re performing.”
The plot thickens as each character begins to reveal his or her true identity with many elements of comedy sprinkled within.
Glading explained the darkness behind the show’s humor. Some moments are funny at a glance, but its serious in undertones to give the show a certain flare Glading strived for.
“I edited the three-and-a-half-hour show to a 80 to 90 minute script to add my own touches but also keep the story intact,” Glading said.
Rehearsals for the play began in late August, and the entire show was cast, rehearsed and performed in five weeks. Glading attributed the play’s success to the cohesiveness of the group.
“As a 15-member cast, the students were responsible for being communicative with me and one another,” Glading said. “We had some rehearsals that began in the late afternoon, and some that just began at 9 p.m. Because everyone has a different schedule, it is always a challenge for every show to set a schedule.”
In the early stages of rehearsals, it became evident that there was a discrepancy in the set design. While the production team and Glading had their own vision, the set design team had different thoughts, putting the set in an opposite direction.
“Everyone, the cast, crew, worked together to flip the set around,” Glading said. “We used the carpet as a base and strategically lifted each corner of the set to get it right. It turned out great because there was never a ‘bad’ spot for the audience to enjoy the show. Any angle allowed for the same view as the next.”
Despite some challenges in the play’s production, Glading was grateful for the successful performances.
“The students really are passionate about both academics and the arts, and it never fails to show,” he said.
The show on Saturday evening was sold out, and the audience members there were eager to catch the final performance.
Senior iSTEM and elementary education double major Alanna Jenkins left the Black Box Theater smiling.
“Not only was I laughing, but I felt transformed into the eras of both Shakespeare and the 1930’s, and it was definitely a fun way to spend my Saturday night,” she said.
(09/18/18 9:32pm)
By Danielle Silvia
Production Manager
A regular Saturday night with my best friend entailed the usual –– a casual hangout that invariably ends up with us watching a movie. This time we saw “A Simple Favor,” a dark comedy thriller based on the novel written by Darcey Bell. The movie, starring Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively, had a lot of unexpected twists and turns that filled us with suspense, making it the perfect way to spend the night.
The film opens with a vlog, featuring Kendrick who plays the role of single mom Stephanie Smothers. The vlog is intended for single moms yearning to learn new recipes, activities and simply navigate through daily life as a single parent. The vlog opens with a tearful Stephanie explaining that her best friend Emily (played by Lively) has been missing for five days after she asked Stephanie for a simple favor ––– to pick up her son after school.
The movie then cuts to a montage of flashbacks documenting the friendship between Stephanie and Emily. What made this movie unlike any other thriller I’ve ever seen is the way the flashbacks blended with the plot.
It was easy to tell that a specific scene was a flashback, but hazy enough to not be able to understand the order in which the flashbacks were happening. As a viewer, I had to piece together each “memory” on my own to make sense of what was going on, which gave me the role of both the detective and viewer.
Through the flashbacks, we learned that the two women became friends through their sons, who often pleaded for playdates after school, during which Emily and Stephanie would share martinis and spend afternoons chatting.
Emily and Stephanie were very different people; Stephanie embodied the image of the collected, cute schoolgirl and Emily was the spunky, outspoken woman with a mysterious past. Such a dichotomy in characterization made the plot so much deeper and the women’s friendship all the more mysterious.
While we are always so quick to assume we know everything about a person, this movie reminded me that there is more to people than what meets the eye. A seemingly cool and collected Emily had a darkness to her that even her best friend didn’t know about.
By the end of the movie, I questioned whether Emily and Stephanie were truly best friends. They supported one another through times of trouble and grief, laughed until they cried and spent hours talking like normal friends do, but they both displayed acts of betrayal and hostility toward one another.
But before those bleak and unspeakable moments of cruelty, the two demonstrated what best friendship should be, at least on the surface ––– having someone who understands you, will be there for you in any situation and will love you unconditionally.
When I left the theater that night with my best friend, I smiled and felt lucky to share the positive aspects of such a special friendship.
(08/28/18 10:36pm)
By Danielle Silvia
Production Manager
More than 300 priests in Pennsylvania have been named in a grand jury report on the prevalence of sex abuse in the Catholic Church. These priests are accused of sexually abusing children for more than seven decades, and were subsequently protected by a hierarchy of church officials, according to The Washington Post.
This is the widest and most in-depth investigation of child sex abuse in the Catholic Church, and the latest report includes six of Pennsylvania’s eight dioceses. The investigation discovered nearly 1,000 identified victims, according to The New York Times.
The report predicts that there are thousands more victims who did not testify, or whose records have been lost. The grand jury believes these predictions to be true and supports the report which, according to CBS News, corroborates well with previous church investigations around the country.
The six dioceses listed in the report were Allentown, Erie, Greensburg, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh and Scranton. Investigators examined these six dioceses for 18 months, searching and eventually confirming the existence of hidden reports of sexual abuse by church officials, according to CBS News.
Investigators in Pittsburgh discovered 99 priests in their own diocese, the largest percentage of a single diocese of the 300 total priests that were found to be sexual abusers, according to CBS News.
The grand jury was responsible for reviewing more than 2 million documents, which detailed reports of abuse recorded by the church leaders who covered up the incidents. Additionally, Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro told CBS News that the investigation also found hidden reports covered by church officials at the Vatican.
Not many criminal cases will be successfully brought to court even in light of this discovery, according to The Washington Post.
Using the report as evidence, Shapiro said that an overwhelming majority of the cases are “too old to be prosecuted,” largely due to the widespread cover-ups and lack of immediate testimony from victims and witnesses, according to CBS.
(06/16/18 12:03am)
By Danielle Silvia
Production Manager
Students and faculty are grieving the loss of John Leustek, an assistant professor in the Department of Communication Studies and the Department of Public Health. Leustek died on Monday, June 11 at the age of 30 after a battle with cancer.
Leustek had just finished his first year as an employee at the College at the time of his death, and was held in high regard by his colleagues. Leustek completed his bachelor’s degree in communication arts at Marymount Manhattan College and also held a master’s degree in communication from the Rutgers University School of Communication and Information.
The majority of his research focused on interpersonal communication. Leustek’s works include studies about family communication, health communication, social support and topic avoidance. Most recently, he completed a comprehensive study on the coping strategies used by parents of children diagnosed with autism.
Leustek was posthumously awarded doctoral degrees in both interpersonal and health communication from Rutgers University, which he was notably close to achieving at the time of his death.
Leustek taught several courses at the College, including interpersonal communication, interpersonal health communication and topics in communication studies.
Leustek was a key player in facilitating discussions between the departments of Communication Studies and Public Health at the College.
Students fondly remember Leustek for his interactive teaching style. Kelly Scheper, a senior communication studies major, remembers how helpful Leustek was as her adviser.
“His down to earth attitude and genuine kindness made me really enjoy talking with him,” she said.
Faculty remember Leustek for his intelligence and affectionate character. Professor Keli Fazio, a faculty affiliate of the Department of Public Health and professor of communication studies, says that the combination of these characteristics is what made Leustek so memorable. She explained that every conversation she had with Leustek was inspiring, informative and always left her laughing.
Fazio remembers how Leustek always made lunch in the 1855 Room more interesting by the peppering conversation with fun facts he always had up his sleeve. His attitude conveyed his sense of humor and curiosity in such a manner that proved him to be “an educator in the truest way.”
John Pollock, professor of health and human rights communication and faculty affiliate of the Department of Public Health, looked back on Leustek’s interview scholarship presentation, in which both Pollock and other faculty members immediately recognized what a great fit Leustek would be at the College.
“(The Department of Communication Studies faculty) were all charmed by his combination of shining intelligence and ebullient good humor,” Pollock said. “What struck me as most unusual among social scientists was John's ability to elaborate a clear narrative while brilliantly dodging potentially confusing statistics so that non-social scientists on our faculty could readily understand his material.”
Pollock also praised Leustek’s ability to engage an audience.
“The talent for clarity that transcends statistics is a rare gift, and we were all enchanted, not only by his personality, but also by his consummate skill as a teacher and explainer,” Pollock said.
Paul D’Angelo, an associate professor of media and political communication and chair of the Department of Communication Studies, remembers how Leustek would often say that working at the College was his “dream job,” and how his enthusiasm for learning and teaching developed an environment that was conducive for students to accomplish their goals.
Leustek leaves behind many loved ones, including his wife, Emily, who cherishes his memory both in and out of the classroom. She expressed to D’Angelo that the best thing about being married to Leustek was that she learned something new every day, and that he was an exceptional educator because of his own potential to learn about any subject.
Leustek will be sorely missed by College community. His desire to make the world a kinder, more intelligent place will be motivation for future students and faculty to continue his mission.
(04/30/18 12:30am)
By Danielle Silvia
Copy Editor
Violent protests have been erupting throughout Nicaragua since April 18, according to The New York Times.
The Nicaraguan government reported that at least 10 people have died and 100 people have been injured, according to BBC.
However, the Nicaraguan Center for Human Rights reported 43 deaths as a result of the protests, according to CNN.
This series of protests has become the most prevalent since the end of the country’s civil war more than 30 years ago, according to The New York Times.
The protesters, largely composed of college students and pensioners, ventured out of the capital city Managua into several other cities. Government buildings have been set ablaze, according to BBC.
Troops were deployed in several cities to protect some government buildings, according to Univision.
Among the dead were two protesters, a policeman and a journalist covering the event for a local newspaper, according to CNN.
Recent changes to the social security policy have focused on increasing the pension contributions for employers as well as the reduction of overall benefits. Under the new changes, the benefits retired workers receive through their pensions will decrease by up to 5 percent, according to The New York Times.
The new changes will take effect on July 1, according to BBC.
"If in the talks we find a better way of carrying out these reforms, this decree can be amended or replaced by a new one," said Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, according to BBC.
The U.S. State Department supports the peaceful resolution that the Nicaraguan government is working toward by openly talking with the protesters to stop the violence, according to CNN.
"We condemn the violence and the excessive force used by police and others against civilians who are exercising their constitutional right to freedom of expression and assembly," said State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert in a statement, according to CNN.
The protests have garnered worldwide attention on social media. A Nicaraguan reporter was killed while filming the violent events on Facebook Live, according to The New York Times.
The violence reached a peak on April 20 in several cities, however by the next morning, the Nicaraguan government appeared to have some control over the situation. Army troops have been deployed to Managua, according to BBC.
(04/16/18 9:18pm)
By Danielle Silvia
Copy Editor
For the 13th year in a row, students from various on-campus organizations stayed up all night to raise money to fight cancer during Relay for Life in the Student Recreation Center from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. on Friday, April 13.
This year, the College Union Board and Circle K co-sponsored the event, and created an inviting and interactive environment for students to enjoy.
The co-sponsors estimate that between Friday night and the wee hours of Saturday morning, over 1,000 participants were involved with this year’s Relay for Life.
This year’s theme was the Olympics, which was evident in the event’s games, activities and environment. Students had the opportunity to purchase tickets that they could redeem for giveaways at tables throughout the Rec Center. Several student organizations worked together to sell snacks, like cupcakes and Philly Pretzels, and American Cancer Society merchandise.
The Opening Ceremonies began at 7:30 PM after the playing of the national anthem and featured two young adults affected by cancer. Andrew Avallone, a senior mechanical engineering major, reminisced about a day much like April 13 — a beautiful, sunny day spent with loved ones. He and his family were ready to embark on a vacation when they learned about Avallone’s younger brother’s cancer diagnosis.
“My world was immediately turned upside down. My family and I dealt with pain, sadness, confusion and frustration all at once,” Avallone said.
Avallone explained how he soon became very supportive of his brother’s cancer battle and chemotherapy treatment. His family united in support of his brother, who Avellone would take time off school to visit.
Alumna Christine Beverin (’17) talked about her personal story with cancer. Her mother passed away in May of 2017, shortly before Beverin’s graduation from the College.
Beverin shared her most cherished memories from her mother’s final days and stressed the need to find a cure for cancer.
“I try not to look back on my mother’s passing with sadness, but I miss her presence in my proudest moments, such as becoming a graduate student at Columbia University,” Beverin said.
After these two heartfelt stories were shared, students began making laps around the Rec Center’s track and participating in various activities. Hair Worx, the new hair salon in Campus Town, cut several students’ hair to donate to cancer patients.
Celine Mileham, a junior secondary education and chemistry dual major, was the first Relay for Life participant to donate eight inches of her hair for a wig. Mileham’s friends gathered around in excitement to witness her haircut, and several passersby soon joined, forming a crowd almost instantaneously.
One of many students who participated donated 16 inches of her hair, according to a Hair Worx employee. The success was remarkable and students felt proud to give something so personal to someone in need.
At 9:30 p.m., the luminaria featured a beautiful lighting display of white bags with the names of both deceased and living cancer patients and caregivers' names written on them. The gym lights were dimmed, and several members of CUB and Circle K spoke about the importance of Relay for Life.
Some of the donations from the College’s Relay for Life went toward bringing cancer patients and their caregivers to Hope Lodges — a place to stay if they are not close to their cancer treatment site.
Event highlights included in a tug of war, games inspired by the TV show “Minute to Win It,” karaoke and a Mr. and Miss Relay for Life Pageant.
Students spent the night laughing while playing fun games, but also sharing somber and emotional stories of how cancer has affected their lives. It was a night of spreading hope for a cancer-free future.
Jessica James, a sophomore public health and sociology double major, explained how moving the event was to her. This was James’ second year participating in Relay for Life at the College, and the satisfaction that comes with giving back makes her want to participate each year.
“It is amazing to see the campus community come together for such an amazing cause and pursue with love, empowerment and strength,” James said.
(03/27/18 9:06pm)
By Danielle Silvia
As a child, ghosts were a symbol of entrancing fear for me. Being “ghosted” on Halloween meant finding candy and a note from a friend on my doorstep. I would make it my mission to find out who “ghosted” me and plot who to spook next.
It’s funny how words can acquire so many meanings — in its most common modernized context, “ghosting” refers to when a person whom you are seeing or talking to suddenly leaves the relationship without a trace, never to be heard from again. Many millennials no longer associate ghosts with white sheets and two cut out holes for eyes — they are now associated with broken hearts.
78 percent of millennials claim that they have been victims of ghosting, according to Fortune.com.
Ghosting has become so prominent among young people because we can hide behind screens instead of working through a conflict face-to-face. We no longer have to break off a relationship in person — we can do it with a call or text message instead. Someone who normally replies to messages instantaneously can drive another mad by leaving the message on “read” indefinitely, forcing the other to wonder what they did wrong and why they haven’t received a reply.
It is common for people to ignore messages or even block someone’s number. It’s all a huge game of manipulation, and it hurts deeply when you know the other person could be acting this way out of spite.
What makes ghosting especially painful is that it can happen at a time that you would otherwise think the relationship was going well, and it feels like all those ghosts from your childhood have come back to haunt you. It can be difficult to decide how to approach the situation or how to move on.
When a relationship ends, there must be closure for both parties. The only way for this to be done fairly is face-to-face, giving each person an equal chance to express his or her feelings. When someone is consistently and inexplicably ignored when trying to reach out, that person is denied any semblance of closure or clarification.
It is concerning that the increasing popularity of online dating has made ghosting more popular. Dating apps make ghosting much more common and socially acceptable than in relationships that begin without any communication over the internet.
While the hook-up culture commonly associated with apps like Tinder existed long before anyone ever set up an online dating profile, today’s technology makes it much easier to exit a relationship, as people can easily hide behind their phones and refuse to return calls or texts.
Being ghosted is never easy, and the confusion and uncertainty that the victim is burdened with is both frustrating and devastating. Life is a culmination of experiences good and bad, and such experiences develop your character.
Reflecting on such an experience with peace, as opposed to hostility or fear, makes you a stronger person. In the end, it is most important to recognize your own self worth and not let anyone affect the respect and love you have for yourself.
Students share opinions around campus
“How has technology changed relationships?”
“Technology makes it easier to leave someone hanging since there is less face-to-face interaction.”
“The more access you have to communicate, the easier it is to cut it off.”
(02/11/18 9:18pm)
By Danielle Silvia
Copy Writer
A boat smuggling Pakistani and Libyan migrants capsized off the coast of Libya on Feb. 2, killing an estimated 90 people aboard, according to CNN.
Migrants departing from Libya aim to enter Europe through countries like Italy and Greece by way of the Mediterranean Sea. Later that morning, 10 bodies were found washed ashore near the Libyan town of Zuwara, according to CBS.
The boat appeared to be sailing in calm waters but became unbalanced as the boat approached Zuwara, According to The New York Times.
Leonard Doyle, a spokesman for the International Organization for Migration, explained the likelihood of finding more survivors in an article by CNN.
“They are still searching for survivors, but it is very, very unlikely, it seems, at this point,” Doyle said.
In January of this year alone, about 246 people have died while traversing the Mediterranean migrant route, according to CNN.
“We are told that two survivors swam to shore, and one person was rescued by a fishing boat,” said Olivia Headon, a spokeswoman for IOM, according to CBS. “We are working to get more details on the (capsizing) and where the survivors are so that we can assist them better.”
The number of migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea has been rapidly rising. Pakistanis make up one of the largest portions of migrants using the route. In January of this year, they composed the third-largest contingent, according to CBS.
“(The refugees) find themselves stuck in a horrible situation, vulnerable to human rights violations and the slave market. So they may have no choice but to seek a crossing to Europe,” said Flavio Di Giacomo, a United Nations migration official, in an article by The New York Times.
Di Giacomo hypothesized that several migrants may have chosen the path to migrate through Libya as opposed to other routes, such as through Turkey or Greece, because such routes are much more dangerous to cross during winter months, according to The New York Times.
Due to the ongoing political turmoil and violence in Libya, the nation has become a hub for migrants looking to be smuggled to Europe, according to The New York Times.
“It’s an absolutely shocking tragedy,” Doyle said, according to CNN. “So far we have probably seen the only survivors we are going to see, let’s hope there are more.”
(01/21/18 11:00pm)
By Danielle Silvia
Staff Writer
Two people were killed and 65 were injured when a 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck off the southern coast of Peru on Sunday, Jan. 14 at 4:18 a.m. The earthquake’s damage stretched over much of southern Peru, especially in the coastal towns of Acari and Chala in the coastal province of Caravelí, according to BBC.
Though the earthquake hit 25 miles off the coast of Acari, it was so strong that residents of the capital city Lima, 350 miles away, were able to feel its effects, according to NBC.
One of the victims, a 55-year old man, was discovered crushed underneath a rock in the city of Yauca. Another victim died in the same region, in the town of Bella Union, according to Hernando Tavera, president of the Geophysics Institute of Peru, via CNN.
The earthquake caused power outages and landslides that blocked several major roadways. Many houses and buildings were damaged or destroyed entirely. Adobe houses are common in southern Peru, but the structures are prone to collapse during earthquakes, according to BBC.
The Peruvian government is taking action to help those affected and protect the people who are still in the area. President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski expressed his intention to visit the affected region on Twitter.
Kuczynski plans to “verify the magnitude of the damage and send the needed humanitarian aid,” according to NBC.
After the earthquake, a tsunami threat message was issued to coastal areas of Peru and Chile. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center reasoned that the strong magnitude of the earthquake posed a possible threat for tsunami waves along these shorelines and thus warned the citizens, according to NBC.
According to the tsunami threat message, waves were reaching “0.3 meters to one meter above the tide level for some coasts of Peru.” The threat message was revoked once once the waves died down and at approximately 5:45 a.m., according to ABC.
Some aftershocks were observed in coastal Peru, and evacuations occurred shortly afterward, according to The New York Times.
The tremor began with a shift in the Nazca and South American tectonic plates. Throughout the last 100 years, 13 earthquakes with a magnitude over 6.5 began between these plates, according to BBC.
Jorge Chávez, Peru’s Chief of Civil Defense, said that damage to the roads is hindering rescue efforts. Many provincial and secluded roadways have become essential in connecting coastal regions to several neighborhoods in Peru, according to The New York Times.
Planes carrying tents, blankets and other aid have been dispatched to Acari and Chala in response to the disaster, according to BBC.
(12/21/17 1:57am)
By Danielle Silvia
Copy Editor
DeRay Mckesson struggled against each crash of the water’s waves as they nearly capsized his raft. Whitewater rafting was harder than he initially expected, and it was an obstacle he knew he couldn’t face alone.
This was not a typical challenge for Mckesson, a political activist known most recently for his advocacy of the Black Lives Matter movement. Daily, he rallies people around him to fight against systematic societal injustices that threaten to overturn society and leave humanity drowning in the mistakes of its past.
On Dec. 4, students at the College attended Mckesson’s lecture on civil rights and activism in Mayo Concert Hall. The event was sponsored by the Black Student Union and the College Union Board. During his lecture, Mckesson described how his childhood experiences led to a career in social justice.
Growing up, Mckesson was an avid reader. His curiosity and tenacity soon turned into a passion for activism.
“Activism isn’t just having a strong belief about something,” Mckesson said. “It’s about talking to people and spreading awareness about topics that matter in making the world a better place.”
After graduating from Bowdoin College, Mckesson worked for the Teach for America program in Baltimore. Mckesson continued working in the city’s schools through 2016, when he was named chief personnel officer for Baltimore City Public Schools.
Mckesson’s growing audience on social media provides a simple and effective platform for his activism. He uses Twitter to advocate for Black Lives Matter, anti-violence initiatives and victims of police brutality. He uses the internet to peacefully assemble people behind his causes.
Whether it be fighting animal cruelty or ending hunger, Mckesson believes developing a team to support your mission is essential to gaining steady ground in making real change.
Mckesson works alongside fellow activists through protests and peaceful demonstrations, including organized marches after the shooting of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and the Charleston, South Carolina church shooting.
Sarah Bennett, a junior elementary education and English double major, expressed her belief in teamwork in order to further a cause.
“As president of the Black Student Union, we as a team try to foster the thoughts behind actions,” Bennett said. “Mckesson aligns with what the BSU works toward in learning how to voice your opinion in a hot political climate.”
Mckesson also stated the importance of navigating through issues that are close to home and encouraged aspiring activists to start with common issues on campus.
Clubs like BSU have promoted awareness of the Black Lives Matter movement on campus.
Vanessa Fiore, a senior international studies major and president of NAACP’s chapter at the College, said Mckesson’s lecture inspired her both personally and professionally.
“We are all trying to solve problems on campus in the Ewing and Trenton area to accomplish intangible things, like better education and fair equality of all races, during our time as students here,” Fiore said. “Mckesson really touched upon how we can easily take small actions every day to make a better place for us to thrive in.”
Mckesson feels a strong sense of fulfillment from his work, and could not imagine his life any other way.
“Meeting other incredible people and seeing their creativity put into action is without a doubt, the most rewarding part of my job,” Mckesson said.
He stressed that society is arguing about the same issues but not recognizing that in the end, everyone wants the same fundamental things. Mckesson believes coming together despite personal differences is how we should approach systematic issues such as inequality in race or education.
Mckesson also opened up to the audience about his identity as a homosexual black man. For Mckesson, a large part of advocacy has been identifying himself through these different layers of intersectionality and enduring different forms of social oppression due to his identity.
“Not having these conversations about intersectionality and justice is what halts activism,” Mckesson said. “It really just takes a simple conversation, and not talking about these issues traps you in the present.”
Throughout history, civil rights activists have touched many lives. Mckesson showed that activism can take many forms, and while the results may be difficult to achieve, everyone holds a responsibility to see them through.
“We all have a role to play,” Mckesson said. “It is necessary that each of us acknowledge that role in learning from each other and making the world a little brighter.”
(11/28/17 2:41am)
By Danielle Silvia
When I look at myself in the mirror, I am amazed, not by my beauty or by how many pimples are covering my face, but by the experiences my body has carried me through for the past 20 years of my life. I know it sounds convoluted, but I am grateful for the legs that have carried me everywhere I’ve ever ventured, the hands that have held those I love and the eyes that have seen everything that I have ever witnessed.
When I look at myself in the mirror, I am amazed, not by my beauty or by how many pimples are covering my face, but by the experiences my body has carried me through for the past 20 years of my life (envato elements).
The human body, in my opinion, is more than just a shell. It is how we define ourselves and what has literally carried us since birth. As a young adult, it has become apparent to me that many cannot see this truth, particularly young women.
On social media and in face-to-face interactions, society has adopted a culture of defining beauty in terms of physical attraction. It has been said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and that true beauty comes from the inside. However, most people’s actions reflect ignorance of this lesson. Too many people place emphasis on their physical appearance and attractiveness, especially in the eyes of their peers. Most comments on social media revolve around how we pose, how perfect our hair is styled, how much makeup we wear, whether our outfit is cute and how much we appear to be physically fit.
I won’t lie, whenever I receive a comment from someone complimenting my figure or my outfit, I feel flattered. I think that’s all part of human nature. When people tell us we look good, we feel good. It becomes a problem, however, when physical appearance becomes an obsession for girls. Some girls will do whatever it takes to fit in, whether that is eating one protein bar a day to squeeze into that size two pair of shorts or straightening their hair so often that the tips begin to feel like hay. In a world where we are constantly emphasizing individuality, our society has passively enforced individuals to want to look, sound and act like everyone else.
After a difficult first year transition to college, my appetite changed, and I lost weight. When I went home the summer after freshmen year, old friends swarmed me like a pack of bees, as if I was an elusive comb of honey. Friends who seemed to not care about my physical appearance before began to make comments. Statements such as, “You’re so thin now,” or, “You look amazing!” seemed well intended and maybe even lighthearted at first, but these comments eventually gnawed away at me. If I looked so fabulous now, in the present, what had changed in the span of one year? Did I look ugly before?
It was the first time in my life that I felt like no one really understood me. I thought that the people who cared for me the most loved me for who I was on the inside, and the outside was just a mere canvas. My attitude changed toward my body, and I became healthier. I practiced loving myself, and began casting away hurtful comments. My legs carried me through thick and thin, my hands guided me through the dark tunnel of my journey and my eyes opened themselves to a new revelation. This period of my life, where I truly felt self-fulfilled for the first time, was also when I became an adult.
It is hard being an adult and not focusing on societal standards of beauty, and it’s even harder when people are constantly making comments, negative or positive, about the way you look. I’ve learned that the people who truly see you for you, and not as some physical object, are those who really matter in life. I have also grown to learn that loving yourself and accepting yourself for who you are is the most noble thing you will ever do.
So, eat that candy bar, sing your lungs out to your favorite song, run a mile and smile. Wake up every morning not asking yourself, “What can I do to be better?” but rather, “What can I do to be a better me?”
Students share opinions around campus
“How important has physical appearance become in society?”
“It has become very prevalent. Beauty bloggers are put on a pedestal.”
“With social media, everyone is looking at everyone, and we’re all trying to work for likes.”
(11/07/17 12:49am)
By Danielle Silvia
Social Media Editor
The air outside was cool, but the Brower Student Center was heating up as music blasted and three bands performed at CUB Alt on Friday, Nov. 3. The show was headlined by folk/punk rock band Girlpool, which was supported by opening acts Palm and Lily and Horn Horse.
Girlpool is based out of Los Angeles, and is fronted by Cleo Tucker and Harmony Tividad. They also have two frequent touring members, Joshua Sushman and Ross Chait. On Friday, Sushman took the lead with saxophone with Chait on drums.
By the time Girlpool took the stage, the crowd had grown immensely. The band wowed the audience with their mix of indie rock, DIY and femme punk.
The band’s energy and the sheer volume of the music was strong enough to captivate not only the large crowd, but also caught the attention of bystanders watching the soccer game outside or working in the student center.
Their music was not only a mix of genres, but also a blend of feelings. The songs projected a wide emotional range, with running themes of success and heartbreak. Kyle Olszak, a sophomore marketing major, enjoyed them all.
“I felt so many emotions, love included,” Olszak said.
Jack Sofka, the CUB Alt co-chair and a sophomore English major, put an immeasurable amount of time and energy into making the night happen.
“I find the bands based on personal taste, and what I think I hope students would want to see,” Sofka said. “I work with agents, bands and the school to make shows come together. It’s kind of a dream come true.”
The first opener, Lily and Horn Horse, featured two musicians, Lily Konigsberg and Matt Norman. The duo hail from Hudson, New York, and have been a making music together for about a year.
Overall, the genre of the group was enticing and experimental.
“You’re entitled to your own opinion by the music,” Norman said to the audience. “Tell us if you like us, or dislike us.”
Konigsberg sported lab goggles and a simple black dress while Norman was dressed in everyday pants and a polo T-shirt.
Norman took up the French horn, hence the name of the band, and played some improvised tunes while Konigsberg lip synced and danced. The second opener was Palm, a four-person band from upstate New York. The group featured Eve Alpert on guitar and lead vocals, Gerasimos Livitsanos on bass, Kasra Sarikhanion on guitar and Hugo Stanley on drums. The band has been together for more than five years.
The three guitarists created electrifyingly elegant music. Pumping the stage with their energy made way for a constant, tropical sounding rhythm, while the beat of tiki drums weaved its way smoothly through the guitar chords.
Amanda Levitt, a junior psychology major, appreciated Palm’s sound.
“It was super fun and chill,” Levitt said. “They really set the stage well for Girlpool and made the night really entertaining.”
Each group, diverse in nature and content, focused on giving their best performance. The vibes reverberating throughout the Brower Student Center made it clear that music is an important part of the College community.
“It’s something to do on a Friday night,” said Celia Federico, a sophomore chemistry major. “Certainly these experiences are what I’ll look back on in my college years.”
(10/03/17 12:33am)
By Danielle Silvia
Social Media Editor
All College Theater debuted its first show of the semester, “Secret in the Wings” on Sept. 27. The show ran until Saturday, Sept. 30, at the Don Evans Black Box Theater in Kendall Hall.
The show, though at times confusing with its twist of various themes, featured 12 cast members, who each played a different role from scene to scene. The show opens up with a young girl reading a book. The main character, Kira, was played by Kira Cohen, a junior psychology and elementary education double major.
Kira’s parents explain that they are going out to dinner and are leaving her with a sitter, Mr. Cruz, for the night. Mr. Cruz — played by student Lenin Cruz, a sophomore computer science major — is revealed to be an ogre with a long green tail. Kira is clearly distraught by this, but her parents fail to acknowledge her cries.
Mr. Cruz begins to tell stories to young Kira that come to life in front of her own very eyes. He tells four tales, “Three Blind Queens,” “Allerleira,” “The Princess Who Wouldn’t Laugh” and “Silent for Seven Years.” Each of these classic European fairy tales have dark themes that range from incest to abuse.
Each fairytale finishes at the climax, normally a disaster, to be resolved at the end of the show. For example, the “Three Blind Queens” ended with a chaotic war and two mothers, who were played by Franz and Colleran, resorted to eating their children out of desperation. “Allerleira” concludes with Colleran being forced into marrying her father, to which she chooses to run away from.
While each individual fairytale was rather difficult to follow, each tale ended up with Mr. Cruz asking Kira to marry him, to which Kira blatantly refuses, and the rapid change of scenes.
The set featured physical pathways for cast members to journey through time, such as doors in the ground, stairs and side sets. The carpentry team was busy sculpting the set, made primarily from wood, since the early days of this semester.
Rebecca Conn, a junior mathematics major, served as an assistant carpenter for “Secret in the Wings” and helped design the set.
“We had to make an immense set for this show,” Conn said. The carpentry team was composed of two master carpenters and four assistant carpenters. All hands on deck made this an easier job due to the importance of the set.
“We were asked to build a unique set of entrances and exits, including a wardrobe, crate and trap door,” Conn said.
Director and alumnus Curt Foxworth (’02) agreed that supreme carpentry was an asset to the success of the show. With each character’s costumes constantly changing and the lighting illuminating the main characters of each fairytale, the set was perhaps the only stable aspect of the show.
Foxworth said that the planning for the show began at the tail end of last semester. Auditions took place exactly a month before the final show, so the rapid pace of the show’s scheduling was challenging. However, with organization and teamwork, Foxworth said, everything turned out great.
This is not Foxworth’s first time directing the College’s stage. He also directed “As You Like It” and “Romeo and Juliet” at the College.
Assistant director Kate Augustin, a sophomore elementary education and psychology double major, was under the guidance of Foxworth for her first time assistant directing a show here at the College. She stressed the importance of rehearsals since the show was produced in a short four weeks.
“This show is so heavily reliant on the ensemble aspect that the entire cast was called to rehearsals almost every day after classes as well as on weekends,” Augustin explained.
The cast featured a wide variety of students that allowed every cast member to explore a different side of a character. For instance, Cohen not only played the little girl in the beginning of the show, but also was a member of four little girls who were friends in “Allerleira.”
Junior Kelly Colleran, a history and secondary education major, played a role in each of the fairytales –– she played a mother in “Three Blind Queens,” a runaway in “Allerleira” and one of seven brothers in “Silent for Seven Years.”
At the end, Kira chooses to kiss Mr. Cruz, and at that moment, he wakes up and reveals his true form, a young child, leaving audiences wondering if the entire show was a dream or not.
The secret in “Secret in the Wings” was evident in the range of emotions the show offered, from grief, humor, to joy. Everyone in the cast and audience felt a yearning of nostalgia for their childhood and fairytales in the midst of school-related stress. While each fairytale inevitably confused audiences, it allowed everyone to take a few hours out of the day to feel youthful again.
Foxworth summed it up perfectly, saying, “In the beginning, we just had scripts of old fairytales,” Foxworth said. “Transforming them tonight was bringing everyone’s inner child to light.”
(09/12/17 2:29am)
By Danielle Silvia
Social Media Editor
CUB Alt’s latest concert on Friday, Sept. 8 in the Brower Student Center featured three outside bands that were each diverse and talented.
The crowd was sparse when the show began at 6:15 p.m. There was a vendor space in the back of the room where each band was selling merchandise — stickers, shirts and posters featuring each group of artists.
The concert opened with Grayling, a Philadelphia-based solo project. The band, which is relatively new, was formed in 2015. The band is composed of four members including Lexi Campion, the lead guitarist and a current senior at Drexel University studying music industry.
Her brother, Greg Campion, is also a member of the band. He plays rhythm guitar and has a passion for performing in front of large audiences. From Hamilton, New Jersey, the sibling have Philadelphia and New Jersey ties that they hope will help the band’s future in finding concert venues.
In addition to the Campion siblings, Grayling has two other members: Rachel Wild, who is from the Poconos and is the band’s drummer and Sean Rynkewicz, the band’s bass player and a student at the University of the Arts.
Currently, the band performs about twice a month at various venues in the southern New Jersey region and Philadelphia area. The band visited the College in hopes of spreading the word of their music.
On Friday, they featured eight of their hit songs that were “electrifying and inspirational,” according to sophomore art education major Haley Mosseri.
In particular, their song “Soil” spoke about emotions and living life fully, a theme that the band centered many of their songs around. Their third song, “Tired” had a high energy tempo mixed with a tender, slow moving array of guitar strokes. “Tired” was about finding one that you love and whether “waiting for the one” is truly worth it.
The second opener, Hodera, is an all-male member group that kept audience members pulsing. Band leader Matthew Smith was the featured vocalist for the night. The other members of the band included Scott on drums, Doug on guitar, and Alek on bass.
Their sound incorporates elements of indie rock and Americana, and the band frequently tours all over the country. Annually, the band puts on about 100 to 150 concerts, according to Smith.
From the start, Hodera prompted the audience to come closer to enjoy the music. The featured flashing lights illuminated around the sound machines off and on to add to the overall effect of the performance.
In particular, Hodera’s third song “The Outside,” kept the audience rolling with excitement. The lyrics “everything’s fine on the outside” connected the audience with deep topics such as death and depression. “Hodera” utilized techniques such as repetition and alliteration in lyrics such as “little kids stuck in the pictures, little pills used to cure depression” to bring such topics to light.
When asked how she thought the performance was, Karin Flannery, a junior IMM and communications double major and CUB member, deadpanned, “Sick. Heavy.”
Hodera’s new record is set to debut on Oct. 20 and their release show is set for Nov. 3 in Brighton, Pennsylvania.
Finally, the headlining band, Microwave, took the stage at about 8 p.m. As soon as the band began, a high volume of people entered the performance space almost immediately and formed a mosh pit in the center of the space. Their first song, “Busy,” kept audiences dancing wildly.
“Grass Stains” was probably the height of the mosh pit’s performance — it even scared some audience members on the outskirts.
Junior Danielle Parks, a philosophy major, said that the group was “so passionate in their music. Even if you don’t know their music, you still appreciate their power.”
The night was a true success and audience members left with their ears ringing with joy. Each band drew in a new pool of fans with their powerful performance.